If your car is boiling and you don't have any other symptoms replace the radiator cap. You'd be surprised how many people have had a head gasket replaced and it's just a faulty radiator cap.
@@macgilligan9726 Hi, assuming the scooter is water cooled? That white smoke, if it's alot and doesn't go away, is NOT a cracked exhaust pipe, that has nothing to do with the smoking. It can be one of the 3, cracked head ,cylinder block or head gasket problem. With the head gasket being the most likely cause, unless the person you bought it from ran straight water in the engine and it froze over? The smell of fuel also leads me to believe the head gasket is at fault and leaking causing low compression and unburnt fuel to escape throught the exhaust along with the white smoke. Hope this helps you some.
@@macgilligan9726 White smoke from an air cooled engine would be considered normal to me, blue smoke would indicate burning rich { carb problem } or burning oil. Without seeing the scooter and how it runs that's my guess.
Interesting. My car has started to boil which it never does. I let her warm up before I drive, and I don’t punch it so I was like “no it can’t be blown yet” so I’ll check my cap
@@macgilligan9726 check your oil level, sometimes if theres too much oil in the engine it throws alot of smoke. 2nd check your carb. 3rd could be your head gasket or engine block.
Yeah, and, while you're there, with the engine running, but not hot, remove the coolant cap and see if it bubbling/exhaust gases in there - another simple check to see if the head gasket is blown.
There is a failure somewhere. Head gasket comes to mind first. Car does not have to overheat for a gasket to fail or you have a crack in the head somewhere.
Question, my Toyota 3.4l there’s quite a bit of white smoke, but no indication water in the oil or oil in the water.. can you please share your knowledge?
Great video! I actually have a 2011 Mazda 3 and today (same color and all) had the head gasket replaced. My mechanic told me about getting it replaced a few weeks back while tuning up and I’m now looking at these problems. I’m swapping cars with my fiancé while I’m away in the military and I’m extremely grateful that I didn’t risk any of these issues. Very insightful and more people need to be aware of this!
Just found your video my rav 4 is currently in the shop as result of what was initially thought to be a blown head gasket but was cleared of milkshake mixture turns out it was the rods that are meant to keep coolant and water sealed in engine with rod 1 & 2 having lost all their tension and were just sitting in the holes The head gasket plate is still in one piece and only very teeny tiny amount of warpage to cylinder so all my mechanic has to do is remove threading from both holes and re-tap them so the bolts fit in there with full tension
You’re talking about the head bolts that became loose? If the engine was taking apart before I’d say it was human error but if the engine was never taken apart than the head gasket did blow. You may of not got oil mixing with coolant but it did overheat hence the warpage.
I have a car question that I told to the experienced mechanic that works at the car lot that I bought the car from. Well it’s a 2011 Jeep Cherokee and I smell a burning smell from under hood and he said don’t worry it will go away in a few days.. it’s due to a valve cover gasket replacement and they spilled oil. 3 weeks later I still smell it. Also sometimes when I crank up or when my car is idiling , white smoke comes from my tailpipe. It ran just pass the middle of the temperature gauge today but immediately cooled back down. Thanks in advance
Well the oil burning smell is not normal especially after 3 weeks they probably never replaced it. When I do valve cover gasket’s I clean the area so it doesn’t leak onto the exhaust system anywhere after the repair. A slight sign of white smoke( condensation) is normal when the vehicle is cold however not when fully warmed up and coolant gauge if accurate should not pass the middle unless in extreme conditions like towing or climbing up mountain roads.
We have a 2005 Jeep Liberty and it’s doing the same thing. White smoke out of exhaust on idle after valve/cylinder head cover gaskets were replaced. I thought it was blowing white smoke because oil was leaking from the valve cover into the exhaust, but now I’m starting to think the head gasket might be to blame. Did you ever find out what was wrong with your Jeep? edit: there’s also smoke in the engine bay…
Thank you very informative.I have a 2012 Mazda 3 Hatchback 2L Petrol and it just started blowing white smoke exaclty as shown in your video, sometimes the smoke dissapears but as soon as i press the gas pedal the white smoke starts to come out. What could be the problem?
Thank you for your comment! It’s probably the head gasket just like this one. It’s burning the coolant because it’s getting into the cylinders because of a blown head gasket or a cracked cylinder or block but most of the time it’s the weakest link that’s the head gasket.
@motorcarnut thank you. I also noticed the coolant level was below minimum, shocking, like how did it get that low, I guess this explains it. However, I was overthinking that maybe the piston rings are worn out and that they might need replacing, and also, the head might need to be checked by engineers. I guess that could be the worst case, the vehicle is on pretty good, well kept condition.
Had a dream that I was sitting in a Lamborghini truck with no mi till I woke up to smoke coming from the hood of my van, but the good thing is it didn't overheat - which was strange. Cars are like people the older they get the more one has to maintain them.
Hi, very informative and helpful site.....please assist...... I have a 2006 ford fiesta, 1.4i, mk5 with a Duratec engine. Water in the water bottle boils when the vehicle runs long distance or when going over short distances, stop and go situations.The heater gauge goes passed the half way mark and fan does come on but by that time the water is already boiling. I have done the head gasket, changed the water pump, fan and the radiator. Took of the thermostat but the wayer dtill boils.....i think that i did everything possible but my car still has the same problem, not sure what to do...any ideas, solutions guys, will appreciate your comments.rgd Doug
@@motorcarnut hi. I have a citroen c4 1.4. Car runs ok, but in the coolant tank i see some very minor oil spots. I dont see any bubbling in the coolant tank. Some water drops are going out of the exhaust even with the car warm, i tasted it but doesnt taste like coolant though. If i let the engine warm, if i remove the coolant tank cap, the coolant level rises about 2 fingers. Is it normal? Can a head gasket be burned if there are no bubbling in the coolant tank?
@@motorcarnut the engine also has, in corners, at the head gasket location, external oil leaks over the block. I put coolant in the tank up to the neck while the engine running and warm, and i saw some coolant is getting out. Everytime the fan kicks in, coolant drops a bit and i see a big bubble, but only at that time. If i accelerate or something, no bubbles there. I also noticed something, so i wanna ask you. When i first start the car, from inside the car, i hear a quick water bubbling in the dash. I know i heard this only in other 2 cars with head gasket isssues..Did you notice this also? Are there also other ways to detect a failing head gasket? maybe remove the spark plugs and see if one is cleaner? or something? i dont wanna spend alot to replace the head gasket without being necessary.
When the coolant rises when it’s hot it’s normal and when the fan kicks in it lowers is also normal. Your coolant level should be at the high mark not to the rim in the overflow tank. But you have leaks at the head gasket that is not good. Yes you can take out all the spark plugs and see it any look different from each other. And you can pressurized each cylinder with compressed air and see if any bubbles are coming out through the overflow tank, if there is bubbles than the head gasket is most like bad. The coolant noise inside the car could be a concern but check what I said first.
