While smoke at morning

[thsu]

Hi, New to here.

I have a Ford Windstar 99 model. When I start my car in the morning, there is some white smoke coming from the tail pipe. After about 1 sec, it dies away. It does not seem to have any smoke while I was driving. However, I do notice that the engine oil is decreasing.

Any suggestion for this problem. Is this problem serious?

Thanks for suggestion.

thsu

[12Ounce]

I suspect a coolant leak into the combustion intake, most likely leaking lower intake gaskets.

As a test, try removing the pressurized coolant reservoir cap as you shut down the engine for the day. This should lessened the coolant driven pass the leaky gasket by the hot high pressure coolant overnight. You should see less or no smoke the following morning if this theory is correct.

Coolant making its way into the combustion area (or the engine short block) is not good news.

[thsu]

The coolant is not decreasing. I have been worried about this and kept monitoring the level of coolant. It does not seem to affect the coolant level.
Also, the engine cap does not have any sign of "chocolate milk shake".

However, I am still not sure this is not a sign of blown head gasket.

thanks for the reply

thsu

[12Ounce]

If the coolant is going directly into the combustion inlet, there would not necessarily be any mixing of oil into the coolant.

It would only take a sip of coolant to cause smoke. I still suggest the test.

[thsu]

Thanks 12Ounce:

I will do the test tonight to see how it goes.

I gave a phone call to my mechanics through the phone. He said this may be due to the piston ring leaking in the eninge. Any idea?

thsu

[12Ounce]

Possibly. If it is oil, could also be caused by a leaky valve seal.

[LeSabre97mint]

Thsu

White smoke is antifreeze. Oil is blue. Extra gas is black. Do the test that 12Ounce suggested. Then put the cap back on and after having the cooling system under pressure. Have someone start the van while you are at the tail pipe you should smell antifreeze at startup. The 95's were the ones that were bad on headgasket. I believe the other years had intake gasket problems.

Regards

Dan

[thsu]

OK.

It does not seem to reduce the smoke. Also, the "white" smoke may be a little "white blue" smoke.

It only puff a second when the engine is cold.

Any suggesion?

thanks

thsu

[12Ounce]

That pretty much eliminates coolant being the problem.

How many miles are on this van? Have there ever been any significant "events" (such as loss of coolant -- overheating) in its history? How much oil is it consuming? Are there any CEL/MIL lights?

[thsu]

The van is currently at about 81K miles.

No, it does not have overheating before. Not sure the rate of oil comsumption. Just got my attention and I am working on it.

A month ago, the engine light is on. I sent it in to my mechanics and he replaces the intake manifold. Since then, the smoke comes out. I am not sure whether the smoke eruption and replacment of intake manifold has any relation at all.

I have given a few calls to the local mechanics for possible reason. They all seem to suggest the piston ring may be the cause of the problem.

If this is a true estimation, should I be worried about it?

Thanks

thsu

[FordBoss88]

How often do you drive the van?

[thsu]

Well. My wife is the one who is driving it. She drives it to the work everyday.

thsu

[FordBoss88]

The reason I ask, is that I used to own an Aerostar that had gotten some oil in the exhaust pipes. I replaced the pipes and the smoking issue was over.

[thsu]

Similar symptom? A weried thing is that I found some black debri in the tailpipe.

Not sure what is that?

thsu

[FordBoss88]

Is the debris brittle or gooey?