Q: My car loses power and blows white steam from exhaust

asked by on February 04, 2016

There's a loss of power and clouds of white steam (not smoke) coming from my exhaust. I think I have a cracked head gasket.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Truck hard to start and seems to be a fuel injection problem.
The issue may or may not be the Fuel Injection Control Module, but the issue is certainly fuel related. I would recommend having your truck inspected by a professional who is experienced with diesel engine diagnosis. It is possible that...
locks up at high rpm then able to free up and run again
The problem may be the transmission pilot bearing for the transmission input shaft on the back of the crankshaft seizing up or the input shaft on the transmission seizing. If it is not the transmission, then it is the internal...
to replace a #4 cylinder exhaust valve lifter, do you have to do anything with the head gasket?
Hello. If you're replacing the lifter with the cylinder heads attached to the block, you shouldn't have to remove the cylinder heads or do anything to the cylinder head gasket. However, if the reason you're replacing the lifter is due...
how to increase the volume of remote fob beep
Hi there: In most cases, this is a dealership only setting; as the FOB key is a security feature that can only be adjusted by the dealership. I'm not finding any instructions posted online or mechanic service bulletins. You might...
Misfire in Cylinder 3
Engine misfires can be caused by many different problems and are generally caused by either a spark or fuel issue or in some cases, a combination of both. Spark related problems generally will result from things like ignition coils, crankshaft...
Small oil leak
The best recommendation is to get an oil change done and replace oil filter and drain plug seal. Then you can add oil dye to engine oil if leak continues. The dye can then be viewed with a black light...
My power steering rack needs replacing. The part will cost me $989.98 plus the labor $460.00. Is those price fare?
Ouch! that's a pretty hard hit! unfortunately it may not be out of line. I'm curious about your warranty, however. Many new cars are covered by at least a 5 year / 50,000 mile warranty. If the rack was not...
I have a 2002 toyota camry LE engine wich i want to use on a 2004 toyota camry XLE .is my 02 toyota camry engine compatible ?
Hi there. Assuming that both engines are the same size, the compatibility of "fitting" should be OK. However, since this is a service we don't offer, we're not best suited to provide the best advice on this. I can tell...

Related articles

How to Buy a Good Quality Valve Cover Gasket
When When you open the hood of your car to take a look at your engine, you'll find it is kept safe with a valve cover. What keeps this valve cover in place and not moving around is the valve...
How Long Does an Oil Filter Housing Gasket Last?
Oil Oil is one of the most important parts of any engine due to the lubrication that it can provide. The internal parts of the engine need a lot of lubrication in order to stay working as they are supposed...
How to Replace a Differential Gasket
Differential gaskets seals the differential housing and protects the rear-end gears and axles from exposure to the elements.