Exhaust condensation?

[Shran]

Need some advice...

I'm working on my '86 Ranger w/ the 2.9. It runs beautifully, lots of power, no crap in oil (just did a change, was black as hell, but nothing in it), no crap on dipstick or oil cap, plugs not fowled and don't have the steamcleaned look. As far as I can tell I'm not loosing any coolant either, and the exhaust just stinks like burnt gas.

The problem is, no matter how long I let it idle, the exhaust smoke is white. It looks like condensation, but seriously, I've let it idle for like 30 minutes and it never stops. Now I've never seen coolant burning before so I have no idea what it looks like. It's not like a cloud either, not thick, and just shoots out about 12" before it disappears.

Plugs all look like this:
Sorry for the shitty pic, taken with my phone...

 

[gbadgley]

Well you seem to be answering a lot of the question. As long as the coolent is staying put you should be safe. Remember from science class the factors of tempeture & humidity creating fog. It is possible that the factors are right for it to happen. Greg

 

[Shran]

I guess time will tell. I've only had the truck for a couple weeks and haven't driven it anywhere yet. I flushed the cooling system and replaced the radiator because it was cracked, so we'll see if I lose any.

Still just bugs the crap out of me.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

whats the ambient air temp there? if its near or below freezing, your seeing steam and its normal if it doesnt go away.

hows the temp. gauge act?

 

[Shran]

The temperature has been anywhere between 20 and 60. Temp gauge gets about halfway to normal or about 1/4 of the way up. I don't know how accurate this is. The stock gauge in my '88 is pretty flaky.

Keep in mind that I haven't been driving this on the road at all, just idling it in my driveway until I get the flatbed on.

 

[IMenriched]

get her going down the road and up to temp and visiable exhuast should go away, within 3-5miles.

new plugs can't hurt

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Most vehicles down here keep smoking even warmed up right now, the outside air is just right. If it disapates without turning into much of a haze or has a strong sweet smell and you are not losing fluids I bet you are ok.

 

[Shran]

Cool..thanks for the advice.