Thick white smoke from exhaust, change thermostat, fan doesn’t come on, top hose stays cold,
Thick white smoke from exhaust, change thermostat, fan doesn't come on, top hose stays cold, opened radiator cap and saw coolant get lower. some white smoke or something similar comes off the exhaust manifold pipes.. temperature gauge in car is not moving from cold. I did remove some coolant from radiator to remove the thermostat but problem was happening before I change the thermostat. any help would be great.
My car has 13100 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, thanks for writing in about your Geo Storm. If you are getting white smoke from the exhaust then you have a blown head gasket or cracked head. I suggest having a certified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, diagnose the smoke firsthand by pressure testing the cooling system to see if the head gasket is blown.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
When your thermostat stops working, you may notice a higher incidence of coolant leaks. This happens when your engine runs at too high of a temperature due to the dysregulation, causing an overflow of coolant into the surrounding areas. This can result in a “sweet scent” when you operate the vehicle, or white smoke.
Many times, this thick smoke is due to the likes of a blown head gasket, damaged cylinder, or a cracked engine block, which is causing coolant to burn. Thick white exhaust smoke usually indicates a coolant leak, which could cause overheating and put your engine at a serious risk of damage.
A 4 stroke dirt bike when started may have a little bit of white smoke coming out the exhaust on a cold start for a few seconds. This is often due to water condensation built up in the exhaust system.
White Smoke in your exhaust indicates that coolant and or water is being vaporized in the combustion chamber and could mean the head gasket is leaking, the vehicle has a cracked block or cylinder or the engine is cold.
White fumes come out of the engine when engine oil leaks. A cracked gasket cover is one of the prime reasons for oil leakage leading to the production of white smoke. It`s super easy to replace a faulty valve cover gasket in the early stage.
One possible reason for white smoke coming from your car`s exhaust is that the engine is burning oil. This can happen if the oil level in the engine is low or if the oil seal is leaking. If you notice that your car is burning oil, you should take it to a mechanic to have it checked out.
If a valve seal has lost its grip or piston rings get worn, they can cause oil to leak into the combustion chamber. This wayward fuel then mixes with other engine elements and burns, causing white or blue smoke to escape from the exhaust manifold.
White Exhaust Smoke
White smoke billowing out of your exhaust means that coolant is likely leaking into the cylinders. This usually happens when there has been a breach in the head gasket, which makes the coolant create this white steam. Have it taken care of before the breach gets bigger and bigger.
Here are three indicators of a bad EGR Cooler: White Smoke – while that pesky Valve can cause an abundance of black smoke billowing from the pipes, a failing EGR Cooler actually emits white smoke, or steam, caused by evaporating coolant inside the cooler. When you see white smoke, call for help.
If you notice smoke coming from your car`s engine, it could be a symptom of a failing water pump. The water pump is responsible for circulating coolant throughout the engine; if it fails, the coolant can overheat, causing the engine to smoke.
Sign #2: You Can See (And Smell) Engine Exhaust
So if you see anything that looks like smoke, it could be a sign that the oil is old (if it`s not a sign of a major mechanical fault like a cracked head gasket). Ditto for if you can smell any hint of burning oil in your exhaust.
Black exhaust smoke
“When your exhaust pipe gives off black smoke, one of the things to get worried about are bad or worn out spark plugs. It means fuel burning in the combustion chamber is not being done 100 percent or burnt fully. It also means that air is not being well mixed with fuel to burn effectively.
1: White Engine Smoke
White engine smoke is commonly caused by burning radiator fluid (also known as coolant or refrigerant). You might also notice a sickly sweet smell (often compared to that of butterscotch or maple syrup).
If your PCV valve is stuck open:
If you have trouble starting your engine, it can be as a result of a failed PCV valve. Black smoke in the exhaust, or oil-fouled spark plugs can indicate that your PCV valve is stuck open and is allowing oil to enter the combustion chamber through the air intake.
Another indicator of a faulty valve seal, as mentioned above, is the high presence of smoke. It`s common for some exhaust smoke to be present when you first start your vehicle, but if it begins to last longer than normal, your valve seal may be deteriorating.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Thick white smoke from exhaust, change thermostat, fan doesn’t come on, top hose stays cold,
ANSWER : Hello, thanks for writing in about your Geo Storm. If you are getting white smoke from the exhaust then you have a blown head gasket or cracked head. I suggest having a certified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, diagnose the smoke firsthand by pressure testing the cooling system to see if the head gasket is blown.