Good question, that really depends on the particular engine and whether it's a cast iron block or aluminum. Overall for every 20 overheated engines maybe 1 has to be resurfaced and it's usually an aluminum block and a Toyota for some reason. But never had a cast iron block warp in recent memory.
Hello, 2002 BMW X5, I do have white smoke from my exaust, on start up then it subcides. I notice last year a creaming color on my oil cap and around the cap fitting, and a little on the oil dip stick. I don't drive to often, short trips because of the age of the car. My father says BMW'S are not short trip cars and you have to drive them long distances sometimes to burn off Condensation, he said thats why I'm getting the thick white smoke, but I don't know, I don't want to take it on the highway and it breaks down on me haha. Blown casket or Condensation? Sorry for the long comment haha. BTW it does smoke while I'm driving also, its like it does it off and on.
If any vehicle isn't used for a good amount of time it will have some slight milky oil color under the oil filler cap, this is normal also when you first start a cold vehicle there will be white smoke but not thick sweet smelling smoke. So I can't say for sure since I'm not there, I would change oil and filter and flush coolant system then drive it around town get it nice and hot and check your fluid levels and go further and further with it to see if it stops smoking and radiator fans come on and off.
I don't think so, can be a misfire of some sort or a bad engine mount. If it were a head gasket making it vibrate it wouldn't come and go, would be constant.
I recently found that milky substance under the filler cap and on the dipstick of my car and a few days ago I had the oil changed and used motor flush to clean out the engine. So far the oil has remained clean and normal and the car runs normal and doesn't overheat or emit any white smoke. I assumed it was just condensation due to the winter weather and only making short trips in it, keeping it under 20 miles a week. It does consume a lot of coolant with no leaks in the bottom and it the fluid inside the radiator is dirty and oily despite installing a new radiator six months ago.
Doesn't sound good. Your head gasket is probably on its way out. Should not consume coolant or have milky substance in the 6 month old radiator. You should have the coolant tested for any exhaust gasses mixed in with. If you do, replacement is the only cure.
My 2004 Lexus ES 330 has a thin white smoke that comes and goes. It is not running hot and I am not losing coolant and there is no sign of any mixing of oil and water. The car is running fine and no mechanical issues or lights. It seems to show up more when the AC is running.
I’m trying to to figure out if my wife has a blown head gasket. She has none of the symptoms except the white smoke which last only a minute or less when you start the car after it has been off for a while. I changed the oil and it doesn’t look like it’s mixed , the coolant level is fine , and it doesn’t over heat .
Could just be normal condensation, but the do make test strips you can buy that will detect exhaust gases in the coolant system which would indicate a head gasket problem or not.
Remove the thermostat, and recheck for bubbles, the oil passages maybe away from water passages, and check to see if you hear a deep bass sound from the exhaust
@Motorcarnut, thanks for the informative video. I've been trying to diagnose my 2013 VW Amarok TDI420. Looks like EGR has been removed/deleted. Coolant expansion tank/system is over-pressurising with a lot of bubbling occurring, smells like exhaust fumes, plus there is a black soot-like deposit on the tank walls. No white smoke out of exhaust. No 'chocolate milkshake' visible yet. No sign of diesel in coolant. Possibly the slightest trace of oil, but very hard to tell & could just be from the exhaust fumes? Already replaced expansion tank cap. I'm thinking this means there is a head gasket crack forcing exhaust gases into the coolant lines, but not big enough to lose coolant into the cylinders, Is there anything else it could be, before I go and ask my mechanic to take a look at the head? Any suggestions really appreciated. Also concerned about driving it to my mechanic, wondering if it's worth a tow? No apparent issues with starting, idle, etc. No temp gauge on the VW Amarok, just coolant warning light, which was flicking on and off the last time I drove it.
The EGR valve is missing probably because they are known to fail pretty often and there was a recall for that. Could of been the EGR cooler was leaking into the coolant system and pumping it up if they did remove it AND it's still pumpiing up the coolant system then It does sound like the head gasket is going because you shouldn't have soot deposits in the overflow tank at all. And the exhaust flume smell confirms that to me. Best bet is to have a good mechanic check it out who knows VW's. Honestly, being diesels have more compression then gasoline engines, unless the mechanic is within 1 mile or kilometer to drive the truck there I'd have the car towed because chances are the head is probably already damaged but may still be salvageable. Good luck
I have a 2017 Honda civic Turbo. It is not blowing nearly as much smoke as that Mazda. But when I’m at a red light- and then go once it’s green- it blows a good amount of white smoke out. Smells like burning oil. Just got an oil change yesterday. Seems to be worse.
Hey. My 1977 corvette has recently started to have a hiss in the radiator and there is a slight and occasional coolant leak. Took it to a rad specialist, who told me it should be fine for the time being (I'm taking it in in a couple of days to get sorted out). However; the car has developed a clicking or almost knocking sound. Checked the oil, no lack of pressure or milky texture. There isn't any smoke coming from the exhaust, and the car runs and drives well. I'm sure the engine is on its way to overheating, but I'm terrified of a head gasket going out.
@@12wegohard ohyeah, my radiator was leaking. Pulled it out and sent it to a radiator shop, haven't had any issues since (this was half a year ago now lol)
Don't forget, usually it's a component that caused the over heating. Loke water pump, radiator, etc. Replacing gasket or engine and not the cause will only get you a second blown gasket.
What other reason would air be getting into my system and causing it to overheat? No smoke, no milky oil, no oil residue in reservoir. Awesome video and its giving me hope that I don’t have a blown gasket SO FAR. I have a 2016 kia with 133k miles. I have replaced thermostat, cooling sensor, radiator cap, coolant housing. performed radiator clean and flush. The only place I am losing coolant is from the reservoir overfilling and only during 30 min+ long drives. And im assuming its because air gets into cooling system by that point
If the coolant system is not bled properly it would cause it to overheat. Also the only way air can get into the coolant system is a leaking head gasket pumping up the system. Hopefully it just has to be re bled.
@@motorcarnut thank you for that, I've parked up a steep incline (lol) and used the coolant funnel system to purge all the air out a few times already.
Do this, when the car is overnight cold, squeeze the top radiator hose with engine off to get an idea how much pressure it takes then start the engine and wait about 2 minutes if the hose feels the same as when cold that’s a good sign but if it feels harder then the cylinders are pumping up the coolant system because of a head gasket leak or cracked head. Because in 2 minutes the car is not hot enough to build pressure caused by heat. Make sense?
Hi there, my Renault Clio Mk2 has milky residue under the oil cap but no milky residue on the dip stick. There’s also no oil in the overflow tank. There is blue smoke that comes out of the exhaust when driving which is probably piston rings. How do I know what the issue is ?
