# Exhaust Smoke

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smoke/1040>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [June 27, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smoke/1040 "2007-06-27T20:52:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![troutmanken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@troutmanken](https://community.cartalk.com/u/troutmanken)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 8:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smoke/1040/1 "2007-06-27T20:52:13Z")

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I have a 2002 Camry and when ever I start the car when it is cold it blows out white smoke from the exhaust. It does not do this when it is hot. What can be causing this?

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**Author:** ![lprocter](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lprocter/32/40_2.png) [@lprocter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lprocter)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 9:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smoke/1040/2 "2007-06-27T21:31:36Z")

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It’s not smoke, it’s water vapour, and it’s entirely and perfectly normal. What happens it, when the exhaust is cold, the water vapour condenses towards the end of the exhaust system, creating the ‘smoke.’ Once the exhaust system is warmed up, the water can’t condense, and you don’t see any ‘smoke’ coming out of the exhaust anymore. Absolutely nothing to worry about.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smoke/1040/3 "2007-06-27T22:12:24Z")

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It is normal. It is just normal condensation.

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**Author:** ![troutmanken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@troutmanken](https://community.cartalk.com/u/troutmanken)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2007, 10:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/exhaust-smoke/1040/4 "2007-06-27T22:14:37Z")

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Thanks for the explanation as it makes sense. I feel better that I don’t have anything major as it has been a very reliable car for 5 years and still looks like new.

Ken