Ford Fiesta RSI 1.6 when shift gears white smoke and when idle the smoke comes out of tappit cover smelling like petrol????

Probable head gasket failure

Make sure that none of the coolant lines are connected to the engine by mistake. Whitish exhaust is usually coolant in the exhaust system. If the engine seems to be running smoothly, try running in a little to see if the smoke will clear up. Also see if the transmission has an external modulator. If it has, make sure it is not bad sucking transmission fluid into the engine.

6 cyl or V8
burning smell oil leak at rocker cover or other places hitting the zorst
exhaust joint leak

white smoke steam
welsh plug ,inlet manifold gasket , hose

Your throw out bearing is wore out you should be hearing a chirping like sound as well that goes away when you push the clutch in.

It sounds like a loose battery connection

If you need further help, I’m available over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/justin_3ae27a9d61d6acd4

I'm assuming this is not a diesel...

White smoke would be very unusual, it would usually be steam rather than smoke. If I'm right, then it will be dissipating very quickly unless it's in freezing temperatures?

To get white smoke AND the smell of petrol best guess is that it's a cracked cylinder head or head gasket allowing coolant into the cylinder, the leak is so bad that the cylinder is unable to fire so the raw fuel from that cylinder is being pushed out the exhaust, along with the water (steam).

An accompanying symptom would be running rough/chugging, most noticeable at lower revs. If you drive the car like this then you'll quickly damage the catalytic converters in your exhaust so don't!

Hi Robert, Is your truck petrol or diesel? If its diesel try replacing the fuel filter, if petrol have a cylinder compression test carried out. Let me know further info. Regards John

Valve seal leaks will cause an engine to smoke on start until the oil burns off. If a head gasket were leaking it would be smoking constantly.

If you need further help, reach me via phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/james_8f14c50d9c6cdea8

What color is the smoke ? is it bluish or is it white ?
The blue colored smoke would smell more like burning oil, which would indicate a broken piston ring, ect. the white smoke if it smells of coolant(anti-freeze) would lean toward a head gasket problem.

The smoke must come from a coolant leak close to the radiator, or a fin crack in the radiator itself. Check all hoses and clamps, idle hot and look for smoke. You may have a heater core corrosion issue, watch close for coolant leaks on the floor mats inside, all of this may be connected and look for leaks where you park. Just a small amount can produce smoke, open the hood when it smokes and look.