Hey, I have a 2011 Honda Civic. My car started smoking like that right after an oil change. Does that mean the head gasket is blown and I need to replace the whole thing?
Being it was right after an oil change that seems kinda strange? Are you sure it’s white smoke? Or is it blue? I say this because if it’s blue it could related to the oil change, wrong weight, overfilled etc?
@@motorcarnut the smoke is definitely white. I did check it and it is overfilled by quite some bit. But 30 minutes after the oil changed something made a scratching noise and a big cloud of smoke was behind the car.
What I don’t like is right after the oil change this happened. Oil should not be overfilled and without being there it’s hard to know what happened, do you know what burning coolant smells like? to see if the car is burning coolant?
@@motorcarnut this is my first car and i just barely bought it. I have no idea about a lot of stuff. It did have a weird smell to it. But there’s no leaking or puddles anywhere under the car. (Not sure if that has anything to do with it.) I did check the oil and it doesn’t look like milky or anything like that. and thank you for responding I don’t have anybody else and i definitely don’t know anything about cars.
I have the exact same car as you and I am experiencing a couple things. One i get the abs light and traction shown on my dash only when it is raining. I think it must be a speed wheel sensor fault or some sort but this doesn’t mess with the brakes and still doesn’t affect the performance of the vehicle. 2nd. I was a while ago getting the red coolant light appearing on the dash and I had checked to see that there was barely any coolant? It was way past the min level and I am not really a mechanic but I think that is abnormal. I obviously topped up on coolant and now upon checking, it has went down a lot and is past min too. I have checked around to see if any visible leaks but there hasn’t been any and I don’t experience white smoke like shown in the video but I sometimes get rough starts and even sometimes it starts up but the rpms are low and shakes for a couple of seconds as if it is pushing to start and then gets back to normal. Other than what I have stated, the car runs fine, never broke down on me but I am not waiting for that to happen. There is an engine light that comes up but when scanned it states O2 sensor fault. This light comes and goes and could be the fault to the car starting up weird and shaking but I haven’t checked that out yet. I am not sure if I have a blown head gasket as I will do some checks now because I am not sure where the coolant is going but any feedback is appreciated, thanks Note this car is very dirty from the outside and inside when first received. Makes sense for the abs light and o2 sensor as they could just be really dirty as they come and go
Upon checking, the coolant is visible when I take off the cap but it is at a very low level from when I have topped it at max. It has been only a month since I have put in coolant. There doesn’t seem to be any type of mixture in the coolant and after checking the oil level, there is no mixture either and the oil is sat at the correct level too.
@@motorcarnut Idk what it is but coincidentally I had the engine light today and upon checking it was a P0300 - Random cylinder multiple misfire and P0301 - Cylinder 3 misfire detected. I am unsure what to do at this point but the car’s performance has been fine although I don’t wanna wait and see if it gets worse..
@@motorcarnutbut your feedback has been really appreciated if you could help me with what this engine light code is and what actions I should take, I’d highly appreciate it, thanks
i have replaced the radiator cap and the thermo but my problem is mine doesn't over heat nor does it blow white smoke but it goes up in temp when under load but doesn't over heat just get alittle hotter then normasl and then goes down just as fast as it goes up when not under load.
hey man appreciate the video, i recently had a radiator hose blown and there was water in the entire hood. i replaced it and its all okay but i recently pulled out the oil cap and there was a green residue like coolant so im not sure if my head gasket has blown as well. i cleaned the cap and checked today and there was no residue again, there is no white smoke in the exhaust, the dipstick is fine, coolant level is ok, im just worried about that residue that was in the oil cap and today my low oil pressure light came on for seconds then disappeared, thank you in advance!
No problem thanks. How long did you drive with the blown hose or how hot did the coolant gauge get before shutting it off? There should not be any coolant in the oil like you know already. A little condensation under the oil cap is normal but not green as that’s coolant.
@@motorcarnut hey man sorry to bother, my coolant leaks to the floor now, head gasket already replaced, water pump replaced, no hose cracks or reservoir cracks, keeps dropping out from the bottom, a metal Tank any idea where this could come from
@@gonzalotorres4570hey sorry to bother you.. i have same issued like ur car.. but may i knw did you detect already whats the signs problems that may caused?
I have a 20i18 jeep wrangler. It started overheating by the time i turned to my house...i saw that the antifreeze reservoir was empty. I put 50/50 antifreeze fluid in reservoir. Then the next day it start with white smoke from tailpipe and got up next morning now it wont crank up...what can i do to get it fixed?
Hey boss, i had my radiator give out which was leaking and overheated the car. I replaced it but noticed the coolant was a cloudy blue instead of blue. I was wondering what you think i should look at next because its idling like its ok so far. Im scared to drive without completely fixing it. Its a 09 maxima
When the car is hot meaning driving it for about 10 miles or so there should be no smoke. When cold there should only be a light tint of white smoke, never blue, blue is oil burning and not thick white sweet smelling smoke either that’s burning coolant. Does the car overheat now?
@@motorcarnut hey thanks for the quick reply. At the moment it seems ok .. i got prestone radiator cleaner cycling through with water to clean any thing left out of the system. I also meant the coolant its self was that color. The coolant is usually blue but when i emptied it it was blue with some sludge
05 jeep 3.7 laredo had radiator, water pump and thermostat replaced just in August. Last oil change (faithfully change by sticker date), the guy says i have an oil leak. He suggests i let him put some lucas oil stop leak in there. I don't have any coolant leaks, resevoir is full, no white smoke after the initial very cold startup and jeep warms up. For the first time ever, I have yellow sludge on oil cap. Dispstick is clean. I decide to do my own oil this time so I could inspect the oil myself and I notice the bolt under my water pump is half out and another bolt is missing from the left side top of those wheels. 🤦🏾♀️I was hoping it was just the Lucas causing condensation issues and i just needed an oil change but now I am wondering if those bolts being loose and lost is causing problems. 🙏🏾 a good mechanic walk into my life. I didn't complete the oil change yet.
I don’t think loose bolts are connected to the yellow sludge. I never use aftermarket additives. A little condensation under the oil cap is normal if not excessive. Tighten up the bolts, change oil again and monitor the oil again to see if there’s still a problem
You left out the part where the only symptom is compression from the cylinder escapes into to radiator forcing coolant into the overflow tank Mines doing that at the moment. No other signs just bubbles in the radiator.
I had my radiator and my thermostat replaced on my 2007 Mazda 6i 2.3L . The car still overheats. What other part/s can I check next that will cause it to overheat?
Start with the simple things first. Check or replace the radiator cap, make sure there is no air in the coolant system. Make sure radiator fans cycle on and off. When the car is overnight cold try squeezing the top radiator hose see how it feels then start the car and wait about 2 minutes the hose should feel about the same if it’s noticeable harder then you may have a blown head gasket pumping up the coolant system.
my tacoma is smoking out the tail pipe when it cold but once up to temp it stops I feel a little loss of power and it vibrates more is it completely blown or would k seal maybe work?
