I have a 96 Accord DX 170K and I've recently noticed that when I start it it idles for a few seconds, then starts smoking. It reeks of gas, but it's not black smoke (white smoke actually), and if you hold your hand in front of it, it's so strong that your hands will smell like gas. Doesn't start until about 5 seconds after you start it (cold for sure, but haven't checked to see if it does it on a warm start)... Also my m.p.g. has always sucked - avg. 23 for very little city and mostly highway driving with no a/c (one time i figured up about 18mpg
with a/c last summer - mostly highway too)... any ideas where to start looking? Also - no CEL so not sure what could be doing it... Any help would be greatly appreciated and THANK YOU in advance...

 

Tune up

 

white is normal in the winter its condensation in the exhaust goes away eventually. if u smelled coolant it would be possibly head gasket related but u would smell it coming out of the tail pipe.. if its whitish blue that would be oil burning ie piston rings and u would see the smoke all the time, especially when u hit the gas and smell the oil..black usually means tuneup..u will burn more gas in the winter..u may try changing out the 02 sensor and pcv valve..along with the plugs..air filter. the 02 sensor doesnt usually kick in till the car is warmed up but if its old it can be in an open loop pattern..coil can be going bad..

 

White smoke is a sign of burning coolant.

 

Does it smell like maple syrup??

 

not @ all, just smells like gas, but now i haven't noticed it doing it anymore so... I dunno, buying a civic monday anyway then i can let this one sit for a while cause i still haven't done my timing belt or anything and it needs to be done 'fore my pistons assault my valves, can't afford that (167K on the original belt ain't bad - been lucky so far) PS.- anyone know any good deals on some half-ass decent wheels for the civic? 17's on my accord, but thinking 16 on the civic because i'm not paying another 700 for a set of tires...