Help with mysterious white smoke - The Ford Focus Forum

**Paul0088** · 07-23-2009, 11:46 AM

Lately I've been noticing white smoke coming from the front of the car (2004 ZX5 2.0 Zetec Auto). It is very inconsistent and only seems to happen when the car is warmed up and usually while waiting at a light. I've pulled over and tried to diagnose the problem but the smoke usually dissipates before I can see the source. Has anyone has similar issues? It is strong smelling and may be electrical in nature. Not really sure. Thank you in advance.

**beatboxer13** · 07-26-2009, 04:52 PM

I experienced the same thing after I washed my engine. It was just steam from water residue and didn't smell. Maybe you wet your engine somehow?

**Travisf50** · 07-28-2009, 02:08 PM

Is the smoke coming up from between your heat shield and your valve cover? If so it is probably the valve cover gasket. The oil drips down onto the exhaust manifold and burns, thus the reason for the smoke. The reason you only see it when you are at a light is because the outside air coming into the engine bay while driving is enough to blow it away. Just had to replace mine a few days ago on my zx5. It is simple to replace and once i did all smoke stopped. I would guess that this is your issue. If you are not mechanically savy don't sweat it. My 12 year old did most of the work. Try tightening your valve cover bolts down. That might help temporarily. Be forewarned the bolts have a very low torque rating and could easily snap, so be gentle. One more piece of advice if it is indeed a valve cover gasket, get a Felpro gasket from NAPA or Autozone. Don't let Ford sucker you in to a motorcraft. Just my suggestion.

**Johnny_P** · 07-29-2009, 03:59 PM

Look in your engine bay. If its your valve cover gasket you'll notice pools of oil sitting on the edge of the head. Or it will be solidified oil deposits on there. You can only see a bit of the edge of the head, but you should be able to tell if its leaking.

Other than that check your thermostat housing. The O-ring against the cylinder head tends to fail and leak coolant all over the side of your block. You should be able to notice this if its bad.

When in doubt, just turn the car on, go for a quick drive, come back and pop your hood and smell away.

**Paul0088** · 07-31-2009, 08:19 PM

Thanks for the responses. I did notice a bit of oil on the thermostat housing....maybe it is the valve cover gasket.....Ill check it out tonight.

**Paul0088** · 08-02-2009, 11:31 AM

Well I checked again this weekend for the source of the smoke. I did see it coming from between the engine and the heat shield. I also noticed some oil seepage around the valve cover so I was thinking it may be the gasket. I went to make sure that the bolts were tight and they were loose. I tightened them and cleaned the oil around the valve cover area. I'm thinking this may have been the cause. Hopefully that is all that it needed.

**Johnny_P** · 08-02-2009, 11:26 PM

^the gasket is still probably bad... its a known issue

**Paul0088** · 08-03-2009, 12:35 PM

Good to know that it is a known issue. I'll keep an eye on it in the upcoming weeks and change it out if there's still a problem.

07-23-2009, 11:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
Paul0088 TEAM Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 102	Help with mysterious white smoke Lately I've been noticing white smoke coming from the front of the car (2004 ZX5 2.0 Zetec Auto). It is very inconsistent and only seems to happen when the car is warmed up and usually while waiting at a light. I've pulled over and tried to diagnose the problem but the smoke usually dissipates before I can see the source. Has anyone has similar issues? It is strong smelling and may be electrical in nature. Not really sure. Thank you in advance. __________________ 04 Silver ZX5 Cat-Back 2.5'' Exhaust Steeda CAI

07-28-2009, 02:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
Travisf50 Rookie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Canton, Ohio Posts: 16	Re: Help with mysterious white smoke Is the smoke coming up from between your heat shield and your valve cover? If so it is probably the valve cover gasket. The oil drips down onto the exhaust manifold and burns, thus the reason for the smoke. The reason you only see it when you are at a light is because the outside air coming into the engine bay while driving is enough to blow it away. Just had to replace mine a few days ago on my zx5. It is simple to replace and once i did all smoke stopped. I would guess that this is your issue. If you are not mechanically savy don't sweat it. My 12 year old did most of the work. Try tightening your valve cover bolts down. That might help temporarily. Be forewarned the bolts have a very low torque rating and could easily snap, so be gentle. One more piece of advice if it is indeed a valve cover gasket, get a Felpro gasket from NAPA or Autozone. Don't let Ford sucker you in to a motorcraft. Just my suggestion.

07-29-2009, 03:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Johnny_P [FJ] Specialist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Philly, PA Posts: 5,199	Re: Help with mysterious white smoke Look in your engine bay. If its your valve cover gasket you'll notice pools of oil sitting on the edge of the head. Or it will be solidified oil deposits on there. You can only see a bit of the edge of the head, but you should be able to tell if its leaking. Other than that check your thermostat housing. The O-ring against the cylinder head tends to fail and leak coolant all over the side of your block. You should be able to notice this if its bad. When in doubt, just turn the car on, go for a quick drive, come back and pop your hood and smell away. __________________ Do you..... Focus?

07-31-2009, 08:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Paul0088 TEAM Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 102	Re: Help with mysterious white smoke Thanks for the responses. I did notice a bit of oil on the thermostat housing....maybe it is the valve cover gasket.....Ill check it out tonight. __________________ 04 Silver ZX5 Cat-Back 2.5'' Exhaust Steeda CAI

08-02-2009, 11:31 AM	#6 (permalink)
Paul0088 TEAM Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 102	Re: Help with mysterious white smoke Well I checked again this weekend for the source of the smoke. I did see it coming from between the engine and the heat shield. I also noticed some oil seepage around the valve cover so I was thinking it may be the gasket. I went to make sure that the bolts were tight and they were loose. I tightened them and cleaned the oil around the valve cover area. I'm thinking this may have been the cause. Hopefully that is all that it needed. __________________ 04 Silver ZX5 Cat-Back 2.5'' Exhaust Steeda CAI

08-02-2009, 11:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
Johnny_P [FJ] Specialist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Philly, PA Posts: 5,199	Re: Help with mysterious white smoke ^the gasket is still probably bad... its a known issue __________________ Do you..... Focus?

08-03-2009, 12:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Paul0088 TEAM Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Santa Fe, NM Posts: 102	Re: Help with mysterious white smoke Good to know that it is a known issue. I'll keep an eye on it in the upcoming weeks and change it out if there's still a problem. __________________ 04 Silver ZX5 Cat-Back 2.5'' Exhaust Steeda CAI

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