White smoke coming from exhaust, please help.

Uberck

Uberck

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Hi Lincoln LS community,

I have recently (past 1-2 months) noticed that my LS loses oil over a period of time, I want to say about 1/3 of a quart every 2-3 weeks. There are no leaks whatsoever. Tonight I was shocked when I noticed that white smoke is faintly coming out of my exhaust. I noticed other cars at the gas station did not have any smoke coming out of their tail pipes, this is a 50 degree night if that helps. Does anyone have any suggestions? Here is a video to describe what I am seeing.

https://goo.gl/photos/NGdFp6vwvNEwbMTh7

Thanks in advance for any advice folks.

-Christos
 
Is it smoke or condensation; as in does it have an odor? How many miles are you driving in those 2-3 weeks? Have you been underneath to see if you've got a leak? The oil drain plug and oil filter are likely suspects. Also, check your coolant. The oil cooler has been known to fail, although not too frequently.
 
Looks fairly normal for the conditions, particularly if your engine and exhaust weren't fully warmed up. (Had you driven for miles before stopping for gas?)

Oil being burned (even at that rate) often will not show (particularly at idle) due to the catalytic converters. However, there should be some smell.
 
Both my LS's emitted what looked like white smoke when it was cool and humid (LA winter is normal that way). You probably are leaking through the valve cover gaskets, assuming they havnt seen a change in a few 1000's miles. Up there may or may not get to the ground to pool up from my experience.
 
LS4me said:
Is it smoke or condensation; as in does it have an odor? How many miles are you driving in those 2-3 weeks? Have you been underneath to see if you've got a leak? The oil drain plug and oil filter are likely suspects. Also, check your coolant. The oil cooler has been known to fail, although not too frequently.
Click to expand...

60 miles round trip M-F + usually about 50-100 on the weekends so let's say 400 miles a week or 1,600 miles a month. No leaks underneath near plug. Haven't checked filter. Coolant level normal. Absolutely no odor at all.

joegr said:
Looks fairly normal for the conditions, particularly if your engine and exhaust weren't fully warmed up. (Had you driven for miles before stopping for gas?)

Oil being burned (even at that rate) often will not show (particularly at idle) due to the catalytic converters. However, there should be some smell.
Click to expand...

Probably about 10-15 miles. Engine was at normal temp (Temp gauge halfway between C and H). No odor at all checked again this morning.

grizzlyls said:
Both my LS's emitted what looked like white smoke when it was cool and humid (LA winter is normal that way). You probably are leaking through the valve cover gaskets, assuming they havnt seen a change in a few 1000's miles. Up there may or may not get to the ground to pool up from my experience.
Click to expand...

Can you please dive into this a bit deeper? Here's another video for you guys with some info (especially you Mike!).

https://goo.gl/photos/sC1VgRY1AU5NdNbW8
 
Sure. What mine was/is condensation. Little wisps of vapor that look dead on like smoke. Scared me too until I had a mech inspect/explain. As far as the valve covers, thats a common source of oil seepage. Bought my car in march and too this day have not had 1 drop of oil show on the ground (white cardboard test). However, my Tranny tech showed me a stream of congealed oil on the back of the engine when I was seeing actual smoke coming off the catalytic's (blow back from fluids). Mine ended up being a hacked up valve cover from a previous mech that had supposedly repaired the leaky valve cover. New valve covers solved all that. Yours maybe just the gaskets though.
 
Oil smoke will have a blue cast to it. If it's really white it's a water leak---quite possibly a head gasket. And when you stop and look, there may well be water/anti-freeze dripping from the tail pipes. Black smoke will be black from carbon---from an incomplete combustion process.

KS
 
Last edited:
Uberck said:
60 miles round trip M-F + usually about 50-100 on the weekends so let's say 400 miles a week or 1,600 miles a month. No leaks underneath near plug. Haven't checked filter. Coolant level normal. Absolutely no odor at all.



Probably about 10-15 miles. Engine was at normal temp (Temp gauge halfway between C and H). No odor at all checked again this morning.



Can you please dive into this a bit deeper? Here's another video for you guys with some info (especially you Mike!).

https://goo.gl/photos/sC1VgRY1AU5NdNbW8
Click to expand...

NICE install!! I ended up cutting a hole in the rear deck to hide the antenna wire.

IMHO that's nothing more than condensation. My LSes would do that at temps below about 60º with humidity over 50%.

If your coolant looks like it should (lime greenish) and not have a brown tinge to it your oil cooler should be just fine. To check for a leak put some appropriate dye in the oil, give it a few days and break out the 60's black light and see if you can find the leak. A blown head gasket on the LS is pretty rare. Driving extensively while overheating is pretty much the only way to "blow" the head gasket.

NICE looking LS!!!!
 
First off, LS4me, you are ****ing awesome, there is no denying that. 2nd, the Lincoln LS has to be one of the greatest things manufactured since the Ford Model T. It is truly the soul of America for it's time. The way it rides, the way its built, everything from the heart of where its manufactured, I even met someone recently who used to live in Wixom, this is truly American Spirit and I say that as a Greek-American outside observer. Guys this car is something else. The 06' is one of a kind. Thanks for all your help. I'm glad to be a part of this community. I look forward to sharing more stories. And when this one dies, I can't wait to buy an even better one!!! Lincoln Ls for life!!! This is what I want!

http://www.drivingenthusiast.net/sec-blog/?p=14851
 
Hows that for enthusiasm! :eek: Ya its sad that Ford was more interested in selling off Jaguar and not doing what was needed to make this car a mainstay against Euro Luxury. Oh well Tata has done it. When I hit the lotto... I am off to Jagforums! lol
 
grizzlyls said:
Hows that for enthusiasm! :eek: Ya its sad that Ford was more interested in selling off Jaguar and not doing what was needed to make this car a mainstay against Euro Luxury. Oh well Tata has done it. When I hit the lotto... I am off to Jagforums! lol
Click to expand...

The business model for the LS was nonexistent when Ford realized they would be competing against themselves with the LS and S-Type in Europe. The LS would have precious few sales against the S-Type. The LS was also quite costly to produce (at the time) with all the aluminum it contains. Their profit margin was extremely slim on the LS; too slim to justify it's continued existence. Like Joe keeps saying, The LS has very, very little in common with anything else in the Ford line-up. My mechanic calls my LS my Jag!
 
After driving home from work last night (35~ miles, mainly highway) my LS was doing the same thing. I haven't noticed it before, but last night was the coldest night we've had so far (this year/since i've started driving my LS) and it was pretty humid as well.

I went back and smelled it, smelled like nothing more than water vapor.
 
BrianDye said:
After driving home from work last night (35~ miles, mainly highway) my LS was doing the same thing. I haven't noticed it before, but last night was the coldest night we've had so far (this year/since i've started driving my LS) and it was pretty humid as well.

I went back and smelled it, smelled like nothing more than water vapor.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip man, much appreciated. I checked my oil levels again this morning and everything seems to be fine. Probably just me being paranoid before winter (Boston winters can get pretty rough).

Quick off-topic. What do you guys think about the 2007 Jaguar S-Type R?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=typShbDY_BQ
 
Uberck said:
Thanks for the tip man, much appreciated. I checked my oil levels again this morning and everything seems to be fine. Probably just me being paranoid before winter (Boston winters can get pretty rough).

Quick off-topic. What do you guys think about the 2007 Jaguar S-Type R?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=typShbDY_BQ
Click to expand...

They're quick. Other than a little "soft", I actually like the styling. My only issue would be keeping it in good nick. Like the LS, repair parts are going to be an issue going forward...
 
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