Hard to know for sure but some light white smoke is normal more like condensation when cold. You may have a head gasket starting to fail, I would stay away from any of those additives, most never work and if they do only for a short period of time.
During a cold start up that would be considered normal condensation, when engine is hot like driving on the highway for 10 minutes and does it that is not normal and can indicate burning coolant.
@@motorcarnut I prob got do compression test their no smoke when I turn it on only when I’m reving it or coming to a light or stop put car netural roll to stop
Very helpful video thank you I have that same problem where the coolant is not mixing with the oil......coolant runs low when I drive it and leaks different places below the vehicle...is it cause their is a blockage in the combustion chamber?
Thank you, well it depends where it’s leaking from underneath the car? Could be a leak in the radiator or hose or pumping up the coolant overflow and leaking down underneath as well. You have to see the location where it’s leaking from first. Good idea to dry everything as best as possible then watch where the leaks are coming from
Hi my Suzuki is also boiling when the fan goes on the water go to level low.... Now the problem is the water on coolant is drying I have to fill up every morning I dnt see any leakage can it be the headgasket or the seal cap is putting more air on it... How must I blow out the air
I have an rx8 and I noticed a few days ago white smoke started coming from my exhaust on a cold start and my coolant levels are normal no mix on the dip stick and the smoke immediately stops once the car is warmed up. And there has only been one misfire since I noticed the smoke.
I would keep an eye on it, cold start up with a little white smoke ( condensation) is normal but if the misfire is associated with the burning of coolant that will be a problem. You could get test strips that test the coolant for any signs of exhaust gasses to see if your head gasket is starting to go.
Wow, good call, must of forgot about that and was thinking about a conventional Mazda combustion engine, not rotary. Even though they don’t have head gaskets they are still coolant reliant and can leak from various seals and places.
Well, all vehicles will overheat if not properly maintained. Most issues are caused by a leak ( low or no coolant) Bad radiator, water pump, thermostat or even a bad radiator cap could cause a vehicle to overheat.
Mine starts up really easy has white smoke though no oil on coolant and I just changed oil but didnt seem unusually brown. The bike sat for years so I expected the fluids to be bad
My 2014 Durango does not have coolant on the deep stick nor oil on the coolant radiator cap. No smoke neither but I do hear bubbling when turning the vehicle of after driving
My coolant levels keep dropping about 1/4 cup a month. No visible leaks on the ground. No smoke from the tailpipe at all, no visible signs of coolant in the oil. Doesn't overheat. Temperature gauge stays just below half way. Car runs perfectly fine though. It's a Toyota so I use the recommended red coolant. So when the car was completely cooled, I took the radiator cap off and started the car, and coolant immediately started to rise, but no bubbling whatsoever. Is this a symptom of a leaking head gasket?
So, when you say the coolant immediately rises when you start your cold engine, does it overflow and spill out? Also try when the engine is cold overnight and radiator cap it installed start it and immediately check to see if the large upper radiator hose has pressure, it should have pressure within 2 minutes or less
When the car is overnight cold, squeeze the top radiator hose before starting the engine and feel how it feels with no pressure in it then start the car and immediately squeeze it again and see if it feels the same when it was off. Should not have pressure until the car is hot, if it has pressure let’s say with 1 minute after starting then the pistons are pumping up the coolant system because of bad sealing between the block and head and probably the head gasket starting to go.
Can it cause hard start of the engine? My golf 7 tdi is sometimes having problem woth it. White smoke is there, coolant leaking is there. How much could it cost?
I have excessive white smoke but goes away after like 5 minutes when I start in the morning or when the car rest for like couple hours. What does that mean?
Makes sense about the coolant now. I was wondering wtf keeps happening to my coolant when I had no leak in the line. And my car is running and idling rough as hell. Man wtf! Smh to my money pit. 🙇
Not directly no, a bad or poorly gapped spark plug can put undue stress on the coils unless there were so much coolant in the cylinders to short out the coil but this is rare and car would run too long anyway.
After I replaced my radiator the bottom radiator hose keeps popping off. It's a Mercedes CLK550 and it's almost like a clip holds it in. I bought a new clip and was going to try another lower hose. Prior I replaced the oil cooler because because there was oil in the coolant, no other signs of the gasket being blown and after I replaced the oil cooler it hasn't leaked into the coolant again, and thermostat was replaced and it doesn't over heat.
Is it an aftermarket radiator? Sometimes they are not made as well as OEM. Make sure you push the hose all the way in and the new clip and o ring are seated the correct way. The clip sits in a grove in the radiator a certain way so when the hose is inserted it click into place.
I did not catch my over heating in time and it blew some sort of valve and drained all the coolant. I had that fixed along with the thermostat, but it's still over heating and I hear what sounds like gushing/dripping above my feet when I drive. I don't see anything coming out and I don't see anything leaking on the ground when I'm stopped or parked. I watched for white smoke today but didn't see any. The mechanic thinks it might be a head gasket that blew with the original over heating. I noticed when I lifted the hood this morning that the reservoir cap had blown off and broke. I'm assuming I need a new one of those for sure. Any other ideas?
The reservoir cap can not just blow off I don’t care how much pressure there is. You should find another mechanic and I think from what you’re explaining you did blow the head gasket or can be a cracked head or block but more likely the gasket. The gushing noise as you described is boiling coolant.
Hello sir! Did you have to resurface/flatten the cylinder head or only a gasket swap fixed this problem? I would highly appreciate an answer, thank you so very much for your video and your attention.
Thank you, really appreciated! If the engine did not overheat then you don’t have to resurface the cylinder head, but you should still check it for straightness. I have a video on checking cylinder head for straightness too.
@@motorcarnut I really appreciate your answer. In my case yes, it did overheat a little and then the white smoke starting coming out of the exhaust pipe. So I guess I'll just take the head out, have it resurfaced somewhere and then put it back on the car... thank you so much
Great video! I have a 2008 BMW 116i and after a fairly long journey my car is violently vibrating and I have a yellow oil light on. There doesn’t seem to be a coolant leak and the oil level hasn’t changed however my Rev limiter is bouncing between 600-750 rpm rapidly. Any suggestions?
@@motorcarnut I am unable to find any codes but the problem isn’t noticeable when driving the car, it is only noticeable when fooling after a long drive if that helps your diagnosis. Furthermore, the radiator runs exceptionally loud.
Hard to diagnose without being there but sounds like what i said a air leak somewhere, a hose popped off? Fans running a lot could be a head gasket starting to fail , meaning the engine is running hotter than normal but the computer doesn't see that condition yet. Like I said hard to know without the car in front of me and I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction so you may have to have someone look at it for you before it gets worse .
