Intermittant smoke from exhaust

[mikeycaru]

Have 2002 solara with 80,000 miles on it, during the last 2 months have had 2 episodes of large amounts of white smoke, smells like raw fuel coming out of tail pipe, so much smoke that it fills entire street and looks like a fire. have had to dealer and to other mechanic, no record of incident on computer and they could not recreate incident. By next day there is no evidence of occurance and car has been functioning normally since. NO loss of coolant, or Oil. Dates of occurance 4/7/07 and 5/8/07. Am leaving with my mechanic for a week while on vacation on 5/23 any advice?

[Donut1106]

I have same problem, but much more frequent. No loss of coolant or oil, billowing white smoke on start up only in warm weather. Not every day, but 3 days a week. Just bough the car and prior owner said she took to dealer and another mechanic and both said no leaks detected and nothing one computer and didn't know why the white smoke. Prior owner said doesn't do it in Fall or Winter, only late Spring and Summer, here in Florida. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Intuit]

Sounds like the head or head gasket might be leaking into the cylinder once the engine is shutoff. TOtally different make and car, but had the same problem. Only happened on cold starts. Got progressively worse of the course of years. Eventually replaced the head gasket and had head repaired for hairline cracks from 2nd & 3rd cylinder exhaust valves out to (iron) header.

If I ran it really hard (or warm) then it was much more likely to leak back into the cylinder overnight due to higher pressures. There wasn't enough coolant loss to really notice until near the end before I had to take action.