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[marlcdx]

Guys.

My car seems to be smoking more than most (white), now the emissions are fine as I have had this tested.  I am thinking that a breather pipe is blocked or am I talking rubbish.  Is there a more sinister problem lurking.  Had the exhuast checked as I have just had a new manifold fitted and this is fine to.  

Could a blocked breather pipe cause this, the revs are fine aswell sits on around 800rpm tick over with no surging.

any ideas guys!

[unlucky alf]

i always thought that white smoke is a water issue, perhaps somebody will say different for your sake

[marlcdx]

i always thought that white smoke is a water issue, perhaps somebody will say different for your sake

Checked the water I dont seem to loosing any, header tank nice and full, car reaches temp o.k and I cant see any leaks anywhere.

[unlucky alf]

one thing you could try is providing youve got anti-freeze in is to get a tissue over the exhaust & hold it there for a while, see if the moisture coming out has a hint of colour to it that resembles the colour of the anti-freeze.

[marlcdx]

one thing you could try is providing youve got anti-freeze in is to get a tissue over the exhaust & hold it there for a while, see if the moisture coming out has a hint of colour to it that resembles the colour of the anti-freeze.

Will try that.  If it is what your thinking, what then am I looking for?  sorry mate not brilliant with cars.

[unlucky alf]

ermmmm,,,,,head gasket weeping as the water is getting into the combustion chamber, but as i say somebody else might have another option, give em time to get out of bed & they might start giving you other things to try,,,,good luck ,,,,are you sure its not just because its bleedin cold out there

[Seth]

ermmmm,,,,,head gasket weeping as the water is getting into the combustion chamber, but as i say somebody else might have another option, give em time to get out of bed & they might start giving you other things to try,,,,good luck ,,,,are you sure its not just because its bleedin cold out there

Are you sure it's not a steamy sort of emission that disappears once the car's warmed-up?

My TD's like this now with the current cold weather. I'm told it's a sign of effective combustion and nothing to worry about. Disappears once warmed up.

[marlcdx]

ermmmm,,,,,head gasket weeping as the water is getting into the combustion chamber, but as i say somebody else might have another option, give em time to get out of bed & they might start giving you other things to try,,,,good luck ,,,,are you sure its not just because its bleedin cold out there

Are you sure it's not a steamy sort of emission that disappears once the car's warmed-up?

My TD's like this now with the current cold weather. I'm told it's a sign of effective combustion and nothing to worry about. Disappears once warmed up.

Checked all of the above, when I put a rag over the exhaust it just seems like condensation, no oil, no anifreeze and the header tank is full.  Maybe you are right about the cold weather.  I also have a vectra and that is no where near as bad.  The problem maybe the car has only just gone back on the road after standing still for 12 months.  Maybe it needs a good run out.  There is no knocking or anything lueaking under the bonnett and the oil level is fine.  Never had an Omega before maybe just looking for problems that aren't there.  Will see how it goes.

Cheers for the help guys.

[iainb]

There are 3 conditions that could cause white smoke !
1. Water in the combustion chamber
2. Misfuel.
3. brake fluid.
Have a look at the master cylinder and see if the level has dropped

[Abiton]

There are 3 conditions that could cause white smoke !
1. Water in the combustion chamber
2. Misfuel.
3. brake fluid.
Have a look at the master cylinder and see if the level has dropped

4. Normal combustion.  Coupled with a cold exhaust system, and cold, moist air just beyond the tailpipe.

If I was a betting man, I'd put money on you having started the engine and run it for a few minutes every few weeks, while it was off the road?

The trouble with this is that unless the exhaust system gets properly hot, it will collect condensed water each time the engine's run for short periods.

I did some rough calculations this week, and, surprising though it may sound, a petrol (or diesel) engine makes around 1 litre of water per litre of fuel burnt.  The basic chemistry is fuel + oxygen = CO[size=8]2[/size] + H[size=8]2[/size]O.  
Obviously, inside the combustion chamber this 'newly created' H[size=8]2[/size]O is in gas form (steam), but once it cools in a cold exhaust system, it becomes, for want of a better description 'cloud'.