hi,
good list.
you might mention it's gasoline engine -focuses.
Tailpipe colors for diesels can be a slightly different story.  Incorrect
injection timing can create a white smoke in those sometimes I believe.
Scott

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 4:01 PM
Subject: Tip and Tricks: Smoke Signals

> The thread on white clouds prompted this for the record.
>
> Black Smoke - overly rich fuel mixture - fuel control problem. Check
> fuel and induction components.
>
> White Smoke - usually coolant related - gotta leak somewhere into the
> Exhaust system - Could be head gaskets, cracked heads.
>
> Blue or Blue-white Smoke -  Usually an oil problem - rings, bad valve
> guides, scored cylinder wall. A compression check is in order on this
> one. Often the tailpipe pipe will be oily.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver