Steam from exhaust?

[dickiebrickie]

Had a real problem starting my previa.
It was acting as if flooded. When it finally started massive amount of steam from exhaust and water dripping from exhaust too. Big wet patch on the road from exhaust.
Oil is not contaminated with water. Could a blown head gasket let water into one or some of the cylinders but not into the oil. Any help would be much appreciated. Dickiebrickie.

[Gary (not GT Gary)]

Quite easily, most estimas with cracked heads show no sign of water in the oil, so depending on where the failure is, a failed head gasket could be the same.
Are there any other symptoms such as:
Loss of coolant?
Have you taken the spark plugs out when you had the problem to see what was in the cylinders?
Can you take the expansion tank cap off before the engine warms up, and see if you get bubbling in the coolant?
You could also take the car to a garage, and ask them to use their gas analyser in the expansion tank, to sniff out any exhaust gases that may get into the coolant, or if they have a liquid tester.
Is it possible water has gotten into your fuel tank, and so, into the engine?

[ADarbon]

The filler pipes to the fuel tank are prone to rotting and could be a means of water getting in to your tank. Check this out before delving in to head problems.