Excessive exhaust steam

2011 MAZDA 3
130,000 MILES • 2.5L • 4 CYL • 2WD • MANUAL
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JMF2017
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My car is in the shop and they are having trouble confirming head gasket issue. I am experiencing excessive white exhaust steam. Both at startup and driving for over twenty minutes. Also sputtering cold starts. The shop observed the smoke and ran a compression test and the chemical gas test testing the overflow reservoir gases. Both are normal. Also, no coolant loss observed. Can it still be a head gasket issue? Can it be a fuel injector? The shop has been around over thirty five years. Are there other tests to be run? They do not want to remove the cylinder head on a guess. Please advise. Thanks!
Dec 26, 2017 at 3:01 PM
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CARADIODOC
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White smoke from the exhaust is indeed a sign of burning coolant, but it is hard to believe there has been no loss of coolant. To verify if it really is coolant that is being burned, consider adding a small bottle of dark purple dye to the coolant, then search a day or two later with a black light. The dye will show up as a bright yellow stain. If you find the dye inside the tail pipe, it has to be coolant.
Dec 26, 2017 at 3:14 PM
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JMF2017
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Thanks for the help! What type of dye should be used? Quantity to be used?
Should I mention to the auto shop? Is this a common procedure used in auto shops for analysis?
Dec 26, 2017 at 3:27 PM
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CARADIODOC
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Very common. Auto parts stores have the dye in tiny bottles. They will ask what fluid you are testing and will give you the right dye. I just use half a bottle, and save the rest for the next job. Most shops already have a black light, but if not, you may find one at an auto parts store that rents or borrows tools.
Dec 26, 2017 at 3:42 PM