Car smoking, losing power

Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.

If you saw a lot of white smoke from the exhaust, it sounds like a bad head gasket. White smoke indicates engine coolant getting into the combustion chamber and burning. If it was low on coolant, that is my first suspect. Here is a link that discusses how to check for a bad head gasket:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Also, here is a link that discusses different color smoke from the exhaust:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/excessive-smoke-coming-from-the-exhaust-pipe

Here is a specific link that discusses white smoke. See if the pictures in this link is what you saw and let me know.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/white-smoke-or-steam-coming-from-the-exhaust-pipe

I will watch for your reply. Let me know if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

Hi, thanks. I thought it was more grey/dirty color. Does that make things any better ? Also, the smoking had stopped as far as I could tell when I drove it home slowly (four minute drive).
I am going to start it up now and see.

The coolant may enter the combustion chamber when you turn the engine off. There is still pressure in the cooling system. Once it starts, it may burn it. My concern is the low coolant. You may want to follow through with the head gasket test link I added in the last post.

Let me know. And yes, it could be more grey.

Joe