Mikhaelm

Hello everyone, I am new to Lexus and I recently purchased a 2013 Lexus GS350 RWD with 90k miles. So, every time I start the vehicle up I notice white/grayish type of smoke coming out of the exhaust for the first 10-15 seconds and it goes away. I bought the vehicle from an Audi dealership and I have since taken it back there for at least 3 times and every time they check it in and they take it to the Lexus dealership and the Lexus techs basically say they can’t duplicate any problems and they’re unable to see the smoke. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’ve posted a video as well

richard203

iTrader: (1)

its normal to have white smoke coming out of the exhaust when your car is cold, all car have that

yelloiroc

Humidity levels around you might impact the amount you see. When I'm near staying near the beach it's pretty obvious, at my house I barely notice it other than during the winter.

jonathancl

Water vapor is often visible in the exhaust when the exhaust is cool: H2O is an output of hyrdocarbon oxidation.

When the exhaust system warms, the H2O comes out as steam so you can no longer see it.

bclexus

Agree with the comments in answer to the OP's question.

To add a bit of information for the colder months - it is very common to see what 'appears' to be whitish-gray exhaust smoke during colder months the first time or two when you go wide-open-throttle (WOT). This is nothing more than moisture buildup in the exhaust system being blown out under higher WOT exhaust pressure. The moisture is usually gone after just one or two 5 second romps at WOT. This moisture buildup is common if only shortish trips are made and not enough heat is built-up in the exhaust system to burn off the moisture (water) buildup. It doesn't take but a day or two of shortish drives for more moisture (water) to buildup again in the exhaust system. The main point I want to make is that the whitish-gray exhaust you may see in the rearview mirror is not your car burning smoke - it is moisture that is being blown out of the exhaust system.

Mikhaelm

Gotcha, thank you for the info!

Mikhaelm

I live in east San Diego and that does make sense. Thank you!

Mikhaelm

Thank you for the information

Mikhaelm

I was also thinking the same but I just wanted more opinions on this. Luckily, it came with a warranty for at least another 2 years so hopefully this thing is reliable. Thank you for the information as well!

Mikhaelm

UPDATED ON THE SMOKE:

It was finally repaired and it was the Valve Stem Seals that were bad.

bclexus

Really! So they replaced all the valve stem seals? That's the first time I've heard that with the GS 350 engine. That really surprises me!

Leaky valve stem seals were somewhat common many decades ago with pushrod (OHV) engines using dinosaur oil, but usually only after 100k miles.

Moisture

It was common back with garbage OHV engines with garbage valve stem seals, sure. This is a Japanese vehicle we are talking about.

If the valve stem seals were bad, i'm concerned about the health of the piston rings as well. you may as well replace those as well while you have the cylinder head taken apart.

bclexus

Piston rings are unrelated to the valve stem seals. Having bad/defective valve stem seals do not in anyway mean the piston rings' health are questionable.

Pulling the cylinder heads does not allow access for replacing the piston rings. That would require opening the bottom of the engine to remove the piston's connecting rods from the crankshaft in order to remove the pistons from the cylinders. .

Moisture

I know they are unrelated, I meant that if the valve stem seals are worn it's very likely the piston rings are as well. The only time i ever seen bad valve stem seals is on a poor condition motor which is burning enough oil to pretty much confirm the piston rings are bad too.

Makes sense regarding the comment with piston rings... It didn't occur to me you'd have to get to the piston by taking the con rods out from the bottom.

bclexus

No comment...