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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

White smoke at startup

  • Thread starter Thread starter Spreadman
  • Start date Start date Mar 30, 2005

Spreadman

two wheels
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,904
3
0
Houston, TX
Mar 30, 2005
#1
  • Mar 30, 2005
  • #1
I did a search, but wasn't satisfied with the answers.

When I start up, there is white sweet smelling smoke coming out of my pipes and it lasts until the motor is up to operating temp. I know it's coolant. I don't have any obvious leaks on the intake.

I just got the car back from the shop though. Had a new radiator, upper rad. hose, coolant tank and had the system flushed. Ran over a chair.

I don't think it's a head gasket since I drive the car hard....has 125k miles and it JUST started happening.

I'm thinking that when he flushed the system, that it cracked the intake. Any ideas?
 

white99gt

Founding Member
Aug 8, 2000
4,649
1
0
stockbridge,Ga(near atlanta)
Mar 30, 2005
#2
  • Mar 30, 2005
  • #2
Spreadman said:
I did a search, but wasn't satisfied with the answers.

When I start up, there is white sweet smelling smoke coming out of my pipes and it lasts until the motor is up to operating temp. I know it's coolant. I don't have any obvious leaks on the intake.

I just got the car back from the shop though. Had a new radiator, upper rad. hose, coolant tank and had the system flushed. Ran over a chair.

I don't think it's a head gasket since I drive the car hard....has 125k miles and it JUST started happening.

I'm thinking that when he flushed the system, that it cracked the intake. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

If the intake cracked it would most likely start skipping(because it will put coolant on a sparkplug).Also if it was a coolant leak into the exhaust it would be there all the time not just at warm up.
 

Pirateinastang

New Member
Mar 30, 2005
30
0
0
Carlisle, PA.
Mar 30, 2005
#3
  • Mar 30, 2005
  • #3
Bad rings?
 

Spreadman

two wheels
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,904
3
0
Houston, TX
Mar 30, 2005
#4
  • Mar 30, 2005
  • #4
white99gt said:
If the intake cracked it would most likely start skipping(because it will put coolant on a sparkplug).Also if it was a coolant leak into the exhaust it would be there all the time not just at warm up.
Click to expand...
When I first start it up, it does "skip", but goes away after a few minutes.

Any ideas?
 

white99gt

Founding Member
Aug 8, 2000
4,649
1
0
stockbridge,Ga(near atlanta)
Mar 31, 2005
#5
  • Mar 31, 2005
  • #5
Spreadman said:
When I first start it up, it does "skip", but goes away after a few minutes.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Check the plugs one day before you start it.They will be wet if there is oil or coolant on them..
 

xspwr stang

New Member
Oct 26, 2004
30
0
0
South TX RGV
Mar 31, 2005
#6
  • Mar 31, 2005
  • #6
My 5.0 Cougar did the same thing w/the sweet smell so I knew it was coolant also. My lower intake gasket was busted and it happend at around 150k miles. I had to buy a kit that contained a bunch of gaskets for $95 and it worked perfect.
 
N

Notched

New Member
Apr 1, 2004
113
0
0
Mar 31, 2005
#7
  • Mar 31, 2005
  • #7
well it could be a cracked intake.. when the car warms up, the metal in the intake expands, and closes off the leak. seen it happen a few times.
 

Spreadman

two wheels
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
10,904
3
0
Houston, TX
Mar 31, 2005
#8
  • Mar 31, 2005
  • #8
Head gasket leak. I've got chocolate milk on my oil cap.
 
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