steam from exhaust.

[Iylia H]

currently having a problem... just noticed steam coming from my car's exhaust. have yet to check the coolant level, cause the engine is still hot. So far no overheating problem.And I see wet patches on the exhaust manifold. I suspect it's engine oil, because i can smell the scent of burning rubber from the engine bay, indicating engine oil evaporating. Engine oil level on dip stick is ok.Would like to know what might be the problem.

 

[ramsing]

did you drive by a e30 just now? maybe your E34 saw the E30, got excited and 'pancut-ed' on the mani, and the exhaust pipe stim'd

 

[Iylia H]

did you drive by a e30 just now? maybe your E34 saw the E30, got excited and 'pancut-ed' on the mani, and the exhaust pipe stim'd

hahaha i wish that was the root of the problem lol... haha btw forgot to mention, dip stick oil level is ok

 

[Eggie86]

Bro, sometimes early morning when I leave the engine running, got white smoke coming out from the tailpipes... But few days ago whenever I start the car, got Oil Service message appearing on my OBC.

 

[yat325]

bro hope nothing serius there.......good luck bro

 

[Slips]

izzit steam or smoke? mornings during startup or constant smoke?
normal indications are;
white smoke = water
blue smoke = engine oil
black smoke = unburned fuel

 

[julianpang]

For my case, my tailpipe got white smoke/steam in the morning (depending on humidity). I could also see clear water dripping out slightly in the morning.

But the smoke/steam could not be seen at all during the day or once the engine is heated up.

 

[2wenty6]

Does anyone notice a lot of white smoke/steam when driving in the rain, with engine at operating temperature?

 

[Iylia H]

nop not in the morning... i left the car not driven for 1 week... so decided to give it a short warm up last night... and noticed thick smoke like mosquite fogging.. I think it's steam, judging from the water droplets coming out from the tail pipe.... turn the car off after 15 min...

about 15 minutes later, i start the car back up again, temperature needle still pointing at the middle (just to prove that this is not a cold start problem). after of about 5 minutes, the smoke was forming back again.

 

[Slips]

Did u chEck ur water lvl?
If ur water lvl is dropping you could have water in system, hence the white smoke/steam...
And oil stain on ur exh manifold could be head gasket leaking...
Hmm that's 2 diff probs...

 

[Iylia H]

Did u chEck ur water lvl?
If ur water lvl is dropping you could have water in system, hence the white smoke/steam...
And oil stain on ur exh manifold could be head gasket leaking...
Hmm that's 2 diff probs...

yeap i'm firm with the head gasket leaking... and i did checked and bled the radiator just now, notice a tiny amount of bubbles coming out from the system, which to me seems normal throughout my ownership... water level, seems okay so far

 

[Slips]

Constant white smoke from exhaust would almost certainly mean water in ur combustion chamber...
That's what I would be worried about...

 

[seewai]

Saw a 3-digit plate E34 with the same problem at Optimum, or is that your car bro?

 

[kayzhen911]

hi.
i had this steam thingy and was worried like hell like all of u.
but was told by my mechanic that is a sign of proper combustion.
thereby telling us that the engine is in tip top condition.

 

[Iylia H]

Constant white smoke from exhaust would almost certainly mean water in ur combustion chamber...
That's what I would be worried about...

hell yeah i am pretty worried... am currently not driving the car. will take the car to the mech as soon as tomorrow morning.

 

[Iylia H]

Saw a 3-digit plate E34 with the same problem at Optimum, or is that your car bro?

nahh not mine bro... but do you know what caused that problem to the said e34?

 

[Iylia H]

hi.
i had this steam thingy and was worried like hell like all of u.
but was told by my mechanic that is a sign of proper combustion.
thereby telling us that the engine is in tip top condition.

I hope it's a good sign for me too..

 

[seewai]

nahh not mine bro... but do you know what caused that problem to the said e34?

Didn't find out detail. Tech was revving and caught my attention. According to him, water from radiator suspected burn together with petrol. When he opens radiator cap, wow the water was VERY dirty / oily, so he started draining out the dirty radiator water.

Judging from its RT, it's a 3.0L, 6cyl.

 

[maxion89]

I think this thread might have same problem as me, but the exhaust is not in white smokey or steam but split out water from the exhaust. So what the course of this
problem actually?

 

[Slips]

Tip top engines don't steam or smoke... The mech who said otherwise is really funny...
Only normal to have abit of steam during cold start in mornings due to condensation in ur exhaust system..
Like seewai said, constant white smoke/ steam is coz of water in combustion chamber...
Oil in coolant + white smoke, minor case is head gasket leaking... Major case is a cracked head...
Also check ur dipstick for white residue, if have means coolant in oil... This wan more headache...
Hope ur car just needs a head gasket change bro...