The dreaded white smoke !!!

[dawnanddave]

Hi all,
This is first post on this sites forum, but been on various others.
Wanted to know if anyone has had problems with white smoke out of the exhaust. It is only doing it intermittently though. I thought it was the gasket or the head but its still running fine. By the way we have a "97" Estima emina aeras.
It is using water though. I have had the seats out and I am not normally scared of an engine but one look at this thing was pretty mind boggling.
ANy help would be appreciated....
Cheers

Dave and Dawn

[coldeedy]

i think you know what we are going to say,,,,,,,,,,,





looks like your heads gone,, is the steam/smoke on start up

[Cader]

as coldeedy says really, classic cracked head symptoms, the next stage is hydraulicing due to water entering the bores. the cracks are usually in between the valves so the oil doesn't go white

[buffallobob]

Yes cracked head would be the cause sorry
bob

[dawnanddave]

Thanks for the advice guys.
Spoke to a mechanic today and he suggested Car-go. Is that like K seal?
Not sure if thats the best option but I am willing to try anything to get the thing back on the road until we have the cash to do the head.
You know how it is 12 week old baby and no transport for the wife. Not what we need right at the minute.
Thanks again for any advice

Cheers
Dave

[dawnanddave]

Sorry forgot to mention that the white smoke is not on start up, its only intermittently and not a huge amount either ,and only for a minute or two.
Not sure if thats relevant. I did run it on a veg oil/diesel and bio diesel mix last summer and have recently done the oil, oil filter and fuel filter change.