Intermittent white smoke

[Maccy]

Got a friend who's 1996 micra is sticking out white smoke from under the bonnet intermittently. Thought head gasket at first but could it be anything else?

Also, there's some black patches above the exhaust which he reckons could be oil - correct or could it be something else?

 

[Hyundai]

Is the car overheating?

There could be a leak in the cooling system; check all the regarding hoses.

If there is oil coming from the exhaust, then perhaps the head gasket is going?

Hmm.