What would cause a 960 Volvo turbo to have white smoke out of the tailpipe?

Answer 1

White smoke denotes oil getting into the engine somehow. Bad piston rings, etc. Black smoke is a too righ fuel mixture. Do a compression test of the cylinders to check for bad rings or burned valves. ++ Different Answer ++ White smoke (usually steam) from the tail pipe is a symptom of moisture in the system. If the steam dissipates after a few minutes, it is just condensation in the exhaust and nothing to worry about (pretty normal - especially during cool or humid weather). If the steam is constant, then the problem may be a blown head gasket or a cracked cylinder head, especially if another symptom is overheating. *** Additional Clarification *** White exhaust is moisture as stated above ( either condensation is the exhaust system boiling off after sitting overnight - or condensation of the water vapor created during the combustion process, a little bit is ok during cold days but check the coolant level to be sure - or coolant leak into the intake/combustion process, this is indicated by drop in water level or increase in steam after coasting. Also check the oil cap for indications of milky substance, this indicates a lot of water getting past the piston rings and into the crankcase. Blue colored exhaust is a sign of burning oil Black colored exhaust is a sign of over-rich fuel mixture.