I have read the forums about people seeing their exhaust, but I don't think my problem has been talked about. I drive a 1997 LS400.

First off I'll say that the Power Steering pump is new, less than a year old and the Cats and Oxy sensors are new, maybe a year and a half old.

I have noticed ever since I bought the car, in 2002, that there has been a whitish vapor coming from the exhaust. Of course it's small and it doesn't appear to be there all the time. I've had the car in for service 4 or 5 times and keep forgetting to mention it.

The vapors look like cold engine exhaust vapors. When a car is first started on a real cold morning. Although my condition exists even after driving the car for over an hour.

To collect the vapors I put my hand at the exhaust and moisture formed on my palm. I smelled the moisture, but there was no smell. It wasn't gassy, nor oily, nor the normal exhaust smell of a cold started car. It seemed like it was what it was. Just water vapor.

Anyone have any ideas? I've run injector and fuel system cleaner through it and always run good gas.

Thanks,

Wes

 

Check coolant level.

 

It Appears to be fine. I bought the car in 2002 and drove it without adding coolant up to about 2 months ago when I took it in to the dealer to have it flushed as well as the tranny and differential. I would only assume that if there was a problem in that respect and after 3 years of driving the vehicle there would have been more problems and at the least raised some question when I took it to the dealer for the flush.

But I will keep an eye on it....

Got any ideas if it's not moisture from coolant?

Thanks,

Wes

 

When cold air meets a mass of hot air, you get condensation. Hence, this is the water vapor you are collecting in your hand.

 

Yes, possible; but it's unique to my vehicle. I do not see other cars exhaust vapors, even when stopped at traffic lights. I do not notice it from my wifes car and she drives an RX 300...

Thanks,

Wes

 

If it smells and tastes like water, then that's all it probably is! Everything else in the engine tastes horrible.

 

Second that.

For some reason the resonators in the V-8 LS can collected a lot of moisture inside. You can try to start the car up in the morning and then in a minute just rev it up. You will see a lot of black water coming out from the tail pipes.

 

FWIW, my 2002 RX300 has white vapor for about 2-3 minutes, then it's gone. Morning is bitter cold in Colorado as you can imagine. Hope you find the root cause to the problem.

Another possibility is high water moisture content in gasoline. Try switching gas station. I use BP/Amoco mostly.

 

Oh Yes, Colorado cold...I grew up just outside of Denver....moved there in 1963 when I was around 6 years old....I may be in North Carolina now, but my heart is still in Colorado....

This has been happening since I bought the vehicle in 2002. I have visited numerous gas stations.

Thanks,

Wes