Name this potential problem.

[vping]

I was on the highway in my MG and was being followed by a friend. He told me that when I lift of the throttle he can see a small puff of white smoke out of the tailpipe. He also says I'm running rich, which I kinda knew by the smell, my tailpipe color and my mileage.

What do you think the smoke is from?

 

[rick_ingram]

White smoke can be an indication of coolant entering the combustion chamber.

In the case of servoed brake systems, it can also be brake fluid entering the combustion chamber.

Running rich is usually sterotyped by black exhaust

 

[kennypinkerton]

Of course the lighting, and angle of the person viewing it, the "running rich" smoke (usually dark grey or black) can look white. You did mention it was only when you let off the throttle that he saw it.

 

[tony barnhill]

From a car behind you grey could look white...what does the residue in your tailpipe taste like? Gas or anti-freeze?

 

[vping]

Black and sooty and I did not taste it. Smells like gas.

 

[kennypinkerton]

If it was coolant (such as in the case of a blown headgasket), you would look like Jay Leno driving one of his steamers down the road... (looks alot like when you first start your car in the cold of winter on a humid morning.) Has a sickly sweet smell to it also. You probably just need to adjust the fuel mixture and it'll be ok.