My thermostat is stuck closed I believe so it's overheating and not allowing the fluid to fill up the radiator when it got too hot it started to make a clanking sound
Great video! I have a question I have a bmw 114i and the coolant reservoir boils if the car has been driven for about 2 miles. There is a slight white smoke coming from the exhaust when it has been idling for a minute or so but once you rev the car a bit it goes and doesn’t continue whilst driving any help would be appreciated! Thanks
Something is making the car overheat OR a blown head gasket is pumping up the coolant system as well. You should start with the simple things first. Make sure the radiator cap on the reservoir is good or just replace it. Also, try this, leave the car cold overnight and then before starting it squeeze the upper radiator hose ( the large one) and get a feel of how soft it is, then start the car and wait about 2 minutes and see if it feels the same, if it's harder than when it was cold only after 2 minutes then the pistons are pumping up the coolant system from a probably blown head gasket. Because 2 minutes isn't enough time for the engine to normally build up enough pressure to feel harder when you squeeze it, Make sense? Other things is from a dead cold start without driving the car, how long does it take for the overflow tank to boil over?
I forgot to add the car doesn’t overheat (that I know of) the oil isn’t milky or anything like that and the car still drives perfectly fine despite the boiling coolant. I’m not sure how to find a temperature gauge on this car as it doesn’t have one on the dashboard
The "boiling over" IS overheating.10 minutes is kinda of a good sign because that doesn't seem like the pistons are pumping up the coolant system. Like I said try replacing the coolant cap, it's cheap and can cause the overheating by not holding pressure. I know a lot of cars don't have coolant gauges and some you can't even check the engine oil. It's ridicules. They want you to bring the car to the dealership so they can make money off you, no other reason.
@@motorcarnut I also forgot to add that there seems to be some red/orange stuff that looks like it has boiled on to the reservoir where the bleeding plug is I don’t know if there could be something linked with it. I asked a mechanic about it and he said it’s nothing to worry about but I’m not sure.
Hey when im sitting idle at a red light, the temp gauge moves a little above the middle, then when I accelerate it goes back to the middle. What do you think this means? Some said radiator fan is cracked or thermostat. Im in a 09 Buick Lucerne super.
If the car has no symptoms as I explained in the video then it could be a failing thermostat. Also make sure the coolant is clean and properly filled and system has no leaks.
My pt cruiser only runs hot when the coolant gets to boiling point then it runs to reservoir bubbling and it doesn't go back to radiator so it's dry and start getting hot and we lose coolant out the reservoir hose is it my gasket or air in system or icm or the thermo or coolant sensor. I straight wired my high n lol fans but now that don't work. The fans just quit working today Fri Nov 12
Well you have an overheating problem for sure. Could be as simple as a faulty radiator cap or stuck closed thermostat, or the head gasket. You should get the fans fixed properly not wired manually the computer controls the fans so the car doesn’t overheat.
My FJ overheated then when we filled the radiator bubbles overflowing everytime i drive the radiator hose always pops off is this a sign for blown head gasket?
@@motorcarnut i told my mechanic and he was telling me "oh its only making bubbles because we put that radiator cleaner" now when we check the oil mixed up with water. Would it get fixed if we replace the head gasket?
My mechanic sees the 'milkshake' but not on the diptstick, it's leaking in the engine. He was testing the heating core cause we have no heat. He said the oil was very low and had to add 3 quarts of it (it was changed 3 months ago). Also he pulled out the oil filter and it was saturated with oil. Looked like it had been dipped in oil. He said the place that changed my oil did not change the oil filter which led to the issues that he says may be a damaged head gasket. The car has not overheated.I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?
If there is mixing of coolant and oil, you probably have a blown head gasket at a minimum. How it happened I can’t tell by your post but either way that’s what it sounds like. Maybe get a second opinion to make sure?
Great video. Stoked that I appear to have escaped the shit realm of this problem. I have a 2004 tacoma 344k and it’s had a terrible leak from the water pump. I switched out the thermostat and housing and it got worse. The car would go from cold to hot very quickly once running. I’m assuming that’s a water pump at this point but I was worried that maybe the head had blown out. And that’s why there wasn’t enough pressure to seal up the system. Having it towed to a mechanic today. Fingers crossed. This is the first problem I’ve really ever had. Great truck. Scared to be told it’s time to move on.
Just make sure the simple things like the radiator cap and the sealing point where it sits and seals is not distorted. Just replace the cap if in doubt. The radiator is not clogged and flows properly. Another test is when the truck is cold, start it up and see if the top radiator hose gets hard fast before it gets hot, if it does the head gasket is failing and not necessarily you will see that thick white smoke.
I have a 2010 Hyundai sonata when I bought it it had a coolant leak out of the thermostat housing replaced it with a aluminum housing and it seemed to be fine the thermostat gage doesn’t work nor does the gas gage I drove it it for weeks but today on the way home we heard a pop under the hood pulled over in a parking lot and under the hood the hose from the heating core was popped off the housing (bottom one) Put it back on opened the radiator cap and it was clogged with black puddy or something I dug it out and you could hear some pressure release I filled it back up with maybe a quarter of coolant and the rest in water and when it was burping it was foaming a little bit also the coolant reservoir also had some black sludge in it
Tough to answer without seeing the vehicle. But doesn't seem good. Have to wait for engine to cool try to clean it and then start it and watch where it starts to leak.
My old 1990 Celica is beat up with all bald tires and all the warning lights on. When I drive it's sluggish with white smoke coming out the exhaust. Engine is always hot on the temperature gage indicator.
If the gasket is blown letting coolant into the combustion chamber then yes it will be constant. However there are times when the leak is so minor it can leak into the combustion chamber overnight while the engine is cold and upon start up burn thick white smoke not to be confused with normal thin condensation smoke.
My car has low coolant despite a new radiator and there are no leaks. Can a coolant leak into the engine cause a catalitic converter to go bad? My check engine light is on and the code read P0420 as a catalitic issue.
@@motorcarnut It may be the coolant reservoir leaking from the cap. I drove the car and when I got home I saw coolant leaking out of the cap. It is still under warranty so exchanging it today.
Elo I have a jetta 4 AKL engine overheats and I replace the waterbottel and cap put new cold new fanswitch but still the water is boiling inside the bottle if I drive 60kms the temperature stay at 90⁰C but if I drive 110 to 120 it's going up to 110⁰C
My 2019 dodge ram (148000 miles) lost all its coolant. Pressure checked it two months ago and it passed pressure check. I’m not seeing any coolant leaks. Only other symptoms is a burning smell from the truck. No white smoke or milky oil. Any thoughts?
It has to be burning it then when it’s hot. Try test strips that detect exhaust gases in the coolant indicating a blown head gasket. That’s where I’d start.
