White Smoke from under saturn hood?

Question

While I am driving my 1997 saturn, white smoke comes from under my hood. It lasts for about 3-5 seconds and stops. Car temperature is normal and the car runs fine before, while and after the smoke shows up. I look under the hood and everything is normal. Any idea what might be going on?

Answer 1

VERY GOOD CHANCE TOU HAVE A SLIGHT OIL LEAK FROM VALVE COVER IT DRIPS ONTO THE EXAUST MANIFOLD AND MAKES WHITE SMOKE FOR A FEW SECONDS CHECK VALVE COVER GASKETS AND TIGHTEN COVER BOLTS NO BIG DEAL YET...

Answer 2

Try to figure out when it happens. Is it when you start the car, or when you accelerate? See if you can have someone else at the controls to duplicate this while you look with the hood open.

Have you checked all the fluid levels? This could be steam, meaning you have a coolant leak. Or it could be oil, meaning you're leaking oil someplace onto something hot - the exhaust, maybe? Look for discolorations, excess dirt, etc, and see where it came from.

Answer 3

White smoke definitely means that there is some type of steam action going on there. Black smoke would mean that you are burning oil. White smoke usually means that your car is overheating. Are you sure that you don't have a radiator leak that is hitting something hot and steaming off. Check your fluids, and have your thermostat checked. Try running your heat and see if it runs

Answer 4

white smoke saturn hood

Answer 5

id take a shot in the dark and say head gasket or oil blowing past your rings. those would both cause smoke behind you and loss of oil, but it wouldn't explain smoke under the hood unless it was both

Answer 6

check ALL fluid levels inc power steering for leaks on the low pressure and hi pressure lines. Some cars use hose clamps on the low pressure line and they are prone to leak as the hose stretches. Just tighten the hose clamps. On the high pressure line it has a protective cover so finding any leaks is not so easy, i find feeling for a wet spot on the ends of the hose is a good guide. If it is wet( power steering oil) replace the hose.
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Answer 7

add 1 bottle of DCA coolant additive, deisel engines use it as a water softner, where ever theres a coolant leak this stuff dries to a whitish color to easily pin point the problem area. will not hurt the cooling system in any way. have it in all my vehicles and parents vehicles, have been able to avoid costly repairs due to mechanic shops so called professional opionion : of guessing. hope this helps.

Answer 8

It's informing you there's a new Pope.

Answer 9

a thinks you have aleaking radiator?.