Live in SOCAL, weather does not get extremely cold but last few nights in around 55-60 degree cold the exhaust was SMOKING very excessively....not just at startup either but also in idle at drivethru...

I let the car warm up etc but this smoke was much more than it should of been, I mean the rear back up camera was blocked by exhaust smoke/heat fumes!!

I thought it would slowly disappear but at a drive through about 10 minutes later idling it was smoking up the entire lane, I could even see the smoke through my rearview mirror and side mirror! However, just a few minutes later I parked my car with engine on, walked outside to check it and not even one sign of exhaust....

Is this normal just due to the cold or is there a problem?

 

Welcome to sub-60 degree weather, lol.

 

Might just be condensation.

 

LOL, not flaming you but I guess I just have to laugh at the idea of 55 to 60 being "cold" any time of year, let alone in the middle of winter.


Okay, having said that I just got home from a drive, my car is kept an insulated but unheated garage, so it's maybe 50 to 55 in there during the winter. That's what the car claims usually when I start it. Outside right now I'd say it's 20 to 25 degrees. And I haven't seen anything like what you described, and I'm starting in something 50 degrees and quickly going to freezing or below freezing.

So...no, I haven't seen anything close to what you described at all.

 

Pictures? There's a difference between condensation from warm exhaust in cold air and actual smoke. If it is smoke, and it's white.... then run to your dealer. Could be burning oil or antifreeze, or worse have a cracked head gasket (less likely).

 

Take a video during next cold start up.

 

What color smoke? Any exhaust mods?