White smoke at start up
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Joined: May 2000
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From: River Ridge, LA, USA
White smoke at start up
My truck has started exhibiting a white smoke exhaust at start up. This only occurs during the morning initial start. It doesn't appear to be losing any coolant.
Where should I start to diagnose?
Jeff
Where should I start to diagnose?
Jeff
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 329
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From: River Ridge, LA, USA
Example:
Temperature this am, 55 degrees F. Started truck and noticed white smoke. Drove ~ 2 miles. Shut off engine for 2 minutes. Started the engine, put in reverse and noticed white smoke while backing up. Put in drive and did not notice any additional smoke.
Jeff
Temperature this am, 55 degrees F. Started truck and noticed white smoke. Drove ~ 2 miles. Shut off engine for 2 minutes. Started the engine, put in reverse and noticed white smoke while backing up. Put in drive and did not notice any additional smoke.
Jeff
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There has been many, many posts here on startup smoking. Many feel it's so common, that it's somewhat normal to see in modular motors. At initial start up, proper function would show signs of water burned from the exhaust system and water dripping from the exhaust system. This would be white in general and be combined with a rich start up air-to-fuel mixture. If your antifreeze and oil is not "missing" in action, hopefully, your truck will be fine. Monitor your oil and anti-freeze closely. A bit of oil smoke is commonly reported too, but is usually a blue hue. It's sometimes hard to tell the difference in mild mixtures. One cause of this can be small amounts of oil through the valve seals as the engine sits up while off. I would also check the PCV function with all PCV hosing. If all of this checks out and you feel the smoking is excessive, pull the plugs and read them for signals.
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Joined: Oct 2001
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From: Nawlins
How much smoke are we talking about?
On cool mornings I will get a really light smoke out of my exhaust tip. It's nothing like a cloud of smoke at all. A cigarrette will put out more smoke but there is a little.
I wouldn't worry about it unless you see a cloud of smoke.
On cool mornings I will get a really light smoke out of my exhaust tip. It's nothing like a cloud of smoke at all. A cigarrette will put out more smoke but there is a little.
I wouldn't worry about it unless you see a cloud of smoke.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Wilmington,NC
When gasoline burns, the main products of combustion are carbon dioxide and WATER. That is why vapor comes out of the exhaust when you start up cold in the winter. The exhaust system is cold and condenses the water coming out of the engine. After the exhaust system gets hot the water does not condense and it is invisible.
Many engines have leaking valve guides. When the engine is shut off, a little oil leaks down around the valve stems and when the engine is started the oil is burned and you see a little light blue smoke temporarily. It isn't a problem. The amount of oil you lose this way is very small.
Many engines have leaking valve guides. When the engine is shut off, a little oil leaks down around the valve stems and when the engine is started the oil is burned and you see a little light blue smoke temporarily. It isn't a problem. The amount of oil you lose this way is very small.
