This has happened about 2/5 times, and happens on first start up in the morning. The smoke comes out white, with somewhat of a burning smell. I'm about 200 miles short of an oil-change, concluding my auto-rx treatment. Any ideas on what this could be?

 

white smoke is usually anti-freeze getting into your block, i would check that as it could result in damaged head gasket(s). not to worry though, i had that at start up once or twice and it was from sitting for a day or 2. i think moisture got into exhaust from sitting.

 

when you do your next oil change, check to see if the oil is kinda cloudy of some sort, if so, your head gasket is slowly dieing

 

Take your spark plugs out one at a time before starting the car (after sitting overnight), look at spark plug if it's wet or u see any coolant on it- shine a bright light down the spark plug tube and look into cylinder, if u see green or coolant traces on either the sparkplug or in cylinder then your head gasket is leaking. ^^^prev posts are correct, white smoke is usually due to coolant being burned off through combustion, this CAN? be damaging to ur motor so be carefull and check it out (Don't wait till ur next oil change, check ur oil immediately) this job is pricey if u can't do it ur self.

edit: Smell your exhaust for a short breath, then take off the rad cap if the smells are similar them.....u know the answer.

 

If water is getting into the cylinder then it would get into the oil. I had an engine blew up this way. Get the oil checked as soon as you can.

 

headgasket

 

Does it happen everytime you start the car? yes on water in the oil.

Is there a Milkshake in the radiator? blown gasket.

Does it smoke after getting gas at a certain station, bad gas.

Do you live in a high humidity area, condisation in the pipes,

 

Auto transmission fluid also burns white. You used to be able to pull ATF into the engine from a vacuum line is a check valve in the line goes south. I'm not sure if this can happen in a Maxima - but it is something to keep in mind.

Whoops - just noticed you have a 5-speed. Doubt if there is a vacuum line from the tranny to the engine in a stick !

 

Get it checked out quickly.All above posts are CORRECT.

 

asap!!!!!

 

Any updates LTU max?

 

meaning?????

 

Oil doesn't appear to be cloudy and etc. Took spark plugs out, no signs of any antifreeze/coolant. It didn't smoke today after sitting for about a day, so will see if the smoking continues later on...

 

prob condensation, cross ur fingers.

 

if your car isnt overheating by now them im almost positive its nothing.

 

Bad gas, BMW I had did this, got water with gas, filled the whole yard up with white smoke, drove around for awhile, then got gas fixed,

 

yea i was gonna say a blown head gasket.

 

Update:

After a few pulls today the damn thing started to smoke again. I was sitting at a light and noticed some white smoke coming from the exhaust. When started to drive, the smoke got a little more intense, then there was no smoke at all. I stopped at a parking lot, and got a little footage of the smoke as well as the few pulls:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJWQWPWJRF8

So wtf is going on?

 

possibly blown head gasket like i said before. whats it smell like.

 

Smells the same way as before. Somewhat of a burning smell.

 

yea your head gasket is differently going.

 

ahh, add some anti-smoke into oil. bg, or another brand will help cut out the smoke. try using the high octane for a couple of tanks. and, if your driving your car like that all the time your gonna kill engine alot quicker......

 

There's no vacuum from trans to intake in either the 4AT or 5MT in the Maximas. Don't believe we've had vacuum operation on the trans since...maybe the 1st gen? Even then not so sure. Think it was all electronic there too.

 

does it taste like burning also?