'92 Accord; Cracked Head Gasket Question

[pedrothe]

I am pretty sure my 1992 Accord may have a cracked head gasket. When I start the car after a cold night it's recently starting to blow thick white smoke out of the tailpipe. Also I do know that the car also burns a little oil.

Yesterday I also noticed a small trace of white smoke coming from under the hood when I in the drive letting the car warm up. It was the first time I had noticed it; I could see that is was coming from a smallish type hose. Not sure which one; I am cluess about cars.

It was concerning but I had to drive back home afterthanksgiving; a 2 1/2 drive. The engine never gets hot and the car runs fine.

My questions is I am scared that harmful carbon monoxide may be 'leaking' into the car while I am driving? Yesterday I shut off all the vents to try and minimize any potential leak. Is what I am describing; the likely cracked head gasket problem, a health danger? Can carbon monoxide leak into the car somehow? Or am I being paranoid?

Any input greatly appreciated.

[AccordCodger]

Oh wow - that subject is all over the map!

1. Yes, you might have a BLOWN head gasket (they don't crack) or a CRACKED head.
2. It's more likely worn rings or valve stems. Depends on the smell of what comes out of the tailpipe.
3. Smoke/steam from "a smallish type hose." No idea - depends which hose. Smallish compared to what?
4. Yes, you're being paranoid. From what you describe, you aren't going to get CO poisoning (unless you plan on sitting in a closed garage for an hour or 2 with the motor running).

Did this problem happen all of a sudden? Or did you just get the car? Or what?

[pedrothe]

Thanks for replying.

Glad to know I am being paranoid about the carbon monoxide risk.

I have had the car for one year now. Last winter it didn't emit this white exhaust so it's a relatively new development. Again ony does it when the outside temperature is quite low (below 32 degrees).

The car isn't worth fixing at all; again just getting advice on health concerns.

[SenseiAccord]

CO (carbon monoxide) is a colorless, odorless gas. It is impossible to detect unless u have a meter to sense it. CO can leak into a car b/c pretty much no car is air proof nor water proof, but that doesnt matter, so it can get in in small amounts tho.

[AccordCodger]

Don't let SenseiAccord scare you. The only people that die from CO poisining (from a car) either WANT to, or run their motor while stuck in a snowdrift. It WON'T happen while you're driving down the road.

Let's get back to this white stuff from the exhaust. It sounds normal to me. ALL cars blow out water vapor for the first few miles (or 100's of yards anyway). In summer it's invisible. In frosty (or even cold, dry) weather, it condenses and shows up. (Haven't you ever driven behind someone in early morning, whose exhaust is puffing steam? It's a dead giveaway that they are not far from home). If that stops when the motor is warmed up, forget about it.

The under-hood steam/smoke MIGHT be a problem. If you have a coolant leak, one day it's going to strand you somewhere.

[pedrothe]

Yeah the smoke from under the hood might be a coolant leak. But do you think it could also be something related to oil? Reason I ask is that 2 days before I added 2 quarts but when I looked at the dipstick after it appears it only needed 1 quart.

Good to know I should not be paranoid about toxins while driving this car.

Originally Posted by AccordCodger

Don't let SenseiAccord scare you. The only people that die from CO poisining (from a car) either WANT to, or run their motor while stuck in a snowdrift. It WON'T happen while you're driving down the road.

Let's get back to this white stuff from the exhaust. It sounds normal to me. ALL cars blow out water vapor for the first few miles (or 100's of yards anyway). In summer it's invisible. In frosty (or even cold, dry) weather, it condenses and shows up. (Haven't you ever driven behind someone in early morning, whose exhaust is puffing steam? It's a dead giveaway that they are not far from home). If that stops when the motor is warmed up, forget about it.

The under-hood steam/smoke MIGHT be a problem. If you have a coolant leak, one day it's going to strand you somewhere.

[AccordCodger]

It could. It all depends where the smoke/steam is coming from. We can't help you unless you are our "eyes"