# White smoke from exhaust **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 13, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-from-exhaust/65412 "2011-06-13T16:12:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![beckett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@beckett](https://community.cartalk.com/u/beckett)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-from-exhaust/65412/1 "2011-06-13T16:12:30Z")
This is my first time posting so hi to everyone. I have a question and I’m hoping that someone out there can help me. I have a 64 Olds Cutlass. I drive it once a week or so. That means it sits most of the time. Lately it’s been very damp and rainy. I’ve noticed that when I start the Olds up there is white smoke coming from the exhaust. This lasts about a minute or until the car warms up and I start driving. Then it disappears. Is this just condensation burning off or, I hope not, a blown head gasket? How can I tell the difference? Thanks for your help. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-from-exhaust/65412/2 "2011-06-13T16:39:27Z")
I doubt it’s anything…especially when you say it’s been sitting for a while…White smoke usually means water vapor. I suspect because it sits for a while…a lot of condensation is forming in the exhaust pipes and when you start it up the exhaust pipes heat up and just burns it off. ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/white-smoke-from-exhaust/65412/3 "2011-06-13T16:40:17Z")
If the white smoke came out after the car was warmed up it could be a head gasket issue. This sounds like condensation burning off.