White smoke-is this what i think it is?

[iputthebootin]

I think im doomed not to get this car on the road.
Ive had it out the garage for the last 4 days while i do dome odds and ends and get the bumper prepped for spraying and have left it running for half hour or so while i did my jobs. It has started kicking out quite a lot of white smoke and water spots from the exhaust. I thought it might be condensation to begin with but now im not so sure as its still belching it out after half hour idling.
It does die down intermittently but then kicks out white smoke again and water spots.
I have been monitoring the coolant level and it hasnt moved and there is no sign of water in the oil or vice versa.
Is it what i think it is............ I cant even bring myself to say it, gulp!

 

[sawood12]

Has the car been left standing for a long time? If you you'd be surprised as to how much moisture can collect in the exhaust system. When I first got a Focus a few years ago it had been on a car supermarket forecourt outside for a couple of months and for the first 4 or 5 months it belched out white smoke when accelerating hard as the accumulated moisture was spat out. I did start to worry myself, but I wasn't loosing coolant or oil and after that initial time period all has been fine since with no smoke. If you are not loosing coolant or oil then I think that should be an indication that you are OK.

 

[iputthebootin]

It hasnt been standing as such without any starting but i havent driven it anywhere and only start it and let it idle for 20 mins/half hour a day. Would letting it idle for half hour a day not expell any moisture in the exhaust system?

 

[Copperman05]

I doubt it, personnally I wouldnt run the car on idle each day, porsche dont recommend it and its not particularly good for the engine as it never really gets up to working temp, etc. I would think a good run each week for a hour or so would fair better than an idle each day.

Edd

 

[sawood12]

I agree. I only got the white smoke when on full acceleration, say out of a busy junction so I think it needs a good flow of gas to purge the system, in fact the idling might have been contributing to the moisture collection with the hot but slow moving exhaust gases having plenty of time to form condensation in the exhaust system.

 

[iputthebootin]

So maybe its not time to panic just then yet! Gettin the clucth done in a couple of weeks and that will be the last job hopefully so i can get it out and take it for a good run then and blow the cobwebs out of it. Fingers crossed coz im impatient to drive the thing now.
[]

 

[A.Wang]

Just to throw my 2p's worth in - I had exactly the same kind of white smoke (and initial sinking feeling) when I first picked up the car. It has been sitting for 6 weeks in December/January when I got her. Turned out to be nothing to worry about - like others have said, it's condensation in the exhaust system.