Does anyone here HHR throw out white smoke from time to time. It seem that if I do not running my car for ten minutes before I drive it, it will throw out white smoke while I am driving it. Also when I go to the drive-thru car wash and get my car washed, when I drive out the car wash my HHR smokes badly. Do anyone know why this is happening. Just started about two months ago.

 

white generally means moisture.....keep an eye on your water levels....

 

Hate to be a barer of bad news......

Sounds like a blown head gasket. Generally when a car emits white smoke from a tail pipe it means that coolant/fluid is bypassing the sealing material (gasket) and leaking into the combustion chamber where it is "burned" off with the air/fuel mixture. Especially if the white smoke is emitted after sitting, with the engine running (as you suggested in the drive thru lane) for any length of time.

Could be wrong....others will offer their opinion. Remember these are opinions based on your descriptions.

Oh, I should mention........if it is a blue white smoke it still could be a valve/head problem but with bad valve seals or piston rings. Again depending on your more precise descriptions.

 

If the exhaust pipe has black residue in it, probably head gasket. You probably also note a large puddle of water under the exhaust pipe after you idle the car for a few minutes. Also coolant is disappearing. I hope that you check your coolant level on a regular basis.

 

Probably, but not absolute. Every vehicle that uses unleaded gas has black residue in the tailpipe.....which means, essentially, all the vehicles. Every one of my 4 vehicles has black residue and every friend or relatives vehicle I work on has black residue. I know because, if it has a chrome or polished extension part of my "service" is to clean it.

I'm just mentioning, so it's not misinterpreted. The other "checks" you provided, I concur with.

 

A blown head gasket is the most likely cause, check the coolant levels daily, and be prepared to have it fixed as soon as you can. Running with a bad head gasket will lead to even more expensive engine damage.

 

I should have said "a hard black carbon deposit inside the tail pipe that will not clean off." but, I had blisters on me fingers. Figured fewer words, less pain....

Also should add the oil level may increase, due to coolant dumping into the crankcase.

 

Thanks IgottaWoody. It is white smoke......

 

Yes, my coolant is checked every three months when I get my oil changed. Thanks for the advice..

 

Thanks everyone for your advice. I will take it very seriously and go get it checked out. I will let everyone know the outcome. Oh one mechcanic told me that it is moisture on the catalytic converter than is burning off. Have any of you ever heard of that?