Smokey exhaust but no coolant loss?

[maxx31]

My 1997 explorer 4.0 OHV (low mileage and babied) has been smoking once it starts to warm-up. When I first start the truck, no Smoke...but after a few minutes it starts smoking...and I notice moisture dripping from the tailpipe. Strangley, when it reaches FULL TEMP it stops smoking. It has been doing this for a month now. There has been absolutley NO COOLANT LOSS and NO indication of coolant in the OIL. What else could cuase somehting like this to happen? I'M SCRATCHING my head on this damn car... sucks when you take care of somthing and then no one know why something goes wrong...HELP!

 

[superchef]

My 1997 explorer 4.0 OHV (low mileage and babied) has been smoking once it starts to warm-up. When I first start the truck, no Smoke...but after a few minutes it starts smoking...and I notice moisture dripping from the tailpipe. Strangley, when it reaches FULL TEMP it stops smoking. It has been doing this for a month now. There has been absolutley NO COOLANT LOSS and NO indication of coolant in the OIL. What else could cuase somehting like this to happen? I'M SCRATCHING my head on this damn car... sucks when you take care of somthing and then no one know why something goes wrong...HELP!

Sounds like piston rings. I'm not sure that I would worry about the moisture from the pipe. Normally this moisture is just built up condensation in the pipe. If you stick your hand under the pipe and collect some of it - and it smells like pure gas - then you may have a problem. Most likely just condensation though.

 

[Robb]

How many miles? Does it smoke all the time in that temp range? Or only when you gas it?

 

[maxx31]

How many miles? Does it smoke all the time in that temp range? Or only when you gas it?

It only smokes 1 minute after initial startup and finally clears up at normal temperature...this can take a few minutes. This is abnormal considering outdoor temps have been mid 70's. So far, somone has told me it may be the spark plugs? it has not been tuned up for at least 39,000 miles. what do you guys think? And , it is not Blue or bright white smoke.....just a hazy brown/white smoke. No coolant odors either!

When it's finally warmed up, it does not smoke at all...even when gasing it....nice n clear!?!