When I start my 96 accord lx 5 spd coupe on a cold morning, i get a significant amount of white exhaust. It cuts out after about 10 seconds, then its gone...is it water vapor or oil burning? My other cars don't make that same exhaust when they're started. THanks guys!!

 

If it is doing it only when it's really cold outside, then it's probably just steam. If it were burning oil, you'd see it regardless of outside temp. Your other cars probably burn a bit more lean... but most all cars have visable steam from the exhaust when cold.

Check it when it's warm outside. If you still see white smoke for a moment, then it's most likely your valve stem seals. These dry up from a lack of regular oil changes over the coarse of the vehicle's life and/or poor quality oil. Although it's an extensive job, these seals CAN be replaced without having to discard an otherwise perfectly good engine.

 

Can The Valve Seals be done in ones garage, or is it a job for the mechanic?

 

If it's doing it when it's cold out, don't worry about it, it's very likely to be condensation/water vapor. You see tons of cars blowing white smoke on a a cold day especially when they haven't been driven all that much. If it's burning oil, it would usually do it all the time and burn blueish/blackish smoke, not white. On the other hand, if you're burning white smoke all the time no matter what time or temp is outside, it can be a bad head gasket where you're burning up the antifreeze as well.

I wouldn't worry too much about it, it's just water vapor most likely as you described it.