# White smoke coming out of the exhaust **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 3, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-coming-out-of-the-exhaust/4108 "2007-09-03T23:34:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![laotse3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@laotse3](https://community.cartalk.com/u/laotse3)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2007, 11:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-coming-out-of-the-exhaust/4108/1 "2007-09-03T23:34:18Z")
What do you think is the problem if the exhaust is spewing thick white smoke? It is a Nissan 90 Altima, 149k mileage. It passed smog last renewal 1st quarter this year. I would appreciate your detailed explanation. Thank you very much. LT ---
**Author:** ![irlandes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5e925/32.png) [@irlandes](https://community.cartalk.com/u/irlandes)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 12:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-coming-out-of-the-exhaust/4108/2 "2007-09-04T00:10:31Z")
This is a wild guess, but could it not be a blown head and antifreeze is getting burned? I believe antifreeze burns with a white vapor. See my comment on another thread about looking at antifreeze in radiator with cap off (cold!!!) and start engine to see foam/bubbles if head is blown. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 12:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-coming-out-of-the-exhaust/4108/3 "2007-09-04T00:23:25Z")
Thick white “smoke” is actually steam. Water (engine coolant) is getting into the combustion chambers and being vaporized. The most likely cause is a blown head gasket. ---
**Author:** ![metaldesign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@metaldesign](https://community.cartalk.com/u/metaldesign)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 3:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-coming-out-of-the-exhaust/4108/4 "2007-09-04T03:08:51Z")
Does the smoke smell like gasoline? If so it’s probably not steam, but uncombusted fuel. This could be a computer or sensor related problem and not a head issue. ---
**Author:** ![budd2049](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@budd2049](https://community.cartalk.com/u/budd2049)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 12:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-coming-out-of-the-exhaust/4108/5 "2007-09-04T12:06:08Z")
Excess unburned fuel would not cause thick white smoke, but black smoke. White like this is undoubtedly a blown head gasket. It’s an expensive repair, and one that I’d think over before having done to a 17 year old car. ---
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 12:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-coming-out-of-the-exhaust/4108/6 "2007-09-04T12:31:42Z")
Spewing thick white smoke? This is almost certainly a blown head gasket. Check your coolant level and condition of your engine oil and then report back. Rocketman ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2007, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-coming-out-of-the-exhaust/4108/7 "2007-09-04T21:30:41Z")
if you spend the money, just get a rebuilt engine or one imported from Japan (look up nippon motors). Cost is pretty similar and you get an engine with 30,000 miles on it instead of 170,000.