JB22

Hi guys, I just started noticing that I was puffing out a little white smoke at startup. I think some of it is just condensation in the exhaust, but I do think its burning a little coolant. In about 2300 miles I noticed that the overflow tank was down about an inch below the cold line when cold.

I have began to notice that if my RPM's get up around 4k that she puffs out some white smoke as well..

Its a 305 TPI with about 116k on it. Runs strong...

What is causing this to happen? Is it a head gasket leak or something else? Trying to get a handle on it.

Any help would be appreciated.

R1UK

Usually thats a head gasket leak.
Something like a snap-on leak tester would be able to identify exactly where.
Living in the UK we are more than accustomed to condensation and your right, it should vanish as the car warms up.
However even if you found just one bank of cylinders at fault, it would be false economy not to do both sides at the same time.
You can guarantee the other side pops a week later.
Of course it could be a leak at the manifold and coolant is getting sucked in via a broken gasket, but a cylinder leak tester would confirm all.

kevinc

If you pull the spark plugs, you should notice one much cleaner than the rest...that's the one getting coolant in the chamber.

You can then hit AutoZone and rent their pressure tester, pump up your cooling system and see if it's leaking...a mechanics stethoscope will let you listen in each spark plug hole for the dreaded hiss while the tester has it pressurized.