Chrysler Repair: exhaust: smell and smoke after sitting, head gasket leak, losing coolant

Question
we have a 03 town and country we bought used. we ahve noticed when the car sits overnight, or all day while i am at work, when i start it up a gas smell comes from exhaust with smoke. then it runs rough and doesnt have alot of power. it stops after a minute or two. any ideas before we go to garage? thanks

Answer
Hi Vicky,
Are you sure the smell is not rather that of antifreeze, and is the color of the smoke white (e.g. water vapor/steam)? If it were that, then that indicates a head gasket leak, and you would also be losing coolant from the system. If it is black smoke, that would be a mixture issue which could have a variety of possibilities. One of which could be a sticking ajar egr valve. You didn't mention the engine so think about the specifics of the exhaust and tell me the engine when you write back. Tell me about the specific of the odor/smoke/coolant issues.
Roland