I have white milk coming out of my exhaust pipe but I don’t see it mixing in my oil pan when I check my oil
ANSWER : In most cases, the white smoke is an indicator of coolant finding a way into the combustion chamber. This could happen through a damaged head gasket or a crack in the cylinder head or engine block. Most of the time, this would also be followed by milky oil or overheating problems. However, it could also be a problem with the EGR system, or an extremely rich fuel trim. The best thing to do is have a professional mobile mechanic complete a smoke coming from exhaust inspection, so they can pinpoint the source of your issues and recommend a repair.
Over heating, white smoke coming out the exhaust, and no heat just cold air blowing
ANSWER : Hi there. In most cases, a bad or malfunctioning heater is accompanied by an overheating problem. However, if you’re temperature gauge is HOT and you’ve got white smoke blowing from the exhaust, this can be an indication of coolant inside the oil galley’s which is typically caused by a damaged or blown head gasket. You should have a professional mechanic inspect your 2002 Chevrolet Express to determine the source of your overheating problems, and if there is coolant in the oil system; which can lead to serious mechanical damage.
Car will overheat if I don’t have the fan on. When fan is off it doesn’t come on to release heat from engine. So the fan is always on.
ANSWER : Check the wiring to the coolant temperature sensor and see if there is power to the sensor switch. If there is no power, then check the cooling fan relay and see if its clicking on. If there is no clicking motion, then remove the relay and check for power to the relay. If there is power to the relay, then the cooling fan relay needs replaced. If there is no power to the relay, then check the fuse. If the fuse is burned, replace the fuse. If the fuse is good, then check power from the fuse to the main circuit on the fuse box. If there is no power, then the fuse box needs replaced. If the fan comes on with the air conditioning system switch turned on, that is because the switch overrides the cooling switch to make the condenser cool down to make the air conditioning system work properly.
If you need further assistance with your cooling fans not coming on when the engine gets hot, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
replaced cooling fan switch, relay, thermostat fan still won’t come on even with AC running
ANSWER : It sounds like you’ve taken all the right steps, so I understand if you are frustrated. If you look in the fusebox again, you might find a fusible link that powers the fan if you haven’t already checked that. Most late model cars activate the fan via the ECU which activates the relay, so you are at a point where diagnosis may require a scan tool that has the ability to do activation. You can have that checked right there on the spot by contacting Your Mechanic. They can send a technician to your home or office to check out your cooling fan and let you know what it will take to solve your problem.
Hello, i had my head gasket repaired and after 8 months it has started making white smoke come from exhaust again and I can smell
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. With white smoke coming from the exhaust, the smell of coolant, and the (very likely although unmentioned) lowering of the coolant level, it is quite apparent that the coolant is making its way passed the head gasket and into the combustion chambers. Unless you have a cracked head, engine, or other serious damage, the head gasket is very likely the issue. Make sure you are adding coolant to compensate for the loss. Low coolant levels will not give you accurate temperature readings on your dashboard, as the sensor is located at the top and needs to be submerged in liquid to give you an accurate reading. As far as repairing the issue, replace the gasket again, and in the process inspect the old gasket for signs of failure or indications on what caused the leak the second time. If replacing the head gasket again does not solve the problem, you know you have a larger issue with the engine and can take further diagnostics from there. For more help from our technicians, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
My exhaust had a lot of white smoke coming from it since yesterday, its losing water from reservoir, any suggestions? It’s an 02 C
ANSWER : Hello. This engine has a history of issues with losing coolant and overheating. The most common cause if this is the intake manifold gasket leaking coolant into the engine allowing the coolant to enter the combustion chamber and burn off. Most of the time if it is caught early enough you can prevent further damage to the engine. If it gets bad enough it can cause damage to the head gasket which will be a much more extensive and expensive repair. If you want to have this looked at further, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you to [diagnose why the engine is losing coolant] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/coolant-is-leaking-inspection
When I turn on my AC the radiator fans do not turn on. The fans do come on when the car warms up so I know they are working and the fuses are good. The AC compressor does come on and the air blows ice cold when the car is moving. Car is a 2006 Chrysler Sebring Sedan 2.7l v6.
ANSWER : The control circuit for the fans needs to be checked. For example, there is usually a condenser fan relay in the A/C electrical controls. There could be a fault with that relay and/or wiring problems, perhaps even just a loose connection, blown or loose fuse, and so forth. To resolve something like this, the recommended service is an electrical component diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic service, the responding certified mechanic will get the problem pinpointed and resolved. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
