04 Titan White Smoke on Start up

toadstitan · 03-14-2007, 01:31 PM

I have a 04 Titan with 110,000 miles it just started to have a cloud of white smoke on start up every now and then. it dosesn't do it every start up. performence has not been affected HELP!

titan dude · 03-14-2007, 01:53 PM

umm 110.000 miles might have to do with it! have you done all matnece?

**konigfritz** · 03-14-2007, 03:33 PM

could be just a slight bit of oil sneaking past the valve seals. My has a bit when it is cold out, it runs rich for the first couple minutes, seems to be normal.

Big cloud or little cloud. White or blueish smoke and is it thick or vapor like?

stlblues · 03-15-2007, 06:24 AM

Take its cigarettes away.

bigric · 03-23-2007, 08:04 PM

Our 04 started doing this at about 5k miles; it's got 42k on it now. It's intermittent as well, but when it does it, it's a HUGE cloud. It's definitely oil. It's not reproducable so there's nothing I can get the dealer to do about it.

Steamguy · 03-25-2007, 08:41 AM

Keep an eye on your coolant levels. If it drops, either gradually or intermittently for no apparent reason, take it in and have a compression test done.

Sounds like a blown head gasket to this old mechanic...

The reason you get WHITE smoke is you've got antifreeze seeping into one or more cylinders. The reason it's intermittent is that it will vary depending on how the engine was used; wether or not it was stressed hard during its last drive, and so on.

Not the best of news, but nothing's busted, and it can usually be found with a compression check. But you shouldn't let it go on; it's not good for the head to have that hot spot where it doesn't belong. Repair cost varies wildly from vehicle to vehicle depending on what has to come off to replace the set of gaskets on that side of the engine, and how easy it is to get the head off/on.

Hope this helps.

RangerNewbie · 03-25-2007, 08:58 AM

What's it smell/ look like?

If it's not a sickening sweet smell, and it stops when the engine is warm- you're fine- it's just the condensation boiling off.

If on the other hand it is a sweet smell- it coolant burning off- usually a leanky head gasket. Get it checked soon and keep an eye on the coolant level.

If it's a bluish/ dark smoke- your engine is burning oil- possibly blow-by past the piston rings.

dew08 · 04-25-2007, 06:57 PM

the usual signs of a blown head gasket:

bubbles of air coming up into your radiator (remove cap before starting),
leaking radiator,
milkshake colored oil,
overheating,
rough running,
coolant or oil running from head,
spark plug(s) that have a green tint (if green coolant), white colored or sweet smelling exhaust.

Dorsey · 04-25-2007, 08:16 PM

smoke color is pretty subjective, although if it is indeed white it does sound like water in the combustion chamber. You should notice it needing some antifreeze if it is a headgasket. If so, do not let this go if you have changed to green antifreeze - it is death for aluminum cylinder heads. Also, you will likely ruin an O2 sensor fairly soon no matter what antifreeze you have.

Alternate explanation - Your truck has elected a new Pope.