Also, car just passed emissions test 3 days ago (if that helps determine what might be burning)

 

It's just condensation in the exhaust.

Blue smoke = Oil
Black smoke = Fuel

 

my is a 04 with 51k and it does the same thing but it goes away as soon as the engine warms up and is faily normal for these cars

 

Oh good, I'm glad to hear that this is normal. I just bought an 04' also and it does the same thing. I was assuming it was just because of the cold temperature and the car wasn't warmed up either.

So will it do this in the summer also when the weather warms up?

 

More than likely...no. It usually only occurs in colder temperatures. It is the equivalent of being able to "see your breath" in cold weather.

 

=)

yep it's just the condensation of ur exhaust, seems to happen mostly in cold weather.

I like when it does that (i like messing around with the smoke that comes out your mouth in the cold, so i like it with my car too ), its cool when you tell your friend or someone to rev it alittle a puff of smoke comes out, IMO looks BEASTLY!!!!!

 

yep it's just the condensation of ur exhaust, seems to happen mostly in cold weather.

I like when it does that (i like messing around with the smoke that comes out your mouth in the cold, so i like it with my car too ), its cool when you tell your friend or someone to rev it alittle a puff of smoke comes out, IMO looks BEASTLY!!!!!

would be fun to play in but I am catless and that white smoke smells a little to much to go frolicking around in

 

This doesn't look like the condensation cloud that happens when it's cold. This can happen midday when the car is warm or in the morning when it's cold. It doesn't necessarily go away when the car gets up to temperature (but the car never overheats).

 

Is there any chance I'm running rich and that's all? I have noticed that the tip of my exhaust is black, and that it's a little rough at idle. No CEL either. Thanks.

 

You can usually see everyone's exhaust smoke in the cold weather.

Like someone above said, it's like being able to see your breath in the winter.

If the cloud is very thick and not at all transparent and constant, then I would worry.

But if it's just some smoke (that's not blue or black) and it's cold out, it's nothing.

 

ok, i will say it again: this is not just happening in cold weather. It is cold around here in the morning, but it happens when its 40-50, and when the car is warmed up. I'm almost positive this is not just condensation, it is too thick (not really thick, but doesn't dissipate like water vapor).

 

It is nothing to worry about. The vapor that you are seeing depends on many things including: humidity, temperature, etc. There is no need to worry unless the smoke is blue or black. The tip on your exhaust will be black b/c you drive a turbo vehicle, that's just how it is. Excessive black smoke is an indicator of another problem, usually something to do with the intake tract somewhere. Blue smoke means you're burning oil as I have posted before. If you have a stainless exhaust, the condensation is nothing to worry about because it won't hurt your car at all.

Don't worry about it!:thumbup:

 

So as long as I'm not overheating and my oil and coolant levels are fine I'm good to go?

 

Also, my PCV valve hasn't been replaced yet (55K miles). Any chance this might have something to do with it? Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it.

 

My car has 59k on it and it hasn't had the pcv valve changed either and mine runs fine(Looks like I found something to do this weekend). It really is nothing to worry about.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone, but today I checked my coolant and it seems to be low. I started the car when it was ~50 outside and it looked like the picture below (None of the other cars on the road were smoking/steaming at this point). Even after warming up, that was what the exhaust looked like. Also, when I shut the car off, a bit of steam continues to come off the exhaust tip for a bit. Remember, this is happening both before and after the car warms up. I'm starting to think it isn't just condensation. I'm going to fill up the coolant reservoir before a long drive home (80 miles) and see what it looks like when I get there. Any more ideas given the new info and the pic.

 

That's what my exhaust smoke looks like everyday.