I've had issues with my 2001 diesel ford courier. Car overheated out of nowhere. Replaced the rad cap, the water pump, the thermo, replaced most heating hoses, flushed the radiator out, no luck. Car doesn't like starting and has a slight bounce on the idle when cold. Slightest bit of white smoke/condensation out of the exhaust, but as i put my foot down on the throttle it blows out clean instead of more smokey etc. My heating core in the cab has its issues, doesnt like to open up for heat often but when it does open up it's blowing hot hot lol when the car starts to get hot it blows out coolant into the overflow and boils/steams out the overflow hose. Wondering if its a bad head gasket or worse, a bad head.. i cant figure it out atm. Thinking of replcing the head gasket and checking if that does it, but if you have any suggestions or tips, id love to hear them :) cheers mate. Great video.
@@motorcarnut cheers for the response mate. That's what I've been thinking myself tbh, another persons input is always welcomed though :) I shall replace the head gasket and see how i go. Wish me luck lol cheers.
I have a 1973 450 sl Mercedes it's running with a miss and when I push on the gas it feels like it's clogged! And made a popping noise from the muffler and when I really push on it on the freeway a lil white smoke comes out from the muffler not a lot , ????????????????
@@motorcarnut ya it sucks cause my car was at this mechanic for 2 months all he did was put wires and he said he put plugs and new cap but it seems like it's running worst when I bring it in it was not that bad ! I gave him 1200 $ he didn't no how to work on my 1973 450 sl
Hello mister i have a coolant leaking on my system , iswiched the radiator, checked the oil george to check if there was a leaking inside the chambers but there was not, i wonder where could the leak be , i have a honda civik 2009 automatic
I have a 2012 dodge charger that randomly shakes/vibrates on idle..car doesn’t overheat but it does randomly have white smoke coming from the exhaust when I accelerate,some days it will and some days it won’t.
Some thin white smoke is normal condensation. They have test strips you can buy that detects exhaust gases in the coolant system indicating a blown head gasket.
I had a new radiator installed over a year ago and I just noticed I have water or coolant not sure coming from the bottom front left and right side close to the radiator. Any ideas?
@@motorcarnut I am taking it to a shop to have it diagnosed. Yesterday the check engine light came on again. Before it was a misfire and later catalitic bank 1 issue. I do not know why the code reader goes back and forth.
my car has very similar symptoms - No milky stuff, white smoke on start up and acceleration (not as much smoke as the car in the video tho). Smoke smells like petrol, not sweet smell. Could this be a head gasket? Or fuel injectors. Thank you!
I have a question no white smoke no milky oil but the car is running hot and I’m losing water from the reservoir but it’s not leaking out the car it gets hot at soon as it’s idled
I just purchased a 2018 Cadillac CTS 2.0 turbo it only has 30,000 miles clean engine but I have noticed that when I shut the car down I hear like a bubbling noise so I popped the hood and I noticed like a lot of bubbling with antifreeze coming from the radiator holes going into the reserve tank what does that mean now the car doesn't overheat at all I have not seen any milky substance and I've had the oil change twice already in my mechanic tells me everything is fine so what does the bubbling in the reserve mean
Slight bubbling ( coolant moving) is normal as the car heats up then cools coolant pressure expands and contracts. As long as it doesn’t overheat or have excessive pressure and or boiling.
My 2010 GMC Sierra blows out blueish grayish smoke on startup out the exhaust and dissipates within 5-10 seconds. What could be the best guess for the problem I have?
Oh and it doesn’t do it while I’m driving only on startup no matter the temperature, it doesn’t do it all the time either only if it’s been sitting for about 3 hours
The blueish smoke is oil burning probably from worn valve stem seals from what you're explaining. Regular light white smoke is condensation ( normal ). The proper way to fix the oil burning is replacing the valve stem seals which is a big job, heads have to come off. You can try some (stop smoke) oil additive as a temporary fix.
Hey, So I don't know much about cars, but my car started giving that white smoke, and someone suggested getting gasket magic. Another thing is, sometimes when I drive, it feels like the car is losing power because the gears take long to change, and when it eventually changes to the next gear, the power is up again. Any advise?
You may have a head gasket problem or something else, no way to know without being there. I don’t recommend any sealers but you can do anything you want. I would have a local mechanic advise more.
My car blows white smoke every time I start it and eventually goes away after 3 min. Not sure if this is a head gasket problem. I know there’s is a leak in the coolant because I hear a water sound in the dashboard whenever I start my car and I have to fill it up every two weeks. Just not sure if this is a head gasket problem or not. What do you think?
A little white smoke on a cold start is normal condensation but you have to find where it’s leaking from. Can be the head gasket is leaking as the sound you hear air pumping up the system from the pistons
Well without the car in front of me I don’t want to say 100% yes, you should have a mechanic check it out first just to confirm. Could also have a small leak only when hot which is harder to find.
I have a 2014 dodge charger R/T. I believe is losing coolant somewhere, car does not overheat nor have any problems but I do seem to keep filling up reservoir to the top of coolant range every week/2 weeks and it’ll end up under the coolant range. No white smoke, nor coolant in oil vice versa. What you think I can check out if you could help or anyone else
o4 expedition temp guauge goes from the middle of the guage normal then drops to cold then back to normal i am losing coolant but i dont see any water or coolant on the ground truck has a rough idle but smooth as butter when i step on the gas i do have coolant coming out my tailpipe not an excessive amount. i do have a new cylinder head temp sensor and yes the truck when i shut it off i can hear coolant bubbling in the plastic resevoir if the new head tempsensor doesnt solve the issue? im ost i bought the truck abot 6 months back t ran fine ice cold no over heating i drove it every day then one evening just drove it a few miles ac shutdown truck got hot guage was normal then cold then normal i was less than a mile from home ..i got it home th next added water and it drove fine for about an hour and same thing happened
There should never be coolant coming out the tailpipe, you have a blown head gasket or a crack in the head or block but most likely a head gasket failure
I have a question. I have a carolla Toyota 1996. We were passing someone and the car started to smoke and it sounded like we blew a tire. But there was leaking oil from the engine and no hoses popped off. So what can it be ?
Hard to say without the car in front of me but doesn’t sound good, maybe the car blew a rod something bad enough to cause oil leaking after a loud noise should be check by a local mechanic immediately
If your car is boiling and you don't have any other symptoms replace the radiator cap. You'd be surprised how many people have had a head gasket replaced and it's just a faulty radiator cap.
Very true
@@macgilligan9726 Hi, assuming the scooter is water cooled? That white smoke, if it's alot and doesn't go away, is NOT a cracked exhaust pipe, that has nothing to do with the smoking. It can be one of the 3, cracked head ,cylinder block or head gasket problem. With the head gasket being the most likely cause, unless the person you bought it from ran straight water in the engine and it froze over? The smell of fuel also leads me to believe the head gasket is at fault and leaking causing low compression and unburnt fuel to escape throught the exhaust along with the white smoke. Hope this helps you some.
