I've got a Kia with the 2.0T Hyundai Theta II GDI engine. I changed the plugs. Followed some good DIY instructions. Easy enough. Start up the car. Sounds normal. Drive it around the block. Drives like usual. When I get back I notice that there's white moist smoke/vapor coming out the tailpipes. Google it a bit and find a wide variety of explanations/concerns/issues. I decide to loosen up the plugheads (or whatever they're called), pull them up and push them back into the plugwells to make sure they're making good contact. It's hard to tell if they are or not. Seems okay. Start up the car, go around the block again. Same thing. Any ideas?

Here's a photo:

 

A few thoughts based on some things I read online:

• Someone on another forum responding to a related question, said to let the car idle for 30 minutes so the ECU can adjust timing
• Black smoke is "normal" due to some oil that gets into the cylinder and it will go away on it's own. However, my smoke is not black and does not smell like burning oil at all.
• White smoke could be due to a plug not making contact. Could this be my issue?
• Blue smoke is due to coolant. I don't think this is my problem.
• I see comments about the seals that could be damaged by the plug replacement. ???
• It's in the upper 40s, maybe that's just regular exhaust steam? Other cars on the road do seem to have similar white smoke.

 

99.9% sure it's just normal condensation because of the outside temp. Shouldn't be anything to worry about.

 

usually when it's cold outside and the car is cold, you'll see white water vapor coming off and it's completely normal. A byproduct of the combustion process is water.


Think of breathing out when it's cold and you see the "white vapor"

 

Between your responses and me watching, smelling, looking at the exhaust a bit more, I think I've convinced myself this is totally normal exhaust condensation. I guess it's cold enough for that. (After such a harsh February, it feels like summer! I guess I just didn't think it was cold enough.) I'll be taking the car out tomorrow and hopefully all will go well.

 

The car drives great. I guess I was overly paranoid for no reason.