Alright after maybe a 1.5 hour drive yesterday with the heat on like 2. I noticed when i came to a stop there was white/clear smoke coming out from under the hood. Just like it would look like if cold rain would hit a warm ground, if you get what i mean

Well anyways pulled over, looked under and it seemed like teh radiator was <U> slightly </U> smoking, so gave it a few mins and popped off the top didnt see any bubbles (a few weeks back i had a coolant line hole leak and to cut the hose and move it closer to the engine) - so i put the cap back on.

Its hard to explain but it looks like the heat/smoke whatver you wanna call it billows out of the radiator from nowhere, then it happened again tonight after a 45 min drive. The only thing i could say maybe was that its a hot radiator in 35-45 degree weather, not sure if that would effect it.

Maybe fan isnt turning on for all i know. Any help would be great to help me diagnose what is going on.

edit: noticed the temp gauge didnt move anymore than its usually spot just behind the half line.

 

If your radiator has a small leak, the coolant evaporates as soon as it leaks out. Those are hard to find, but look for some crusty residue around the leak. Sometimes it's hidden by the AC condensor, anyway.

A good way to find it is to pressurize your cooling system cold, then it leaks out as liquid. Pressure testers look kinda like a small hand pump, with an adapter that fits where your radiator cap goes.

 

Well here is the weekend update.

I felt the coolant hoses leading to the engine was a tad weak so i properly bleeded it and they are perfect.

Note at this time i noticed the coolant resovoir was low

So I filled it to the max. - that was friday.

Tonight (saturday) i noticed after only 10 mins of driving it was doing it again when i stopped - only when i stopped - Looked at the coolant resoivoir - almost empty.

Whats going on ? its almost like the coolant is being burned. Also - a few times when i felt the radiator after this "smoking" it felt not even lukewarm. - tonight it was lukewarm.

I usually drive with the full heat on to warmest at setting 1 / off. But i dont have it so its not coming from the engine bay (recirculating sign) so it should be extruding heat....

Any help would be great.

 

1

Also - my buddies said no white smoke was coming out - will check again tomorrow, hope this hasnt cause a crack in headgasket - but pretty sure it hasnt


Modified by Chemicalviper at 3:06 AM 11/23/2003

 

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chemicalviper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Note at this time i noticed the coolant resovoir was low

So I filled it to the max. - that was friday.

Tonight (saturday) i noticed after only 10 mins of driving it was doing it again when i stopped - only when i stopped - Looked at the coolant resoivoir - almost empty.
</TD></TR></TABLE>When you filled the overflow bottle, did you check the radiator itself to see if it was full? An empty radiator is supposed to suck coolant in from the overflow bottle as it cools down.

 

Can you smell the coolant? It has a very unique smell. I had a leak...fixed it with a Fluidine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When you filled the overflow bottle, did you check the radiator itself to see if it was full? An empty radiator is supposed to suck coolant in from the overflow bottle as it cools down.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah i checked the radiator, it was full - obviously it was sucking some from the overflow bottle. I might have the common top seam leak.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chemicalviper &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... I might have the common top seam leak.</TD></TR></TABLE>Sounds good, but I suppose there should be some crusty residue from the leak.(?)

 

You don't state the vintage of your car or I missed it, but I was very surprised to see all the fins between the cores sticking out and disintegrated behind the cooling fan on my '90 Civic Si. A small amount of seepage was present also, but it didn't cause any cloud of steam or rapid drop in the recovery bottle. I would look for a leaking radiator.

BTW, hello from Hartford.

 

check the fins on the radiator and check the top of the radiator and the bottom of it also. but if u have a small leak look at the smoke coming out the tail type its not always blowing white. this isnt a bright thing to do but it helps smell the smoke coming out the tail pipe if it smells sweet then u have a blown gasket. but it sounds more like your radiator

 

Can you smell the coolant? It has a very unique smell. If the steam cloud has a sweet hint to it you have a leak. This cloud you decribe is odorless? More details...

 

Its hard to explain so ill do my best -

Full blast heat ... standing stlil not moving .... inside the car i can barely smell it. And thats only if im not moving or accelerating for a few seconds.