I have a 1990 xj. When its running, and for a minute or so after it turns off it has a small but steady stream of white smoke coming from the headers, and out of some sensor shortly after the end of the headers. All parts are stock, and I haven't tampered with anything. Everything sounds the same, and I cant really tell what the smoke smells like.

Any ideas ?

And any advice is appreciated

 

sounds like coolant.

 

When you say "from the headers" do you mean in the engine compartment, or out the tailpipe? If it's smoking off the headers, I'd say oil dripping from somewhere. Out the tailpipe worries me more. That sounds more like a bad ring, or a valve stem seal.

Also, you said it's all stock. Are you talking about headers (that can't be stock, Jeep didn't make 'em with headers) or the exhaust manifold? (You know, cast iron, rusty, heavy as an anchor . . .)

 

This isn't a picture from my jeep. But where it is yellow is where the smoke is coming from. one of the two spots, I forget what pipe specifically but from those general positions.

 

I'm guessing your valve cover is leaking on the manifold and smoking. But that's just a guess without looking at your exact engine bay

 

however it still has an equal amount of white smoke coming from what looked like the o2 sensor on the front exhaust pipe. so i doubt that the valve cover is leaking all the way down there without me seeing anything. Everything literally looks normal, and the same as it always has, just with some small amounts of white smoke coming from 2 spots.

To put it into comparison, the amount of smoke coming from one spot is about the same amount a lit cigarette makes coming from the cherry.

 

Ill try to post a picture later today, but i havent the foggiest of ideas on what it could be :/

 

Is it leaking from the O2 sensor? If so the sensor could be cracked. Or is there a crack in your manifold? Try to post a video or a close clear photo of the spot it's leaking from

 

Well first things first. White smoke is usually indicates coolant being burnt, that said are you losing coolant? Also check your oil, make sure no coolant is making its way into the oil, as an exhaust leak will be the least of your problems. If no tell tale signs are seen, it would be wise to have a pressure check done to rule out bad head gasket/cracked head.