Warm engine smokes from exhaust /fan operation

[larrybarone]

My 1984 fuel injected Pininfarina Azzura starts right up without giving it any gas and purrs nicely. After a few minutes i do get a slight smoking from the tail pipe.
History: Changed fuel filter,oil and filter,and spark plugs.
Another question ,when does the electric radiator fan come on I ran the car for about 15 minutes and it never came on.

[digitech]

Comes on when the coolant temp is around 190-195. What color is the smoke?

[larrybarone]

The smoke is white but not heavy.

[Chihua33]

Having the same problem with my 82 with the fan.

[GeorgeT]

Couple of questions: Is the outside temp. cool? and does the smoke go away after a bit?

White smoke is usually water vapor; on a cool day you may see it until the exhaust system warms up. If it doesn't go away when thing have warmed up, think head gasket.

[124JOE]

i seen white smoke from my taurus out the hood
after running a few thousand miles the gasket between the timing cover and the block failed
the shop wanted $400 to fix
it costed $10 for the gasket
i did it myself


as for your fiats be sure its not leaking any antifreeze
i had my rad redone 5 yrs ago it was $45 for them to take apart and clean then resolder it

[minimike]

check your engine oil to see if you've got water seeping in from a bad head gasket. Oil will appear milky white.
If so, fix it. It will only get worse.

[larrybarone]

Started the Fiat Spider after not working on it for months and still have white smoke from exhaust. Checked oil and not milky white, no smoke from engine compartment though. Changed temp sensor on radiator as cooling f'n was not coming on. Ran for 1/2 hr and still white smoke from exhaust.
Is this a headcgasket problem always

[So Cal Mark]

is it steam or smoke? Steam disapates, smoke hangs in the air. I don't see from your post than any repairs were made, so I wouldn't expect it to fix itself by sitting for months

[majicwrench]

Don't jump to conclusions. If car runs well, coolant stays up, no white goo in oil, a little smoke may be nothing. If moisture in exhaust, it will smoke. Fuel, once burned, produces a lot of water, thus , cars steam and drip from exhaust.
Mark has good question, does it hang in the air or disappate?
Keith

[Exit98]

Keith,

Welcome back. Everything OK?

Missed your sound advice.

[majicwrench]

Doug,
Everything OK. Looking forward to diggin my Fiat out of the snow. Might be a while, lots of snow and a seriously broken leg.
Spring will come!
Keith

[larrybarone]

The smoke does hang in the air but not that thick and has exhaust smell.
No milky oil symptom.
Did change the temp fan switch on the radiator.
If I need to change the head gasket. Where is the best place to get detailed step by step how to instructions
Maybe I need to get it on the road instead of in my garage and blow out the exhaust.
I'm a master carpenter so do I know.

[So Cal Mark]

if it's smoke hanging in the air, replacing the head gasket won't help at all

[majicwrench]

Get it on the road, quit thinking head gasket till you have a very good reason to think so. Don't jump to conclusions.
Keith