Why is white smoke coming from my exhaust?

Thin white smoke that vanishes after a minute of driving is just water vapor — totally normal, especially on a cold morning. Thick white smoke that doesn't go away, smells sweet (like maple syrup), and fogs up behind the car is coolant burning in the cylinders — almost always a blown head gasket or a cracked head. Check your coolant level: if it's dropping with no visible leak, that's the smoking gun.

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