The coolant stays the same, I haven't added any water or antifreeze in
months. I'm thinking it's condensation since it only happens when you don't
let the car warm up but I was also wondering if it could be unburnt fuel
that the motor was too cold to cause to evaporate?

> From: "twfsa" <uksatw@qwest.net>
> Organization: Cox Communications
> Newsgroups: alt.autos.honda
> Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2004 16:08:30 -0600
> Subject: Re: 97 civic starting problem
>
> If its white smoke its burning coolant(anti Freeze). Head gasket, or coolant
> is getting into the intake manifold.
>
> Is the coolant level where its supose to be?
>
> Tom
>
>
> "Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in message
> news:6u6dnYBTRZIIwi3cRVn-pg@sedona.net...
>> "cavetrekker" <cavetrekker@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:BDD547CD.588E%cavetrekker@yahoo.com...
>>> We have a 97 civic coupe that we passed on to our daughter. It has a
>>> strange
>>> problem I can't figure out. Last night we replaced the battery and it
>>> wouldn't start today. I came home and after spending about thirty minutes
>>> checking stuff out while she tried to start it I got in it and tried to
>>> start it giving it a little gas and it sputtered a little and a cloud of
>>> white smoke came out of the tail pipe it and it missed a little and
>>> within
>>> 10 seconds it was running fine. After I got to thinking I remembered when
>>> we
>>> put the battery in it she started it and let it run a few seconds and
>>> then
>>> shut it off. I also remembered a couple of times before when I had
>>> started
>>> the engine for a few seconds and then let it set overnite it did the same
>>> thing. I can't decide if the engine is sweating and getting moisture in
>>> it
>>> or if it is some kind of fuel issue? Any ideas?
>>> Thanks,
>>> Patrick
>>>
>>>
>> I'm new to cold country (I came from Phoenix) but the locals warned me
>> about a phenomenon that matches your experience. If the engine is started,
>> run without warming up and shut off, the water vapor from combustion will
>> condense on the plugs. In cold weather the water will freeze onto the
>> plugs and the car won't start in the morning.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>
>