White smoke coming from left side of engine. Lost a lot of coolant

White smoke coming from left side of engine. Lost a lot of coolant

When I start the car I can see a little white smoke coming from the left lower side of my engine. I lost a lot of coolant
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :

The smoke is from the coolant leak when it hits a hot exhaust manifold. The leak may be from the thermostat housing. You should have the cooling system pressure tested to verify the leak in the system at the thermostat housing seal. Also you may want to verify the water pump is not leaking.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

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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.

Smoke often leaves car engines as a result of overheating. This can be caused by faulty wire casings, heated residues on the engine block and overheated liquids including oil, transmission fluid and brake fluid. There may also be a fault in your coolant system, or your engine may not have enough lubricant.

It may also be an electrical malfunction, the smoke resulting from burning wires. A bad thermostat can allow your vehicle to overheat and smoke, as can a bad water pump.

White smoke from your exhaust means coolant is exposed to your engine`s combustion process. In most cases, this is the result of a blown head gasket, but a cracked engine block or cylinder head could also be the cause.

If the air temperature goes from hot to cold or cold to hot, this is a sign that your thermostat is not working properly. Oftentimes, these temperature changes are erratic and sudden. It`s important to have your vehicle inspected when you experience these interior temperature changes.

Thick white smoke pouring from the exhaust is usually due to a crack in the cylinder head, engine block or head gasket. This is caused by constant temperature fluctuations and a consistently overheating engine due to low coolant levels.

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).

Faulty Thermostat

Once the engine reaches operating temperature, the valve will open and coolant will begin to flow through the engine. A faulty thermostat might remain closed even when the engine is hot, which can quickly lead to overheating.

Yes – the radiator leak is likely the reason for the smoke. It would be a good idea to replace the radiator thermostat housing as soon as possible to reduce the potential for serious overheating damage.

white smoke Definitions and Synonyms

noun. DEFINITIONS1. 1. a sign that something has been agreed; from the process of a choosing a new Pope when white smoke coming from a chimney on the Vatican roof shows that one has been chosen. We have finally seen white smoke in the leadership election.

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.

If the thermostat goes bad, it can cause the HVAC system to switch on and off irregularly. This results in places closer to the HVAC system getting more cool/hot air, with rooms furthest away getting barely any. The Interface Won`t Respond.

When a thermostat gets stuck open, it`ll allow coolant to circulate continuously even when it`s not needed. Unfortunately, that will overcool the engine and cause it to operate below its optimal temperature range. As a result, the engine will lose fuel efficiency, and its components will experience excess wear.

Start your car`s engine and allow it to idle. Look through the radiator filler neck to see if the coolant flows. At this time, it should not be flowing as your car has not reached the operating temperature to cause the thermostat to open. If you find the coolant is flowing, it means the thermostat valve is open.

Compromised Intake Manifold Gasket

In certain instances, a leaking intake manifold gasket can actually lead to the appearance of thick, white-colored exhaust smoke. This, of course, is only true if your engine`s intake manifold is traveled by water jackets.

White Smoke

It could be overheating, and if it is, you need to stop driving as soon as you can. You could end up seriously damaging your vehicle if you choose to just ignore it. If the smoke smells sweet, then there is an issue with your coolant.

White exhaust smoke

If your exhaust smoke is white, this is a reason for concern in a diesel engine vehicle. White exhaust smoke means fuel is not burning properly. This could mean: The engine is too cold.

Can faulty spark plugs make your car blow white smoke out of the exhaust? Yes, they can.. Craig Nicol has it right.. Unburned fuel entering the exhaust can light off in the catalytic converter resulting in white, extremely acrid smoke..

White Smoke

The most common cause of this is a blown head gasket, which can quickly lead to an overheating engine. But it could also be due to a cracked cylinder or engine block, making it necessary to replace the engine entirely.

if the thermostat is stuck closed

here`s what can happen to your car`s health when your thermostat sticks closed, blocking off the movement of your coolant through the radiator: temperature gauge goes into the red. temperature warning light comes on. steam or smoke comes from under the hood.

The two most common causes of white smoke coming from the engine are oil leaking and an error in the Engine Control Module. Oil leaking. If white smoke comes from under the hood, particularly from the engine, smells like tar or asphalt, and has a bluish tone – the oil is probably burning inside your vehicle.

