Should I be worried

[march109]

Hope someone can help. Should I be worried because when I started my car this morning (cold wet morning) the exhaust was blowing white, not like a chimney stack or anything, but I did expect it to stop after the engine had warmed up a bit.

But when I got to work heater blowing warm air so thought the engine must be warmed up got out to take a look and its still blowing white, whats the difference between white smoke and steam (to look at!), and could it have been because it was just a cold we morning? and I'm ust panicking far too soon.

Must say I've checked oil and found no mayo like substance but just changed the oil so it could be the start of problems.

[Cloggy Saint]

condensation in the exhaust?

[march109]

Thats what I hope too! I really really do! I can't be dealing with anything else.

So what is the difference between white smoke and steam how would I tell from looking at it?

[E30Mark]

don't worry!

I was convinced for ages that the head gasket had gone on my old 323i, after 5 years of driving i came to the conclusion that they all do it!

the 6 pots seem to *smoke* a lot in cold damp weather

[march109]

Awesome news because I was a little worried!

[Turbo-Brown]

Smoke will linger in the air for ages whereas steam will dissipate fairly rapidly.

Mine steams a bit until it's properly warmed through.

[psychochild187]

for every pound of fuel burnt correctly a pound of water is produced

meaning that there is steam in the exshaust in cold mornings
some cars dont show it as it comes out as super heated and you dont see it as its finer

this is why petrol cars exhausts rust so bad . they rust from the inside out.

youll see a slow driver pulling away and loads of water coming out the exhaust as if there was a hose pipe there not an engine

think its why u get the slattering on the windshield when a cars is giving it death in front of you too as theres so much fuel and water coming out