White Smoke

[MN525i]

So this morning on my way to work I noticed a bunch of white smoke coming out the rear. The temp needle was in the cold.

By the time I got to work... needle dead center, the car was no longer blowing any white smoke.

What the heck? Something I should be concerned with? HG was done by the PO if you were wondering...

Thanks

[strad]

H20 is a combustion reaction product. Its visible presence as steam in the exhaust under certain atmospheric conditions would be expected. I would only be concerned if you are actually losing coolant.

[thejlevie]

As strad said, in cold weather a condensation cloud from the exhaust before the engine has fully come up to temperature isn't unusual. There's a big difference in the way vaporized coolant and condensation look. If you've ever seen a bona fide case of vaporized coolant you'll never mistake one for the other. I'd say to have an experienced tech check it out, but there probably isn't any reason to be concerned if you aren't loosing coolant, done have overheating issues, or have rough cold starts.

[jcbrown630]

It was 99% chance that was nothing more than steam condensing in the cool morning air.

[Camal Puddle]

yeah, mine blows a ton of steam in cold mornings too. Scared the crap out of a buddy that pulled into the high school parking lot behind me one day.

[draccent]

Mine blows a rather noxious combination of steam and fuel in the morning until it warms up. Most older vehicles that have anything resembling a real choke will do this...for example, the cold start valve on etas.