exhaust smoke (85 245, 2.3)

I just replaced the engine wiring harness on my wagon. Before I did
that I had some slight smoking issues with my car, kinda white but
more like it is when you start up on a cold day. I smelled it, and it
didn't smell like anti-freeze (of course, I dont know if thats a
sign). My coolant level hasn't noticeably gone down any either
(although I did just add some recently, even if I didn't need to). It
would still be smoky after my drive into work (17 miles on the
highway), but more like it is when you're still warming up.

Today, after starting it up for the first time in a while (for more
than a few minutes) it seemed to be a bit smokier than usual. Not like
it was smoking like a chimney, but a little more smoky. I am hoping it
can be explains by the fact we're experiencing a cold stretch right
now.

It's now a bit more grey than before (which I've seen implies maybe a
brake leak?), but it smells kinda rich, but still no anti-freeze
smell.

I do know I need to replace my plugs, and with a healthier wiring
harness maybe some of the smoke can be explained (need to re-tune
stuff to compensate for the changes that I had adjusted things
to)..but I'm wondering if it's something simple or major.

On the test drive trip I did, I stopped for about 45 seconds on a flat
spot, and then went up a hill and thats when I noticed it was smokier
than normal. It didn't lose any power, or whatever either. The engine
didn't make any different sounds than normal (clicks and a slight
knock).

 

White smoke on startup is perfectly normal - it's water vapor. You
will see more of it in cold weather and less in warm. I'd only worry if
you smell antifreeze, see your coolant level dropping, or if it
continues to increase.

 

Thanks for the confirmation. I'm slightly embarrassed to admit the
following things.

1. It was as simple as (so far) needing new plugs

2. I had an issue with my thermostat not showing anything, and it was
because I was unable to read simple instructions.

3. I put my canoe on top of my wagon today, and I probably did it
stupidly.

 

If it needed new plugs, then the smoke should have been brown. (Blue
smoke would mean oil was being burned.) Maybe it's just a perception
issue, but actual white smoke doesn't mean bad plugs.

 

It was more brown than white, I was poor in describing it.