@@macgilligan9726 White smoke from an air cooled engine would be considered normal to me, blue smoke would indicate burning rich { carb problem } or burning oil. Without seeing the scooter and how it runs that's my guess.
Interesting. My car has started to boil which it never does. I let her warm up before I drive, and I don’t punch it so I was like “no it can’t be blown yet” so I’ll check my cap
@@macgilligan9726 check your oil level, sometimes if theres too much oil in the engine it throws alot of smoke. 2nd check your carb. 3rd could be your head gasket or engine block.
Yeah, and, while you're there, with the engine running, but not hot, remove the coolant cap and see if it bubbling/exhaust gases in there - another simple check to see if the head gasket is blown.
That’s correct.
In your experience what would you say about oil in coolant bottle which is clear like new oil on a 2007 nissan note with no over heating
There is a failure somewhere. Head gasket comes to mind first. Car does not have to overheat for a gasket to fail or you have a crack in the head somewhere.
Question, my Toyota 3.4l there’s quite a bit of white smoke, but no indication water in the oil or oil in the water.. can you please share your knowledge?
Is it constant even when engine is hot?
Great video! I actually have a 2011 Mazda 3 and today (same color and all) had the head gasket replaced. My mechanic told me about getting it replaced a few weeks back while tuning up and I’m now looking at these problems. I’m swapping cars with my fiancé while I’m away in the military and I’m extremely grateful that I didn’t risk any of these issues. Very insightful and more people need to be aware of this!
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.
Hey men. Why did you replace your gasket?
What was the symptoms?
Watch the video
You were great.
Just found your video my rav 4 is currently in the shop as result of what was initially thought to be a blown head gasket but was cleared of milkshake mixture turns out it was the rods that are meant to keep coolant and water sealed in engine with rod 1 & 2 having lost all their tension and were just sitting in the holes
The head gasket plate is still in one piece and only very teeny tiny amount of warpage to cylinder so all my mechanic has to do is remove threading from both holes and re-tap them so the bolts fit in there with full tension
You’re talking about the head bolts that became loose? If the engine was taking apart before I’d say it was human error but if the engine was never taken apart than the head gasket did blow. You may of not got oil mixing with coolant but it did overheat hence the warpage.
@Motorcarnut ah yes the head bolts thanks for correcting me bolts 1 &2 were no longer tensioned when my mechanic check it over
I have a car question that I told to the experienced mechanic that works at the car lot that I bought the car from. Well it’s a 2011 Jeep Cherokee and I smell a burning smell from under hood and he said don’t worry it will go away in a few days.. it’s due to a valve cover gasket replacement and they spilled oil. 3 weeks later I still smell it. Also sometimes when I crank up or when my car is idiling , white smoke comes from my tailpipe. It ran just pass the middle of the temperature gauge today but immediately cooled back down. Thanks in advance
Well the oil burning smell is not normal especially after 3 weeks they probably never replaced it. When I do valve cover gasket’s I clean the area so it doesn’t leak onto the exhaust system anywhere after the repair. A slight sign of white smoke( condensation) is normal when the vehicle is cold however not when fully warmed up and coolant gauge if accurate should not pass the middle unless in extreme conditions like towing or climbing up mountain roads.
We have a 2005 Jeep Liberty and it’s doing the same thing. White smoke out of exhaust on idle after valve/cylinder head cover gaskets were replaced. I thought it was blowing white smoke because oil was leaking from the valve cover into the exhaust, but now I’m starting to think the head gasket might be to blame. Did you ever find out what was wrong with your Jeep?
edit: there’s also smoke in the engine bay…
@@YouceffKabal what that could mean is a cracked manifold, leaking the white smoke from the bad head gasket into the engine bay.
Thank you very informative.I have a 2012 Mazda 3 Hatchback 2L Petrol and it just started blowing white smoke exaclty as shown in your video, sometimes the smoke dissapears but as soon as i press the gas pedal the white smoke starts to come out. What could be the problem?
Thank you for your comment!
It’s probably the head gasket just like this one. It’s burning the coolant because it’s getting into the cylinders because of a blown head gasket or a cracked cylinder or block but most of the time it’s the weakest link that’s the head gasket.
@motorcarnut thank you. I also noticed the coolant level was below minimum, shocking, like how did it get that low, I guess this explains it.
However, I was overthinking that maybe the piston rings are worn out and that they might need replacing, and also, the head might need to be checked by engineers. I guess that could be the worst case, the vehicle is on pretty good, well kept condition.
Sure, no problem. Worn out piston rings wouldn't have any effect on the coolant system.
Had a dream that I was sitting in a Lamborghini truck with no mi till I woke up to smoke coming from the hood of my van, but the good thing is it didn't overheat - which was strange. Cars are like people the older they get the more one has to maintain them.
Lol, that's true
What if the dipstick has chocolate milk color and excessive oil but not in the coolant or not in reservoir?
Still that is a blown head gasket or a crack in the cylinder head or block.
Hi, very informative and helpful site.....please assist......
I have a 2006 ford fiesta, 1.4i, mk5 with a Duratec engine.
Water in the water bottle boils when the vehicle runs long distance or when going over short distances, stop and go situations.The heater gauge goes passed the half way mark and fan does come on but by that time the water is already boiling.
I have done the head gasket, changed the water pump, fan and the radiator. Took of the thermostat but the wayer dtill boils.....i think that i did everything possible but my car still has the same problem, not sure what to do...any ideas, solutions guys, will appreciate your comments.rgd Doug
Did you change the radiator or expansion tank cap?
My 1988 honda civic coolant starts to boil and overflow from tank is it the gasket ?
Maybe, I tell people all the time, start with cheap simple things first, like , low coolant, air in coolant system, radiator cap, thermostat etc.
Sub for 35 years experience. Thank you Sir.
you're welcome!
@@motorcarnut hi. I have a citroen c4 1.4. Car runs ok, but in the coolant tank i see some very minor oil spots. I dont see any bubbling in the coolant tank.
Some water drops are going out of the exhaust even with the car warm, i tasted it but doesnt taste like coolant though.
If i let the engine warm, if i remove the coolant tank cap, the coolant level rises about 2 fingers. Is it normal?
Can a head gasket be burned if there are no bubbling in the coolant tank?
Everything you explain is normal except oil in the coolant overflow. Could be a head gasket starting to fail, probably why oil is mixing with coolant.
@@motorcarnut the engine also has, in corners, at the head gasket location, external oil leaks over the block.
I put coolant in the tank up to the neck while the engine running and warm, and i saw some coolant is getting out. Everytime the fan kicks in, coolant drops a bit and i see a big bubble, but only at that time. If i accelerate or something, no bubbles there.
I also noticed something, so i wanna ask you.
When i first start the car, from inside the car, i hear a quick water bubbling in the dash. I know i heard this only in other 2 cars with head gasket isssues..Did you notice this also?
