caliscguy

This is my first "winter" in California for my SC400 1997. I have noticed at night there is lots of white smoke coming from the exhaust at the back. Is this normal? When I lived on the east coast this was common in sub zero weather but I'm noticing it when it's low 60s. I don't notice on other cars but maybe that is because they are newer....?

mrmj2u

iTrader: (2)

Very low temps = condensation; white smoke normally means burnt oil.

How often do you change your oil?
Does it also smoke when taking off from a light?

You could have bad valve seals...

faifai83

When was the last time the blinker fluid was changed?

KahnBB6

iTrader: (5)

^^ This. I'm in southern California and my SC was doing this last night in crisp 50's weather. It's just condensation unless another accompanying symptom is present. Big difference between that and burnt oil as a result of failing valve stem seals (usually only present during startup/warmup in old or high mileage engines) or whispy rich smelling smoke from an overfueling condition.

The valve stem seals failing is a very high mileage quirk seen more in 2JZ (SC300) engines rather than 1UZ (SC400) engines.

OP, since you have noticed this smoke at night it is most likely just condensation.

Durrby

iTrader: (3)

Isn't blue smoke oil, and white head gasket in that regard?

mrmj2u

iTrader: (2)

you are 100% correct. I’m mistaken.

LEXXIUM

iTrader: (1)

IF you really want to know if you have a bhg, look under your oil cap for mayo, that’s a good sign I found coolant seeping into your oil. Are you loosing any coolant? If not then it’s a condensation

SKUM

Smell it, coolant has a distinct sweetness to it. Also, if you have any exhaust work done such as headers or gutted cats, you will experience more whiteness.

But as mentioned earlier, rule of thumb is that bunch of white smoke = coolant and blue smoke = oil for future reference.

Tanker89

Your ecu maybe bad.

Zerodrag

iTrader: (5)

If you SC is not running abnormal (misfires), your coolant level is fine and your oil dipstick shows no abnormal residue, it's probably just water vapor from condensation. Nothing to worry about.

Mikeezi

When I had white smoke coming out my car slowed but I was able to go from carpool to shoulder on the right side. When I got it home it wouldn't start. couple months later I got a new engine block to install and miraculously it was able to drive into the garage for me (I have a steep driveway lol). Problem was a leak in head gasket.. my engine only had 116k when I bought it and i put like 5k before this happened. Hope to get this thing up and running soon its been 3 months+ now since its been dormant -_-