Tranny kickdown on at freeway speeds causes massive white exhaust.

Massive amount of white exhaust under hard acceleration

My car has 99000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello there, white smoke under acceleration with your 2008 Cadillac CTS can be caused by many different issues. When white smoke is seen it is almost always due to coolant being burned in the engine. The most common causes of the cooling being burned and intake manifold leaks, head gasket failure, or intake manifold gaskets. This is a serious issue and should be diagnosed and repaired as soon as possible. A qualified Technician such as one from YourMechanic will be able to diagnose your white smoke fault and make any repairs required.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

Fuel injector nozzles can become clogged over time, which can lead to a sputtering engine, slow acceleration and the car not having enough power. Fuel injectors can be cleaned if the problem is caught early, but as the conditions worsens, the injectors may have to be replaced.
Why is my Cadillac CTS jerking? One possible reason why your Cadillac CTS is jerking could be due to a problem with the mass airflow sensor. This sensor is responsible for measuring the amount of air that is entering the engine, and if it`s not working properly, it can cause the engine to run rough.
White smoke from your exhaust means coolant is exposed to your engine`s combustion process. In most cases, this is the result of a blown head gasket, but a cracked engine block or cylinder head could also be the cause.
Question: Why does my engine sputter on the highway? Whenever the engine starts acting sporadic, either making a sputtering sound at high speeds or sudden losses in power, we suspect the fuel system first. The two most common problems with the fuel system are clogged fuel filters and failing fuel pumps.
Dirty Fuel Injectors: Fuel injectors spray fuel into the cylinders. It is then mixed with air and ignited. Fuel injector nozzles can become clogged over time, which can lead to a sputtering engine, slow acceleration and the car not having enough power.
Defective Mass Airflow Sensor

Having a defective mass airflow sensor could certainly cause your car to jerk or even lung forward while accelerating. The mass airflow sensor helps measures the amount of air that your car engine takes in.

All-Wheel Drive and Six-speed transmissions: For the first time, CTS offers the choice of rear-wheel (standard) or all-wheel drive. CTS also offers the choice of a six-speed manual and automatic transmission.
2016 Is the Best Year for Cadillac CTS

The more recent models are proven more reliable based on reviews and customer satisfaction, especially with the last CTS generation (2016-2019). The 2016 Cadillac CTS boasts a powerful range of engines, including the V6 and V8 powertrains.

Such problems aren`t hard to spot. Cadillac CTS transmission problems can present themselves as shifting delays, grinding when accelerating, a feeling of shakiness, or a burning smell or whistling sounds coming from under the hood.
Any unusual shaking or vibrating forces coming from the engine is cause for concern. It could be something as simple as old spark plugs producing an uneven power delivery, it could be something serious like worn or broken engine mounts, or it could be even more serious in the case of internal engine damage.
White Smoke

It usually means that coolant is being burned in the engine, which means that something is drastically wrong. The most common cause of this is a blown head gasket, which can quickly lead to an overheating engine.

The most common cause of engine sputtering are issues with the fuel system. These can range from bad fuel filters, fuel pump issues, or fuel injector issues. The other possible source of the problem would be due to poor ignition – think spark plugs or ignition coil problems.
The catalytic converter is responsible for turning poisonous carbon monoxide into the much safer carbon dioxide before it`s released through the tailpipe. A failing catalytic converter can cause your engine to sputter, overheat, and smell like rotten eggs.
Catalytic Converter

If the catalytic converter gets clogged, exhaust may back up into the engine, and this will make the engine sputter.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Tranny kickdown on at freeway speeds causes massive white exhaust.
ANSWER : Hello there, white smoke under acceleration with your 2008 Cadillac CTS can be caused by many different issues. When white smoke is seen it is almost always due to coolant being burned in the engine. The most common causes of the cooling being burned and intake manifold leaks, head gasket failure, or intake manifold gaskets. This is a serious issue and should be diagnosed and repaired as soon as possible. A qualified Technician such as one from YourMechanic will be able to diagnose your white smoke fault and make any repairs required.

I have white milk coming out of my exhaust pipe but I don’t see it mixing in my oil pan when I check my oil
ANSWER : In most cases, the white smoke is an indicator of coolant finding a way into the combustion chamber. This could happen through a damaged head gasket or a crack in the cylinder head or engine block. Most of the time, this would also be followed by milky oil or overheating problems. However, it could also be a problem with the EGR system, or an extremely rich fuel trim. The best thing to do is have a professional mobile mechanic complete a smoke coming from exhaust inspection, so they can pinpoint the source of your issues and recommend a repair.

Low thunk when, at slow speed, the gas pedal is pressed. What could cause this? 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
ANSWER : Hi there – most likely, the "thunk" you describe is coming from a weak or failed motor mount. It is allowing the engine to move about when you apply the accelerator pedal, and the engine is hitting something in the engine compartment. I recommend an engine mount inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, confirm this diagnosis, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

when driving speed slow down and resume to speed it begins to jerk i have to put in over drive to resume speed especially on hiway
ANSWER : You should have the vehicle scanned. The data from the speed sensor needs to be checked to see if the transmission or engine is the cause of the jerking. You may have a transmission solenoid that’s not shifting correctly, an engine misfire, or a sensor malfunction. Have a certified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, scan and test your vehicle for you to properly diagnose the car’s jerking symptom.

Problem with speed. No check engine light on but when accelerating speed, it decreases then speeds right back up. No stalling at all
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. This is a common problem associated with fuel/air delivery which is very commonly related to what is called a mass airflow sensor. This monitors the flow of air intake into the throttle body as it is mixed with fuel to deliver the right air/fuel mixture into the motor. When this is not working properly, this will cause this kind of hesitation or surging when trying to accelerate. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your home or office to confirm a diagnosis on the issue and make or suggest the necessary repairs or replacements.

What would cause the power to drop to zero at freeway speed and not start once it’s at the shoulder?
ANSWER : Hello. Thank you for writing in. When dealing with a stall while at highway speeds, or what some may consider "under a load", the issues are typically ignition related. The first test would be to check for spark while attempting to start the vehicle. If there is no spark some of the possible causes could be the ignition coil, crankshaft position sensor, or other ignition component. If the vehicle does have spark, then the fuel delivery system may have an issue. The fuel pump can fail, as well as its relay. Both would cut power while the vehicle was driving and not allow it to restart. Unfortunately with these types of stalling problems, you do have to go through a process of elimination to find the issue.

Thick white smoke from exhaust, change thermostat, fan doesn’t come on, top hose stays cold,
ANSWER : Hello, thanks for writing in about your Geo Storm. If you are getting white smoke from the exhaust then you have a blown head gasket or cracked head. I suggest having a certified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, diagnose the smoke firsthand by pressure testing the cooling system to see if the head gasket is blown.

car is barely picking up speed from stationary position to 3rd gear
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the turbo on the engine. With the loss of power until the vehicle is driven normally after 100 meters and the lack of power going up steep hills, the turbo could have failed causing the engine to lose power. Remove the intake hose to the turbo and start the engine. Look to see if the turbo is spooling up or not. If its not spooling up, then the turbo shaft could be seized and would need replaced other wise the waste gate could be not functioning causing the turbo to stop boosting. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose your loss of power.