Recently, my car has started smoking intermittently. And when it smokes, it smokes!

Mostly it will happen if I sit idle too long, like a slow drive through or sitting for long periods of time in heavy traffic. Then other times it might smoke when I'm in reverse. But it will go for weeks without doing it and other times it might be twice in on week.

I took it to the dealership and asked them to check it out, but it didn't smoke the entire time there and they said they couldn't find anything wrong. And normally the dealership would find something and charge an arm and a leg!

I know it's burning oil when it smokes because before 3,000 miles or 3mths, my oil is low instead of at the high mark where it use to be since I get my oil changed on a regular. By the way, the smoke is whitish light grey color and comes out the muffler.

More than anything it's embarrassing. I dread sitting idle anywhere for fear that I'm going to smoke up the place. But luckily enough, it passed the emissions test when I had the inspection done. Good thing it didn't smoke that day.

Anyway, can somebody provide some suggestions on things I can have checked?

***Also, if some of the Houston people know of an awesome mechanic so I can get away from dealership prices, I would appreciate it.

What does white smoke mean?