Exhaust smoke issue

[VY19]

I did a bit of a search, there were a few things that were similiar but not my exact issue

I have a VZ Senator. After driving for half an hour or so, whenever I put the car over 75% throttle I noticed a lot of white smoke coming from my exhaust...
It runs fine, and under normal driving there is no smoke at all. I was hoping it was just running rich, but if its running rich the smoke is more black isnt it?

I'm hoping its nothing serious, hopefully someone can shed some light on this for me, as im getting a tune done on tuesday so I want it running at its best.

[steve_t]

Hopefully it's not your head gasket. Check for oil for milkiness and your coolant for the presence of oil. Best you mention it to your tuner

[VY19]

Ok i just checked the oil and the coolant, nothing out of the ordinary. Oil was fine. My coolant dipstick was a little dirty, but it wasnt oil related. If its a head gasket I wont be a very happy chappy. :|

[SirNemesis]

Probably just water in your mufflers, don't worry about it.

[VY19]

Probably just water in your mufflers, don't worry about it.

I really hope you are right mate. Would be a huge relief, stressing a bit about it at the moment.

[Woodchukka]

If you have checked oil and water and found nothing out of the ordinary I reckon the SirNemesis strategy is the way to go. Keep an eye under the engine oil filler cap. Condensation builds there readily and if there is a coolant leak into the engine it will (or at least in my experience) generally show up a little milky there first however if you do a lot of short trips it may build there as you are not getting enough heat built up to burn it off. It pays to look every now and then so you get to know what it normally looks like so as not to panic about what may be normal.

[VY19]

I shall check the cap when i wake up tomorrow. No condensation = good. Condensation = Bad. Im going to ask Chev if he can have a look at it anyways when i go there Tuesday night.

[Woodchukka]

How did you go?

[macca33]

How did you go?

If it is coolant out the exhaust pipe (head gaskets, etc) you will definitely smell the sweet aroma - it is very distinguishable.

cheers.

[VY19]

The engine oil cap had no condensation. It still smoked a bit today but only under heavy throttle and I noticed a bit when i was reversing into my driveway, taking it to chevs today (tuesday) so he will have a look at it. I don't think its anything bad. There is no different smell or anything, im actually really confused to what it could be, maybe a faulty O2 sensor??? Ive heard they can make it smoke a bit. But i guess I shall find out later today and it doesnt effect the tune at all

[VY19]

Turns out I had a power steering fluid leak, which leaked all the way to the back of the exhaust, the smoke wasnt coming from the exhaust it was coming from under the car. One of the lines needs to be tightened or there may be a rupture. I will find out tomorrow. In other words a lot less cheaper than a head gasket!

[Ryan101]

Ahh that's good news

[steve_t]

My subaru was leaking PS fluid on to the exhaust. It didn't smoke but it had a pretty strong smell. Glad it's not the head gasket too!

[Woodchukka]

Nice. Good to hear it is not too big of a task.

[VY19]

To say I was relieved is a big understatement!