Hey, all. It's been a while, since I've posted anything here!

At least once, or twice a month, l take ol' Jody on a 15-20 minute test drive with the radio off to listen for any unusual noises, or look for anything else out of the ordinary. My most recent test drive was two days ago, and I noticed a minor of *possible* gray-white smoke constantly flowing from the exhaust while parking on idle after the drive. On a cold start-to-idle, however, the exhaust is completely clear of any smoke, or condensation. Depress the gas pedal, and more smoke(?) comes out. Again, this only happens during warm idle after (at least) a 10 minute drive.

The smell is somewhat like a very light, and intermittent "firecracker" odor while I'm closer to the exhaust; however, in the car, there is an occasional "burning plastic" smell while the heat is on, but then it goes away immediately (probably a worn cabin filter; it has been 2.5 years, since I changed it).

I've also noticed the coolant level going from mid-level, right to max after the test drive, and while fully warm, but no higher than that---no overflows. I heard this symptom could be related to a bad head gasket (and/or valve stem seals?), and that the coolant level should not change like this, but she never overheats, or have coolant overflows---in fact, the temp only meets slightly off the halfway point during colder days.

Could it be bad valve stem seals, bad head gasket, or am I just crazy, and looking at something else?

P.S. - If you need anymore information, I do have most, if not all service records from the day this car was purchased by the original owner in May 2001, all the way up to about 2009---aside from my own service/parts records from 2013 onward. This car was dropped by the original owner sometime in 2012, and there are no service records between then, and the most recent one in 2009. I currently no longer have OBDII tools ready, but I will again in the near future.

Thanks for reading!

EDIT - Forgot to mention, she is NOT burning oil. Oil levels have been checked periodically for the past 8 months since the last change, and they are perfect.

 

Yeah, I think it's just paranoia. Lol

 

If it was a head gasket, your coolant level would go down. When your coolant warms up, it will show higher in the reservoir, as it expands when heated.
If it was valve seals, your oil level would go down, and valve seals tend to smoke right after a cold start, or on deceleration.

 

A lot can be told by Jody's tail pipe.
After it's parked, take a clean white paper towel and wipe the inside of the tail pipe. both separately if dual exhaust.


Others here please discuss and give experience.




Look for the color. Brown Grey Black
And the shade. Light or dark.
And most important, the tactile. Is it dry or wet. Do a lot of particles come off on the paper?


Too long for full explanation. But some things to look for...


Good unleaded fuel burn with no aux problems would be a medium brown or grey and dry. if wet it is water from Cat Converter and is wet, not oily and reasonably free of smell.


If you are burning oil or coolant, it would show on the tail pipe.
The oil would be wet and black or dark and show on the towel. Smells like petroleum


Coolant would be more brown and light, but wet. Smells identifiable.


What have you got?






Also is there any drip on the floor when over night?

 

Thanks for your responses!

After driving to work today, and since the weather is currently a lot warmer, I kept the car running for another minute to see, if any smoke was coming out of the tailpipe; there was no smoke during idle, and no smoke after revving the engine, too. I also checked for any unusual odors immediately afterwards, which also wasn't the case. No leaking fluids, but Jody was leaking power steering fluid almost two months ago (this was repaired). I haven't done the paper towel check, but I will keep you posted on this.

The only fluid/oil change currently needed is a transmission fluid flush, and I plan to do this when the weather stays like this---possibly early-to-mid March; been getting some slippage between 1st-to-2nd, and more notably 2nd-to-3rd sometimes, but mostly when cold. Either way, a flush is definitely needed.

Would there be any odors related to old/poor transmission fluid while shifting?

 

Not sure but thought the tranny was a closed system. It is in the 2012.
Does it have a dipstick for the tranny?

 

Yes; it has a dipstick. It's an Aisin AW55-50SN, which is a 5-speed shared among other Volvo models, like the S80. Made me wish I had a standard.

 

Wiped the tailpipe; it's a darker, $#@! brown, and it smells like "car". In other words, no unusual odors at all, and the "car" smell is extremely faint, so she's still good to go aside from the need of a transmission flush.

Thanks, for your assistance, and suggestions!