Lots of white smoke

[ms500]

I've just got back from a long trip to the North in my 124, the car performed very well apart from this one issue.

After I had set off today, I noticed quite a lot of white smoke coming out of the exhaust in the passenger mirror whenever I accelerated, it seemed to go away when I was coasting along.

This was when driving around town; After about 10 miles of driving the smoke disappeared completely and didn't come back. I should probably add that the car hadn't been started in a week.

I know cars can smoke when cold, but the amount coming out of mine was far from normal. The car still drove fine; no misfiring, noises or power loss

I don't think it's the headgasket since it would be there all the time if that was the case, could anyone offer some suggestions as to what could cause this?

Thanks.

 

[Dieselman]

Are you sure it's not just water vapour from condensation in the exhaust. The delayed conversion to steam could indicate the Cat is not working properly.

 

[Will]

Hmm - sorry to be a pain, but:

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=56400
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=55873

I think you already know what I'm thinking...

Sorry!

Will

 

[Ian B Walker]

Sorry to be a bearer of bad tidings, but what you have is the start of a blown head gasket. Cold engine coolant escapes, hotter engine and defects close up due to expansion. Catch it now before it really goes.

 

[ms500]

Well, the coolant actually seems to have stopped disappearing. I checked it after my 650 mile round-trip and it hadn't dropped an inch.

Also, I started it from cold this morning and there was no smoke at all.

I guess I'll put it down to water vapour that had settled in the exhaust and the Northern climate for now, but I'll keep an eye on it.