AH!! okay. sometimes when i drive my car this white smoke is being emitted by the hood. i recently got my radiator repaired so i dunno if it has to do with that. Anyways, my car only smokes at random times. So i need help! What should i do ?!?!?!
2006-11-12 06:31:32 · 9 answers · asked by MELISSA. 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It is possible that there is a coolant leak following the radiator installation. At certain environmental and engine temperatures, a fitting may loosen and be allowing pressurized coolant to leak.
The main factor is that your radiator was replaced. The white smoke is probably steam. All signs are pointing to a faulty installation of the radiator.
2006-11-12 06:36:33 · answer #1 · answered by turcott2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some kind of fluid is being burned off the engine. It should be smoking really only after you have driven the car a ways, and it's gotten decently warmed up. But it may slow down, or stop smoking after you have kept the engine hot for quite some time. If you shut the car off and let it cool down, say longer than an hour or two, i'll prolly smoke again after it heats up again. if so you just need to catch it when it's smoking like this and pop the hood. It shouldn't need to be running. you should be able to watch where it's smoking most from and decide what kind of fluid is leaking on to the motor. Look for wet spots under the car, and all down the side of the engine it seems to be smoking worst from. There is a diffrence in smell too. Burning oil, and antifreeze are at two ends of the spectrum from eachother. pop the coolant cap when the motors completely cool, and smell that. Also pop the oil cap and smell that. The smoke you are getting will smell like either one of those. Either way, you have a leak. You need to find it, and fix it before your car dies. Keep a close eye on your fluid levels. (coolant, oil, power steering, transmission) Make sure they are proper before you ever start your car. if you need to know how much/where to put these things, all that info is in your owners manual, or a chilton's/haynes manual should be available at almost any part store or book store. If the smoke starts getting thicker or worse, that means your leak is getting worse. If you are not mechanically inclined, or know someone who is, (don't trust just anyone) take it to the shop. Try to be able to tell them what the smoke smells like, and maybe where you think it's coming from. Try to find out exactly when it's smoking (first cold start up, after heated, if it smokes at all after you start it hot). also try to see if it's leaving any spots under the car. All your fluids should also be diffrent colors. Power steering is red/clear, transmission is red, oil is brown/gold, coolant should be green, orange, or yellow but it will be quite thinner and feel sticky. The rest of the fluids will feel oily. You def. need to have it looked at.
2006-11-12 06:51:32 · answer #2 · answered by Daniel K 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The white smoke is the burning of coolant. Either the hose clamps to the radiator wasn't tightened properly, causing it to leak coolant onto hot parts, in turn, causing the white smoke you see, or could be residual coolant that spilled during the repair, that's burning off. Take it back to the place where you had the radiator replaced, and have them recheck their work.
2006-11-12 06:37:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
first is it smoke or steam? if its smoke it will smell like someone just blew out a candle (thats oil burning) if its steam it will smell like maple syrup (thats anifreeze) then you need to work out the random time thing pay attention to what your car is doing while its smoking i.e. is it pointing downhill, uphill, at a stoplight, did you just get off the highway, did you just shut it off. if its oil that is burning look and see where its coming from( the most likely culprit is the valve covers) if it steam then once again look and see where its coming from (probobly a hose) also you mentioned having some work done if they adde some anifreeze and spilled it it could just be burning off the spilled amount the same goes for spilled oil.
the valve covers arent that hard to fix ( just replace the gaskets) and neither is the hose (replace it) also check to see that all the hose clamps are tight they may not have tightened them enuff or they may need replacing
2006-11-12 06:41:08 · answer #4 · answered by benjamin b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
go back to the shop and tell them what is happening , the more information on engine temperature , if you have a gauge, run time , etc will help, you want them to pressure test the system, in the meantime keep an eye on the coolant and oil levels , it could be something as simple as a coolant spill or a bad hose , hope so, good luck
2006-11-12 07:29:46 · answer #5 · answered by sterling m 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sweet smell?youve got a coolant leak,probably in the area of the waterpump.rubber smell,could be the same problem or you have locked up an accessory.
2016-03-28 03:23:12 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i own a repair shop,and it sounds like your describing steam,and if its doing that ,this means its leaking some where you need to get it checked out real good ,you could mess your car up good if it over heats on you,,good luck i hope this help,s.
2006-11-12 06:35:35 · answer #7 · answered by dodge man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it could be radiator hose pin hole or crack
2006-11-12 06:35:34 · answer #8 · answered by Mackdaddyone 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They have elected a new Pope!
2006-11-12 06:33:43 · answer #9 · answered by Isis 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