My cb7 smokes at startup then disappears

[Accordknown]

At startup my cb gives off white smoke, then once it warms up the smoke disappears. What could this be? and how to properly diagnose this?

[wed3k]

when it is warm, pressure test the cooling system and see if it holds pressure. sounds like an early sign of a head gasket.

sure it isnt condensation?

[According2Me610]

What color smoke ?

[dhill_cb7]

What color smoke ?

He said white in the original post.

[Accordknown]

Guys thanks i am going to pressure test the cylinders and cooling system, can be head gasket or valve seals. Was just seeing what you guys may come up with, planning to drop the engine anyways. Just may end up rebuilding it if the head is not warped.

[H23CB7]

From what I understand white smoke on startup is leaky valve seals.
But that doesn't rule out the head gasket

[wagon-r]

I thought if the head gasket was starting to go, that the smoke problem would get worse as the engine warms up, not better.

Or is it just that the hotter exhaust suspends the water molecules better, so that the smoke isn't as visible when the engine warms up?

[wed3k]

both but when the motor is shut off, water will leak past the headgasket and sit inside the cylinder. ive seen cylinders rust when the motor has sat for a long time.

on my vw, it was so bad that it would misfire for a couple seconds on a cold start and then run fine as it warmed up but i would have to fill the reservoir every couple days. eventually when summer came, it started to overheat.

[RoseRoyce]

Maybe you have an oil leak? Is your engine clean? Try cleaning it with purple degreaser and once it's clean you'll have an easier time finding the leak

[wildBill83]

Oil leak is a different smoke color. White smoke is generally coolant or trapped condensation from water in fuel.

[speedfr3ak]

Oil leak is a different smoke color. White smoke is generally coolant or trapped condensation from water in fuel.

u are right is it like dark white greyish u know?or white like snow?

[RoseRoyce]

When I had an oil leak in the spark plug chamber, after I drained it and started my car there was a lot of white smoke

[91cbseven]

I am no pro at telling the difference but I've been told you can feel the difference in your palm after holding your hand behind the exhaust. If I remember right its a little sticky when its coolant. Don't know if that helps any

[RoseRoyce]

Sounds like you want him to burn his hand off

[91cbseven]

Sounds like you want him to burn his hand off

Not at all, I didn't want him to hold the tip of the exhaust, and if it's only on start up then it's not going to be extremely hot.