Thick white smoke pouring from the exhaust is usually due to a crack in the cylinder head, engine block or head gasket. This is caused by constant temperature fluctuations and a consistently overheating engine due to low coolant levels.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

White smoke coming from left side of engine. Lost a lot of coolant

ANSWER : The smoke is from the coolant leak when it hits a hot exhaust manifold. The leak may be from the thermostat housing. You should have the cooling system pressure tested to verify the leak in the system at the thermostat housing seal. Also you may want to verify the water pump is not leaking.

Read Full Q/A … : White smoke coming from left side of engine. Lost a lot of coolant

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.

Read Full Q/A … : White smoke coming from left side of engine. Lost a lot of coolant

My engine coolant light is coming on and after hitting a pot hole my thermostat light pops on, and after a few miles car run hot

ANSWER : Hi there. It is quite possible that you may have damaged the radiator when hitting the pot hole. Although there are protective shields located under the radiator itself, they are typically very thin and made of plastic in most cases. Sometimes the quick impact can cause cracking along the base of the radiator. When this happens, coolant will leak rather quickly. I would recommend two things, first, stop driving the vehicle until this issue is repaired. Second, contact a professional mobile mechanic to complete a coolant leak inspection so they can pinpoint precisely what is causing the leak and what repairs will be needed. This will allow you to have an accurate estimate for repairs.

Read Full Q/A … : White smoke coming from left side of engine. Lost a lot of coolant

temp gauge shot through the roof, heard rattling in engine, smoke coming from lower passenger side of engine, belts slight squeek

ANSWER : If your engine temperature overheated, then you have problems in the cooling system. Running it low on oil does not help an engine. If you are getting smoking and noise from the engine, then you need to have the engine checked for damage from the overheating. The water pump may have failed or your thermostat may have stuck closed. I recommend having a certified mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to you to diagnose the overheating issue to see what has happened.

Read Full Q/A … : White smoke coming from left side of engine. Lost a lot of coolant

No coolant in the reservoir. Seen low coolant message. I added 2 quarts of 50/50 coolant. Still getting the message. How much coolant doe it need?

ANSWER : Hi there. For the coolant light to go out, you would need to have the coolant between the low line and the full line for the light to go out. If the coolant is low and keeps on being low, then look for any signs of coolant leaks. You may have to use a coolant pressure tester to pressurize the reservoir to allow the leak to be found.

If you need further assistance with the coolant being low and the warning light being on, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

Read Full Q/A … : White smoke coming from left side of engine. Lost a lot of coolant

White smoke from the engine and smells of rubber with the knocking sound

ANSWER : My guess is that you have a leak somewhere, most likely a coolant leak. Coolant leaking onto a hot engine will immediately result in white smoke. Since you stopped the vehicle before all of the coolant was lost, the vehicle did not overheat. As for the noise, I’m not sure. It could be that the engine fan was running to cool the engine down. Whatever is going on with your vehicle, it sounds quite serious. I suggest you don’t drive it until the knocking sound is inspected by a professional firsthand. YourMechanic is an excellent option since we come to you.

Read Full Q/A … : White smoke coming from left side of engine. Lost a lot of coolant

Oil was leaking, put in over 4 qts of oil and oil leak stopper. White smoke coming tailpipe,engine shakes, car dies. Oil leaking.

ANSWER : Oil additives are not recommended by any vehicle manufacturer for any reason. Additives that purport to resolve oil leaks are useless, a waste of your money, and may result in engine damage. Every vehicle manufacturer strongly recommends against use of these materials. There is only one recommended and approved repair strategy when it comes to oil leaks: fix the leak.

You can only add the manufacturer specified amount of oil to an engine. If you add too much oil, or too little oil, that will cause engine damage. You should check the engine oil dipstick to determine if there is presently too much oil in the engine. If there is too much, the excess will have to be removed to prevent engine damage.

The leak that you are referring to can be repaired if you request an oil leak diagnostic. If you have further questions or concerns as you decide what to do, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic because we want you to make the most of your repair dollars and help you get the best possible results.

Read Full Q/A … : White smoke coming from left side of engine. Lost a lot of coolant

white smoke and coolant loss.

ANSWER : Hi there:

Overheating issues can be very tricky to fix and diagnose. However, when you’re losing coolant and white smoke is coming from the exhaust, this is a typical indication of a blown head gasket; which is causing coolant to seep into the engine. If this issue is not dealt with quickly; it can cause serious engine damage. The best advice I can offer is to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is overheating inspection; so they can determine if the repairs needed will be affordable or worth the expense.

Read Full Q/A … : White smoke coming from left side of engine. Lost a lot of coolant