Guys! Started the 84 V12 this morning and Lo behold, white smoke came flying out of the exhaust! But, after it got to operating temp, it disappeared! Whoa, Im new to the british car tinker and self repair thing. By no means I am a mechanic but I sure know how to fix it with the right knowledge and books. Guys, this car has not been driven regularly for about 7 months and the lady that had it did keep it looking good, that is, garaged and started it every once in awhile. She did you supreme unleaded so whats up?

 

Could just be moisture in the exhaust pipes. I would get it up to operating temperature, drive it for half an hour, park it overnight, then check again in the morning.

 

Worse case scenario...head gasket blown. Best case to be determined.

You have to start by checking a few things.
1. Run the engine for a couple of minutes and after it is off, pull the oil dipstick. Is it clean oil or is it milky looking?
2. After the engine is cool check the level of the coolant, is it at the correct level or low? How low?
3. Is the white smoke you see floating away like smoke or is it dissipating quickly at the rear of the car quickly, like steam might? How long does the white exhaust remain..in minutes?
4. Does it happen every time you start the car or only when it is cold and has not been started for a while?
5. Does the car miss when first started or run smooth and level out at normal idle after the warm up period?

Anyway, there is your starting place and report back.

 

I have video response of my perfectly healthy '82 running in the cold...
Old XJS, running in the cold. - YouTube

 

Mish, that's just plain sexy. The rear of the XJS, with the curved tailpipes, art deco tail lamps, flying buttresses, and the orange segment rear window, is just too much.

 

She is a timelessly sexy golden girl and I do not regret a penny of that $1500 I paid for her in the year 1999, when her hillbilly owner was getting ready for Y2K and purged all of his Earthy possessions....

 

I would expect that from someone living in Ohio right now. He lives in Sacramento, Calif. Also looks like you did the video at night or early in the morning? Not a very good comparison.

 

Steam will be steam, let him boil some antifreeze, before we make any loud judgement.

 

I don't know what that is supposed to mean. Maybe you could explain it?

 

It could just be cold weather condensation that evaporates within a few seconds. Let the OP report if he smells a sweet scent, or is low on coolant.

Methinks this is what he means.

 

Any update?

 

Thank you for your many replies. The exhuast did settle and dissapate. Beginning it looked bad,but after all it was cold because it sat. Oil dip stick is so clean you cant tell on the stick. My problem after quick idle it wants to stall. Wow, issues...

 

Yup.

Water vapor, which is a normal byproduct of internal combustion, condenses in the exhaust system. As the exhaust gets hot the water heats and returns to vapor form until it's burned off. Naturally this vapor from the pipes is more pronounced, visually, if the weather is cold.

Cheers
DD

 

Oh yeah, since nobody has done it yet...

 

Well, I went straight to diagnosing a serious issue and ended up with egg on my face...I like eggs, just not there!
I am surprised that condensation from the exhaust was not immediately recognised but the poster, but since the car is in Calif it may not be a normal thing to experience on a cold start there?? Glad to hear that is all it was.
Then again, I am somewhat paranoid when it comes to the Jag since everyday I read about someone elses failure of their car and my own. A couple of examples...the antenna dropping when I am listening to the radio...and then coming back up when it decides to. Another, is the speedometer works sometimes and sometimes not...I guess it will keep the mileage total down and be good for resale?? Of course there are a host of things already repaired and replaced since I bought the car a year ago...I owned another XJS 5 years ago and it too was a project car. I think the term "project car" might be good for a front prestige?? plate. I complain, but I do love the car.

 

Your right on the ghostly dials of the panel. lol. My rpm and speedometer also moves at one point when I started this thing. geez. Project or what. Of all things my post did mess up on the white smoke comment, but, it was thick, really thick. I know it was cold but come on... Happy to know the v12 has more adventures to keep me wondering what can come next, can I blink now and close my ears? NOT ha ha ha

 

Mr Ironstag, I will post a picture of my v12 real quick. Sorry, new to this forum.
Lifes a beach when you can get there and back in your v12...

 

Sure sign of voltage drop....weak-ish battery, poor battery cable connectins, poor contacts on the instrument printed circuit.....

Cheers
DD