Could white smoke from exhaust be caused by blown head gasket?

Coolant burning in the cylinders produces sweet-smelling white smoke. Confirm with low coolant and a coolant compression test.

Could white smoke from exhaust be caused by cracked engine block or head?

Less common but more expensive. Same symptoms as head gasket failure.

Could white smoke from exhaust be caused by coolant leaking into intake manifold?

Some intake manifold gaskets fail and leak coolant into the cylinders.

White Smoke From Exhaust

Q: How serious is white smoke from exhaust?

Severity is rated High. Check coolant level. If it's dropping with no visible leak, suspect a head gasket. Stop driving and get diagnosed before the engine is destroyed.

Brief white vapor on cold mornings is normal condensation. Persistent white smoke is a serious problem.

Severity: High

What to Do Right Now

Check coolant level. If it's dropping with no visible leak, suspect a head gasket. Stop driving and get diagnosed before the engine is destroyed.

Common Causes

Blown head gasket: Coolant burning in the cylinders produces sweet-smelling white smoke. Confirm with low coolant and a coolant compression test. Shop head gasket
Cracked engine block or head: Less common but more expensive. Same symptoms as head gasket failure. Shop engine
Coolant leaking into intake manifold: Some intake manifold gaskets fail and leak coolant into the cylinders. Shop intake manifold gasket