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When i start my car a THICK cloud of white smoke exits through the tail pipe. I'm talking quite a lot, enough to cover my street. but as soon as the car warms up it runs normal. There is no power loss once started, no increase in temperature the car appears to be running normal. I've had a few different responces to the issue so far, one of them being that this is normal under really cold conditions and another that the car needs a head gasket replacement.

Any thoughts on the issue will be greatly appreciated...
Thanks

sounds like your burning coolant. You say it only does it when you start it perhapes you have a small leak in the system and this is the warning sign, or it's just the cold weather. Either way keep your eye on your temps n check your fluid levels regularly. If you strat to see it more and more then perhaps you may need head gaskets or worse an engine rebuild.

I just wanted to make sure the cloud is white and not light blue. If it is light blue, I'd suggest it may be a leaky valve guide.

Is your coolant and oil the right colors?

Pull each spark plug one at a time and check for the color of the plug tip. Also look for any fluids on the plug (should be dry). Only pull one at a time and replace it after you have recorded it color and if any fluid, then replace it and move to the next one. This will keep you from messing up the plug wire order.
It sounds like you have some oil getting into the cylinder. Normal for an older MX-3. The oil could be coming from a bad valve guide or poor piston ring. It could also be coolant from a cracked head gasket, but that would usually smoke all the time. A valve seal or ring would leak only when sitting for a bit then it would smoke on start up or as soon as you start to move. Does it smoke when you take off from a red light?

Ok, so the cloud is white, not blue and it has a sweet smell to it.
as for smoking when i take of from a red light, i'm not sure it does, i shall double check. As soon as the car is at running temperature though it appears to be running normal.

Thanks all for your input in this situation.

Moe_maX wrote:Ok, so the cloud is white, not blue and it has a sweet smell to it.

That's gotta be coolant, especially from the sweet smell. I though blue smoke would be oil, and white coolant