What Causes a Large Amount of White Smoke When Accelerating Hard?
2 Answers
The reasons for a large amount of white smoke when accelerating hard: 1. The air filter is dirty, causing insufficient air intake; 2. Carburetor malfunction. For fuel-injected vehicles without a carburetor, it may be due to contamination of the oxygen sensor in the exhaust pipe, which prevents the fuel injection computer from receiving correct information. Normal white smoke is caused by the high temperature of the exhaust gases coming out of the exhaust pipe, which condenses water vapor into small water droplets. When the accelerator pedal is pressed, the throttle cable moves the throttle valve (i.e., the accelerator). The throttle valve has a position sensor, and the control unit uses the signal from the throttle position sensor to determine the throttle opening. It then calculates the corresponding signal voltage and finally determines the vehicle's fuel injection amount based on this signal voltage.
I've got plenty of experience with this! Last time I helped my dad fix his old Passat, we encountered the exact same situation. White smoke when flooring the gas pedal is most likely caused by a blown head gasket or cylinder head issues. High-temperature combustion gases leaking into the coolant passages burn the antifreeze, which explains the white smoke with a slightly sweet smell. It's quite troublesome to repair - requires removing the engine's upper cover. If you see white smoke mixed with blue smoke during cold starts, it might indicate worn piston rings burning engine oil. If the exhaust pipe feels unusually moist, it's wise to check cylinder compression for safety. When encountering this situation on the road, pull over immediately - if all the antifreeze leaks out, the engine will be ruined.
