What's This White "Smoke?"
 

If I start my Z when it's not been driven overnight or longer, clouds of white smoke (vapor) are emitted from both tailpipes as it idles during warm-up. I'm sure it's not oil burning and it seems to diminish when the car has warmed up. I assume this is nothing to worry about but can someone explain what is happening to cause this and reassure me that its not harming the car? The car has 399 miles on it.

Ummm..It's Cold out! Hot air (car) meeting cold air (exhaust) = Vapor

What you are seeing is simply condensation inside the exhaust turning into vapor from the heat.

Mod beat me to it.

OldGuy, is this your first new car?

oldguy is from the jinricksha era... give him a break. :D white smoke back then were different.

Wow, just wow. Should have told him it was a blown head gasket just for fun.

you ask silly questions for an old guy...

It’s a blown head gasket, drive it back to the dealer.

No other ever seemed to "smoke" quite so much before. Actually, you never know what might be going on with these Z's, based on some of oddities people are reporting with this car on these boards. Better safe than sorry, first year model and all.

it's normal....lol...... wait til it gets colder out.... ha

It’s not the first year for the engine.

White smoke? - a new pope was selected??

no, ripped the bong maaannnnnn

:happydance:

The other day, I launched at about 6000 rpm and noticed some white smoke coming from under the car near the rear wheels. Is this normal? Is this defect covered under the Nissan warranty? I've never heard of this happening before and thought that since this is the first year for the Roadster, I may have gotten a lemon.

BTW -- I am kidding and living in my own fantasy world, as at 300 miles on the odo, we are still gingerly breaking the girl in.

your problem arises from dumping the clutch to early. at a 7500 redline, you should be at the 7250 mark. make sure the tires are cold and you're wearing flip flops.

I put mine is the gargage for the winter . After 4 weeks i started it up and it blew lots of white smoke. Im told that this is normal if the car sits for a long period of time.'
The battery just bearly started the car . Will have to charge it every 3 weeks to keep it healthy.

When my car starts, it makes a funny mechanical noise that gets louder when I depress the accelerator...

(sorry Oldguy, couldn't resist)

^^^ this....

I find it a little sad that you used the words "smoke" and "vapor" in the same thread like they are the same thing. They ain't. It's not smoke, it's water vapor and it happens on all cars. If you're used to driving cars with smaller diameter exhausts, you won't see it as much. It may be just as much vapor, but you won't see it as much.

Sounds like my situation. It understandably make one concerned when all that white smoke billows from the exhausts. I'm glad its not unique to my car and appears to be an logical effect of starting the car when it hasn't been run for many days or weeks, particularly in cold temperatures.

Couple days ago it was 10 degrees when I got up.
Still drove the Z.
ALL RIGHT! :tup:

Try a bit colder than that foo !!

I have a similar noob question. My girlfriend was touching me down there and some "smoke" came out....is this bad, should i be worried.

Sorry, couldn't resist

:bowrofl::roflpuke2::bowrofl:

Hate to bring this thread back from the dead... Car has not been started in over a year. I drained the tank, pulled the coil packs, and changed the oil and checked the coolant, had to top off the coolant. I started it and it cranked on the first fire. I let it run for 15 -20 minutes and a lot of white smoke is coming out of the exhaust. It idles fine, and a good bit of water is coming out of the exhaust as it is running. If i rev the car, the car smokes more. Haven't yet driven it on the road since it has sat, but it does have fresh fuel. Should i clean injectors? Sea foam? Any help is appreciated guys.

Hopefully you aren't burning antifreeze...

Raj, post a video.

If it's WHITE and not CLOUDS, like just some white smoke, it's usually gonna be ok.


It its BLUE and/or CLOUDS. It's your head gasket or oil burning

How do I post a video on here De?


-Raj

Upload to YouTube. There's like a way of posting videos or whatever...

FB me the link once you do, I'll then post it here

I'm doing it now, thanks. Should be like five minutes.


-Raj

Have you changed the oil yet? I would check to see if you have any water in it. Usually if you are burning coolant, you'll be able to tell by the smell of the exhaust. Although usually it will idle like sh!t, if not misfire

Idle is like my z I don't daily. No water in the oil, I changed it


-Raj

If i am burning coolant is that bad?

Terrible

For Raj

That looks really excessive even for 2 years.

personally I cant tell on the video of it's blueish from oil burning. If it's oil, and it happens more than this one time, you have an oil leak. If it's not blue and it does it more than once... Coolant.