white smoke

[91mini]

I let my car sit up without running usually for 3-4 weeks at a time. I've never had any problems with it. Never had a drained battery or anything like that, but this morning I took it out. I let it run for about 5 minutes then went down the road. When I got to the end of road, about to get onto the highway, I see a cloud of thick white smoke. What is this from? Is that normal? After I started down the highway it never happened again though. And it's not cold here so I know it's not that.

 

[SinCityVogel]

I asume that the car was sitting for a short time and you did nothing else but get in, warm it up and drive?

Where is the smoke coming from?

1. exhaust
2. under body
3. hood

 

[srothfuss]

White Smoke = Coolant
Blue Smoke = Oil
Black Smoke = Carbon

If it was cold, it could have been condensation..?

 

[TW/92LSC/SE]

Probably just moisture collected in the exhaust system burning off. After all, the by-product of the cat convertor is water and co2.

 

[jim1000]

I had a car that did that, a huge cloud of white smoke, when I was in Mississippi, and lost power, wrote it off as bad gas. Got gas elsewhere afterwards and never happened again.

 

[91mini]

Probably just moisture collected in the exhaust system burning off. After all, the by-product of the cat convertor is water and co2.

Thats what I thought. I just wanted to make sure because I've never let a car sit without driving like this before. I wanna keep the miles off of the car because I drive 500+miles to work every week.

Thanks for the input and to answer an above question. Yes from teh exhaust.

 

[I8URVTEC]

Most likely just condensation from the car sitting for a while. When I first put on my Bassani's I had white smoke for a good 5 min until all the condensation dried out. I would say don't worry about it unless it continues. If it does continue check the oil and make sure it does not look tan. If the oil looks tan you could have blown a head gasket and caused the coolant to combine with the oil which would cause white smoke. However, like I said don't sweat it unless it continues. Most likey just condensation.

 

[Gone2]

Mine puffs smoke when I first start it after sitting a couple of days. The smoke puff goes away then the condensation steam starts.

Video

 

[351CJ]

Before you park your car for 3-4 weeks are you driving it for a reasonable distance (20 miles or more)?

The worst thing you can do to a car is start it up and drive it a couple miles or less then shut it off. A car has to be driven at least 10 miles, prefererably more to burn off all the crankcase contamentents from starting it up and to dry out the exhaust.