I just got a manual 1997 Honda Civic. It does have high mileage, 204,xxx but it had a good price and runs like brand new. It does need a new clutch (have to rev the car up to about redline to get it to move at all), but recently it has been spitting white smoke out like crazy when revving it up. Well, it's gotten worse, now it, on startup, revs up to 3000 rpm on its own and spits out white smoke like CRAZY!!! any help?? MUCH appreciated i know a little about cars and was thinking maybe the valves? valve seals? I wasn't thinking oil so much because if the oil burnage was that bad, the car wouldn't be running in such good condition (well, the engine) lol. THANKS SO MUCH!!!
Update:oh, also, noticed real recently since the smoke atarted at startup...dad came out and smelled the smoke and said it smells like gas burnage...since he said that...i noticed that in the 5 times ive started the car for maybe ten minutes a piece, the gas gauge has gone from 1/2 to 1/4...not sure if thats a coincedence though...
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
thats what happens to a car after you ram it at a 100 mph in forza 3. your done. just sell that sucker.
White smoke could be caused by coolant leaking into the cylinders from a blown head gasket or crack in the cylinder head or engine block. Check coolant level and also if car is over heating. If you are leaking coolant into the cylinders, engine can hydrolock and bend piston rods.
William F.
Honda/Acura Specialist
what william said, a lot of white smoke is steam. You either have a blown head gasket, a warped head, or a crack in the block. I'm guessing its just a blown head gasket, unless the car overheats a lot, then it could be a warped head. Its a pretty costly repair, you have to remove the timing belt (pain in the a$$) just to get the head to come off. and then replace the head gasket, and/or the head.