• Mustang Forums
  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • 2005 - 2009 Specific Tech

White smoke on startup?

  • Thread starter Thread starter dbrufus1234
  • Start date Start date Jan 22, 2008

dbrufus1234

Member
Sep 10, 2006
92
1
8
Jan 22, 2008
#1
  • Jan 22, 2008
  • #1
after my car sits for a day or so and i start it up it blows some white smoke out of the exhaust. the car runs good after it blow white smoke out i figured it was just condensation and i just wanted to make sure is wasent anything else and if it happens to anyone else?
 

Art161

Member
Sep 26, 2006
130
0
16
San Francisco
Jan 22, 2008
#2
  • Jan 22, 2008
  • #2
A certain amount of steam (or what looks like white smoke) is normal for a cold start on a cool or cold day. It is, as you suggest, likely to be condensation. If there's a LOT of smoke, then there could be a problem.

Observe other cars, if you can, when they start up cold and compare what is coming out of their tail pipes to what is coming out of your car's tail pipes.
 

dbrufus1234

Member
Sep 10, 2006
92
1
8
Jan 22, 2008
#3
  • Jan 22, 2008
  • #3
yeah but its smoke not steam...like it doesnt just dissopate when it comes out of the exhaust it stays in the air, unlike the steam thats comes out when its cold outside and just goes away
 

Art161

Member
Sep 26, 2006
130
0
16
San Francisco
Jan 22, 2008
#4
  • Jan 22, 2008
  • #4
Well, if it's not steam from condensation, then it would seem that something is burning, and it's not gasoline.

Coolant level okay?

Oil on the dipstick look okay?

Try smelling the smoke and see if you can discern what the fluid might be.
 

dbrufus1234

Member
Sep 10, 2006
92
1
8
Jan 22, 2008
#5
  • Jan 22, 2008
  • #5
yeah all my fluids are full and oil is clean. ill try to smell it next time it happens
 

LV51FER

New Member
Oct 25, 2005
318
0
0
Caerphilly, Wales, UK
Jan 23, 2008
#6
  • Jan 23, 2008
  • #6
Steam hangs in the air too. It'll be water but obviously mixed with your exhaust gases. I wouldn't worry about it unless it's blue.
 

Stang_It

New Member
Jan 10, 2006
38
0
0
Vancouver B.C. Canada
Jan 23, 2008
#7
  • Jan 23, 2008
  • #7
Check out my exhaust clip and see if this is what you're experiencing. If your answer is "yes", then don't worry about it, it's perfectly normal. This is how your exhaust should look like at cold temperatures with relatively high humidity.
 

PUNISHER RACING

Active Member
Aug 27, 2007
1,124
0
36
FORD CITY, PA.
Jan 23, 2008
#8
  • Jan 23, 2008
  • #8
both our cars do it its blue oil smoke if you let them sit for a couple days and go out to the garage and fire em'
 
S

ski

Member
Dec 14, 2004
380
2
18
Jan 23, 2008
#9
  • Jan 23, 2008
  • #9
Mine blows out oil smoke whenever the engine was run for only a minute or less on the previous startup. But the oil always remains at the full mark. Nothing to worry about.
 

JTGrant

New Member
Aug 2, 2005
775
0
0
GA
Jan 24, 2008
#10
  • Jan 24, 2008
  • #10
If your coolant level is good then I wouldn't worry about it. Like Art161 said, try and smell it, coolant has a very unique smell.
 

Fourth Horseman

New Member
Dec 1, 2004
92
0
0
Jan 24, 2008
#11
  • Jan 24, 2008
  • #11
My Marauder's 32v 4.6 does the same thing once in a while. Probably only seen it two or three times in the five years I've had the car. I've seen my Mustang do it once. Seems to be common with these Ford OHC engines.
 

dbrufus1234

Member
Sep 10, 2006
92
1
8
Jan 24, 2008
#12
  • Jan 24, 2008
  • #12
thanks for all the input, and forth horseman, are those GT500 rim on your stang??
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

K
Resolved Need some assistance. Holley Terminator X alongside H/C/I. Very rough/inconsistent idle
  • karhoot
  • Jun 6, 2026
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
108
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Jun 6, 2026
karhoot
K
Fox Help
  • 93fox85
  • Mar 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
5
Views
223
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Mar 23, 2026
Noobz347
2
Running very very rich
  • 2esoteric
  • Oct 31, 2025
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Replies
4
Views
362
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Oct 31, 2025
Noobz347
E
2007 GT Stalls when lights or a/c turned on
  • ejscarfo
  • Jun 22, 2026
  • 2005 - 2009 Specific Tech
Replies
2
Views
153
2005 - 2009 Specific Tech Jun 29, 2026
ejscarfo
E
finding wiring from PCM to fuel tank pressure sensor
  • Roont
  • Oct 19, 2025
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
0
Views
215
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Oct 19, 2025
Roont
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 2005 - 2014 S-197 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • 2005 - 2009 Specific Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?