2tirefire

I just recently got my 1994 LS400 and I absolutely love it! I am glad to be a part of the CL family. I have a concern though, but I might be paranoid about my headgasket situation.

It is freaking cold as hell in Seattle right now. We are averaging temps in the low 40's for the next few months. When I start the car I get the normal cold exhaust/steam from the exhaust. After driving around for a while 20+ minutes I still have some steam/exhaust coming from the exhaust tips. I took a whiff and it smells and feels on my hands just like condensation, is this something to be worried about, such as my headgasket is leaking, or is this pretty much normal for the weather and humidity in the air?

I have drove all kinds of vehicles and I usually don't notice due to the fact that I never pay attention, but since I read a post randomnly on CL of a person with a blown headgasket, I think I have been worried about it, am I paranoid, or do I have a slight problem?

If you guys do suspect a going headgasket, what is the best way to test this out? I have read a surefire way is to get a Headgasket Test Kit which has a cylinder that you place over the radiator neck and the color of the fluid mixed with the supplied chemicals will show if any exhaust gases are in the coolant, which in turn would show a going headgasket.

And the final question is if I do have a going headgasket, should I take it to the Lexus dealership, or should I find a competant shop in the area to do the work for me? I want to get all OEM parts and honestly I want a good job done.

Hopefully I am being paranoid so help me out fellas, thanks in advance!!

-Mark

Thermactor

iTrader: (1)

Not very likely. In many cases, water out of your tailpipe is the normal result of combustion - HC + O2 = H2O + CO2 (not factoring the ratios, but it's very generalized!)
IF it starts smelling like coolant, and your engine starts misfiring, and you find a milkshake when you open up the oil cap, then you should start saving for repair

JDMCelsior

iTrader: (1)

+1 on the milk shake part. :-) I've had that happen to me before on a different car and that was the result of coolant mixing with oil. So, just wait until it gets a little warmer (maybe in a long time) and see if it keeps doing it.
If you want a repair done, just get the parts from Lexus and have someone/shop you trust do the job. you'll save some money on Labor.

2tirefire

I also wanted to mention that it only does it while sitting still, it doesn't leavea plume of smoke when you are driving. I honestly think it is just steam since it is so damn cold out.

siamiam

id kill for it to be 10F let alone 40F :P id be happy with 0F right now

it sounds like your car is acting normal, my car some times puts out a decent amount of steam even when its as warm as 40F

just like the other guys have said keep a look out for the milk shake and coolant smell.

maybe give the car a oil change and coolant flush too.

2tirefire

The car runs fantastic and the exhuast just steams, and it only smells like exhaust, slight gas but very moisture ladent. I think I am being paranoid.

LILEVO

iTrader: (1)

Completely normal