Q: I have white smoke coming from front of car after driving roughly 30 min. The car temp does not show overheating.

asked by on December 06, 2017

I have white smoke coming from front of car after driving roughly 30 min. The car temp does not show overheating. Radiator anti-freeze reservoir was filled recently and is currently full. I filled two days ago when I first saw the smoke.

My car has 210000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

Smoke from engine or exhaust Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

White smoke generally indicates that you may have an internal engine problem, such as a head gasket leaking coolant into a cylinder. If white smoke is blowing out from the exhaust during first 3 minutes of a cold start up, it is likely you have a blown head gasket or a cracked/warped head. Serious engine damage can occur if you continue to drive. If the leak is very small, or leaking into adjacent cylinders, there may not be much smoke upon starting up, and yet still enough coolant may be pulled into the combustion chamber(s) to produce a strong sweetish exhaust smell. Generally, over the long run, this particular problem will continue to produce more engine problems. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to inspect your car’s running condition to determine what may be causing the smoke coming from your exhaust.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How do you replace a fog light bulb?
If your car is equipped with fog lights (not all Civics have these), they provide you with enhanced visibility when driving in foggy or misty conditions. However, like all other bulbs on your car, they’ll eventually burn out and need...
How do I turn on the daytime running lights?
The daytime running lights are low-power lights that can be useful to use during daytime driving, and will automatically adjust depending on how dark it is outside. To turn them on, rotate the light switch (located on the turn signal...
Hood latch not working
There are several components to the hood release. The handle, a cable, and the latch. The handle is made of plastic and have a tendency to break over time. The cables are metal cables but they also can break. The...
Car screaming when driving
Hi. There are countless potential problems that could cause your noise. I am unable to help you without knowing more details. I suggest have a trained mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect your vehicle's noise (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/car-is-making-a-noise-inspection) firsthand and repair...
Rough idling
Hi there. Most of the time, this is caused by a dirty throttle body (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-throttle-body). If there is build up in the throttle body bore, then the throttle plate will have trouble racing the correct location keeping the engine from...
Car leaking water into driver's side when air conditioner on
The most common cause of the floor becoming wet when the AC is on is due to the AC vent becoming clogged. When this happens the evaporation which is a by-product of the evaporator core working properly and can begin...
Blower motor stopped working
If your blower doesn't work on ANY speed setting, then yes, the blower motor fuse or a relay (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/blower-motor-relay-replacement) is the likely problem. The relay is on the main fuse panel. It is also possible the motor has enough grit...
Would a clogged catalytic converter burn a hole in the manifold
Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. The hole in the manifold is a sign of something coming out of the engine, either a piston or a valve. If the manifold is the intake manifold (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/intake-manifold-gaskets-replacement), then there could be a...
Where is the transmission position sensor location on a 2000 Honda civic
Hello. This sensor is located inside of the center console if you are talking about the transmission position sensor. This vehicle doesn't have a transfer case so I am assuming that this is what you are looking for. If it...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Mazda 3
The The compact car class is definitely a competitive one, with established models like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic taking up a lot of the market every year. However, if you’re looking for a really attractive compact sedan or...
A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Mazda 2
For For those of you who really just want a car for the sake of transportation—and not towing or for a job where you need to transport tools—you might want to consider the 2012 Mazda 2. This car may not...
A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Mazda CX-7
If If you want an SUV, but don’t care as much about the “utility” part as you do the “sport” features, you should take a look at what the 2012 Mazda CX-7 has to offer. Key Features With a turbo...