Hi all wondering if this is a normal amount of smoke? if not what could be a likely cause? stem seals? rings? head gasket?
heres the video link please let em know what you think.
Rich.
No vid link.
Hi buddy, if you click the ‘picture’ that should play the Video!
Thanks Rich.
Got it. I don’t want to insult you’re intelligence but it looks more like steam to me.Oil burns blue and does’nt disapate as quick as it appears to on your vid., it also has it’s own smell. Could I be right?
Ah not at all, Thanks buddy, it does have a slight smell to it and as you say it is white rather than blue. It does it usually upon start up for a few mins then disappears and sometimes stays there (More noticable at night)! I’d be happy if it was simply steam! to put my mind at ease! 
The last car I had that 'steam’d like this was my starlet gt turbo which turnt out to be Turbo oil seals + head gasket!
Thanks
Rich
Looks like normal condensation then!
awesome, hopefully that’s all it is and I’m worrying for nothing.
Thanks
Rich.
Sorry, if that is smoke rather than steam and it doesn’t clear after a few seconds, then you’ve a knackered engine.
Try putting your hand over (not too close) the end of the exhaust, is your hand wet or oily?
Wet, possible head gasket, Oily, piston rings or worse!
Dave.
I don’t think it’s water as the level hasn’t dropped, could possibly be spitting petrol out (don’t think it’s oil) if it’s knackered I’ll get a replacement engine sorted out. It sometimes clears within a minute, other times could be 5mins?
Rich.
It wont be petrol or it would be like a flame thrower, put a pice of hardboard/wood near the exhaust and give it a few seconds at medium revs, is it dripping water or is there a black oily mess?
Dave.
That is not oil - too fsat to dissipate and wrong colour.
This time of year with low temperatures you see moisture a lot more (breath out on a cold day)
A lot of moisture can build up in exhaust system and currently the air is very damp.
Give it a good run, check water level stays good and engine temp OK - also check oil level AND make sure it still looks “oily”… no chocolate brown sludge.
If all above is OK, I would be happy happy happy !!!
Thanks guys, no mayo/fudge colour in either the dipstick, cap or the expansion tank so I guess that’s a good sign, coolant levels not seemed to have dropped, I know oil was just above low but was first time I had checked it so topped it up a bit and will see if that goes! I’ll be happy if it is simply ‘moisture’ if not I will :’(
Rich.
Well it’s the dirties steam i’ve ever seen!
Dave.
That looks exactly the same as my car when I start it.
Mine only gets used 4 or 5 times a month so I get about 5 minutes of water vapour. I was a little worried when I first saw it coming from mine so I kept an eye on the water and oil levels for about 3 months (Nothing ever changed there).
I’ve (And all my petrol head friends who’ve seen it) have come to the conclusion that it’s just condensation that forms in the exhaust when it gets back down to a few degrees above ambient temperature.
If it makes you feel any better, Mine’s done it since I got it (A little over 3 years ago now) and it hasn’t gone “BANG” yet. 
Scotty B.
No 1, Take your air filter out, if it’s partialy blocked it will be over fueling on start up.
No 2. Take the spark plugs out noting which one came from which cylinder. if one of the plugs is browner or obviously rusty then its head gasket. If the plugs are black (sooted up) then it’s either rings or stem seals.
No 3. Spin the engine over with the plugs out and see if any dampness (water) comes from any of the plug holes. (Again head gasket).
No 4. While the plugs are out do a compression test (Sorry dont know what the readings should be on a 5) 150psi - 180psi on all four should be about right.
No 5. If all compression readings are more or less equal then i’d go for stem seals
No 6. If none of the previous apply take the 5 for a good hot run to boil the dampness out of the exhaust…
Good luck. Dave.
Sorry - but I beg to differ on No 2
If they are “sooted up” - ie. black powder - thats rich running - which points to No.1 - blocked filter maybe… - If they are black “wet oily” that may point to what is suggested - however, from what I have seen so far, I don’t think you have much to worry about. I just went out and started up my Honda 750, and within 5 mins the whole back garden was full of fog… just moisture !!
Keep monitoring levels etc, but I wouldn’t panic yet
Standard exhausts rust from the inside out not the other way round as you would think. Fuel contains water but it’s the hot exhaust that causes the most damage because as it cools condensation forms inside it, sits there rusting the steel and when you start it up again it boils all the water off and causes steam as you seem to have in the vid.
Even daily used cars will produce steam but as mine is mainly garaged in winter when l do start it, hell fire it takes ages to clear. Much longer than my bikes as they have shorter exhausts of course but even they take a while.
Oil loss, water loss start worrying otherwise don’t.
Looks a bit blue which suggests oil but does it use any. If it is not using/burning excessive amounts then it may be ok. What about water, again does it use any. How much do you use the car ie daily and does it get nice and warm. Do you still have the smoke after a drive (not just warmed upon the drive) or is it clear in which case it may just be condensation and the ambient air temperature.
Thanks for all the replys! Most of my journeys are around 10 - 15mins to/from work! And usually it totally clears up after 5 mins or so I’d say? Will have to monitor the situation and see how it goes!