Itinerant Air-Cooled

When starting stone old, I get white-ish 'smoke' out of the exhaust, which I believe to be H2O vapor.

From what or where or why does this come?

See my youtube video. Thanks

https://youtu.be/_wy0pQPokbQ

https://youtu.be/_wy0pQPokbQ

OMG, you have a coolant leak!!!! Your head gaskets must have blown!!!! Is your antifreeze level dropping?

Just kidding. It's most likely just condensation which accumulates in your exhaust system when it's cold.

In fact, a coolant leak on an air-cooled vehicle is normal. That's how it performs the cooling.

SlowLane wrote:. It's most likely just condensation which accumulates in your exhaust system when it's cold.

So, it should stop smoking when the engine reaches operating temperature. I.e., the thermostat has fully expanded, opening up the pathway for air to cool the engine and oil cooler. Right?

SlowLane wrote:In fact, a coolant leak on an air-cooled vehicle is normal. That's how it performs the cooling.

Sorry, I don't quite get that. Is it another joke? Coolant = air?

honeybus wrote:So, it should stop smoking when the engine reaches operating temperature. I.e., the thermostat has fully expanded, opening up the pathway for air to cool the engine and oil cooler. Right?

Kinda-sorta., The visible water vapour should stop when your exhaust system has gotten hot enough to evaporate all of the condensation inside it.

honeybus wrote:Sorry, I don't quite get that. Is it another joke? Coolant = air?

Yes.