"A head gasket leak isn't dangerous"
ah, maybe not to the driver. but it can be catostrophic to an engine.
and with the limited info supplied, and no trouble codes to go by, it's a little premature to say coolent is getting into the combustion chambers.
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is the CEL/MIL lamp lit?
if not,
the fuel smell could be an external leak somewhere in the delivery system or anywhere around the fuel regulator, fuel rail, and or injectors. and the whitish smoke, if only at first start, could be normal condensation.
if the CEL/MIL lamp is lit,
we really don't have enough info to go by. as one can not secound guess what a computer sees as an argument. codes need to be retrieved first! as there are a miriad of possibilities. ranging from minor to serious issues. to numorous to list here.
obviously, for your safety, and the vehicle, don't wait.
reputable ASE shop or the dealer is best for diagnosis/repair.
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EDIT,
FYI, (no insult intended)
crystallazation won't happen. need some serious compression pressures and temps for that. this is not in that ball park. won't gum rings either. what happens is coolent seeps by the rings, gets into the oil, comprmises it's ability to lubricate, and all bearings/races burn. engine "toast". b4 that, one might warp a head or engine deck.
in reailty, the coolent will actually steam clean the engine from the inside. clean valve seats, piston tops, rings, and chambers. in itself, that's normally a good thing. but not as a byproduct of a bad head gasket.
which may not even be in play here. not enough info to go by. yet.
common practice for internally cleaning a carburetted engine. introducing a 1/4 to 1/2 cup of water slowly down the throat of a carburettor when the engine is hot. would do the same for an EFI engine, cept there's no way to introduce water in a manner that doesn't effect something else in the proccess.
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no thumbs from me.
The computer is probably calling for extra gas to keep the thing running despite coolant leaking into the cylinders.
Leaks don't get better - they get worse. The long-term damage would be anti-freeze being burned would eventually crystallize the pistons, gum the piston rings, etc.
You sure it's a gas odor and not coolant? A head gasket leak isn't dangerous but it's basically leaking coolant into your engine where there should just be oil. I mean the car already needs work apparently but you can keep driving it until it doesn't run anymore, and the smoke is normal from a head gasket leak.
But if that odor is definitely gas, I wouldn't recommend driving it until you figure out why you smell gas. That can be dangerous and probably not related in any way to your head gasket leak.
yes because if not fixed could catch on fire
gas oder equals fuel leak. Don't drive the thing. You are likely to end up with a "car-B-Q"
my car is 02 mazda millenia i really like it and engine is semi new still but its burning alot of fuel it seems and i also get a gas odor when i accelerate while driving and also seems to blow whitish smoke when i crank the engine should i be worrried
if more info is needed just ask thanks
