eddiej

I got in my car today after work, 92 ls400. I started it up and a big cloud of white smoke appeared for about 20 seconds out the exhaust. I have seen it before a couple of months ago and never saw it until now. What could be causing this? The car seems to run fine, except the check engine light comes off and on every now and then. I have also seen a decline in gas mileage. I recentlydid a tuneup and oil change.

dfkd

O2 sensors perhaps...

sonyman

Umm no. White smoke means some sort of fluid is getting in the engine and burning that shouldn't be. It's most likely coolant or power steering fluid, so check both and report back.

eddiej

My coolant is good. I do have to fill the power steering fluid up from halfway about every 2 or 3 weeks and there is no leak. The thing is, my car does not do this in the mornings. The smoke has only happened a couple of times and it is in the afternoon. If it was coolant, I would eventually have none and the car would run hot. It runs at normal temp and does not smoke while driving, just when I start it up.

CUMan

Read the first posting in the sticky thread near the top of this page which discusses the LS first generation power steering problems.

The culprit in this problem is a part called the air control valve. It is screwed into the bottom of the power steering pump. When its internal seals fail, it allows power steering fluid to enter the intake manifold. When you crank the car, the fluid burns and creates the white smoke.

This is a fairly easy problem to repair. The part costs about $85-100. It is somewhat difficult to access, but it can be done with the right tools.

This particular part is also used on numerous Toyota models. You can likely get it cheaper at a Toyota dealer than a Lexus dealer. I believe the part number is given in the thread mentioned above.

Suneet

x2. Its definitely your power steering. Check the sticky up top on power steering.

eddiej

Thanks for the info. I will check it out. Its funny. I park at a slope at home with the rear on the bottom of the slope, no smoke. At work, I park on a slope with the front at the bottom of the slope and smoke appears. Weird?

GRAND_LS 4

iTrader: (2)

I've edited your thread title due to lack of description.

Please take the time to read this sticky:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=247695