Are there also other ways to detect a failing head gasket? maybe remove the spark plugs and see if one is cleaner? or something?
i dont wanna spend alot to replace the head gasket without being necessary.
When the coolant rises when it’s hot it’s normal and when the fan kicks in it lowers is also normal. Your coolant level should be at the high mark not to the rim in the overflow tank. But you have leaks at the head gasket that is not good. Yes you can take out all the spark plugs and see it any look different from each other. And you can pressurized each cylinder with compressed air and see if any bubbles are coming out through the overflow tank, if there is bubbles than the head gasket is most like bad. The coolant noise inside the car could be a concern but check what I said first.
In your experience of a overheat situation, how often do you have to resurface the block as well?
Good question, that really depends on the particular engine and whether it's a cast iron block or aluminum. Overall for every 20 overheated engines maybe 1 has to be resurfaced and it's usually an aluminum block and a Toyota for some reason. But never had a cast iron block warp in recent memory.
Hello, 2002 BMW X5, I do have white smoke from my exaust, on start up then it subcides. I notice last year a creaming color on my oil cap and around the cap fitting, and a little on the oil dip stick. I don't drive to often, short trips because of the age of the car. My father says BMW'S are not short trip cars and you have to drive them long distances sometimes to burn off Condensation, he said thats why I'm getting the thick white smoke, but I don't know, I don't want to take it on the highway and it breaks down on me haha. Blown casket or Condensation? Sorry for the long comment haha. BTW it does smoke while I'm driving also, its like it does it off and on.
If any vehicle isn't used for a good amount of time it will have some slight milky oil color under the oil filler cap, this is normal also when you first start a cold vehicle there will be white smoke but not thick sweet smelling smoke. So I can't say for sure since I'm not there, I would change oil and filter and flush coolant system then drive it around town get it nice and hot and check your fluid levels and go further and further with it to see if it stops smoking and radiator fans come on and off.
When at idle my car vibrates sometimes. Could this be a bad head gasket?
I don't think so, can be a misfire of some sort or a bad engine mount. If it were a head gasket making it vibrate it wouldn't come and go, would be constant.
I recently found that milky substance under the filler cap and on the dipstick of my car and a few days ago I had the oil changed and used motor flush to clean out the engine. So far the oil has remained clean and normal and the car runs normal and doesn't overheat or emit any white smoke. I assumed it was just condensation due to the winter weather and only making short trips in it, keeping it under 20 miles a week. It does consume a lot of coolant with no leaks in the bottom and it the fluid inside the radiator is dirty and oily despite installing a new radiator six months ago.
Doesn't sound good. Your head gasket is probably on its way out. Should not consume coolant or have milky substance in the 6 month old radiator. You should have the coolant tested for any exhaust gasses mixed in with. If you do, replacement is the only cure.
My 2004 Lexus ES 330 has a thin white smoke that comes and goes. It is not running hot and I am not losing coolant and there is no sign of any mixing of oil and water. The car is running fine and no mechanical issues or lights. It seems to show up more when the AC is running.
May just be normal condensation, especially when first stating the vehicle in the mornings.
Dear sir, what if I found oil residue on the exhaust tail pipe? Thank you
Means vehicle is burning oil either through worn valve stem seals, worn piston rings bad pcv valve etc.
@@motorcarnut thanks for the reply. I guess it"s best if I just walk away when I encounter a vehicle like that.
It’s wise if you don’t have mechanic skills or know someone who does.
@@motorcarnut thank you sir
No problem
I’m trying to to figure out if my wife has a blown head gasket. She has none of the symptoms except the white smoke which last only a minute or less when you start the car after it has been off for a while. I changed the oil and it doesn’t look like it’s mixed , the coolant level is fine , and it doesn’t over heat .
Could just be normal condensation, but the do make test strips you can buy that will detect exhaust gases in the coolant system which would indicate a head gasket problem or not.
Remove the thermostat, and recheck for bubbles, the oil passages maybe away from water passages, and check to see if you hear a deep bass sound from the exhaust
@Motorcarnut, thanks for the informative video.
I've been trying to diagnose my 2013 VW Amarok TDI420. Looks like EGR has been removed/deleted. Coolant expansion tank/system is over-pressurising with a lot of bubbling occurring, smells like exhaust fumes, plus there is a black soot-like deposit on the tank walls. No white smoke out of exhaust. No 'chocolate milkshake' visible yet. No sign of diesel in coolant. Possibly the slightest trace of oil, but very hard to tell & could just be from the exhaust fumes? Already replaced expansion tank cap.
I'm thinking this means there is a head gasket crack forcing exhaust gases into the coolant lines, but not big enough to lose coolant into the cylinders, Is there anything else it could be, before I go and ask my mechanic to take a look at the head? Any suggestions really appreciated.
Also concerned about driving it to my mechanic, wondering if it's worth a tow? No apparent issues with starting, idle, etc. No temp gauge on the VW Amarok, just coolant warning light, which was flicking on and off the last time I drove it.
The EGR valve is missing probably because they are known to fail pretty often and there was a recall for that. Could of been the EGR cooler was leaking into the coolant system and pumping it up if they did remove it AND it's still pumpiing up the coolant system then It does sound like the head gasket is going because you shouldn't have soot deposits in the overflow tank at all. And the exhaust flume smell confirms that to me. Best bet is to have a good mechanic check it out who knows VW's. Honestly, being diesels have more compression then gasoline engines, unless the mechanic is within 1 mile or kilometer to drive the truck there I'd have the car towed because chances are the head is probably already damaged but may still be salvageable. Good luck
I have a 2017 Honda civic Turbo. It is not blowing nearly as much smoke as that Mazda. But when I’m at a red light- and then go once it’s green- it blows a good amount of white smoke out. Smells like burning oil. Just got an oil change yesterday. Seems to be worse.
Can be the turbo
Hey. My 1977 corvette has recently started to have a hiss in the radiator and there is a slight and occasional coolant leak. Took it to a rad specialist, who told me it should be fine for the time being (I'm taking it in in a couple of days to get sorted out). However; the car has developed a clicking or almost knocking sound. Checked the oil, no lack of pressure or milky texture. There isn't any smoke coming from the exhaust, and the car runs and drives well. I'm sure the engine is on its way to overheating, but I'm terrified of a head gasket going out.
Overheating can cause engine knock if it stays hot enough to cause damage. You should have the car checked by a mechanic before using it anymore
Did you figure out what it was ?
@@12wegohard ohyeah, my radiator was leaking. Pulled it out and sent it to a radiator shop, haven't had any issues since (this was half a year ago now lol)
@@nonamel6377 yo question. How much did that cost you?
@@FlipBoji radiators depending on make & model go for about $400+
What about if the smoke goes away once car is at operating temp but only on start up and i live in fl warm weather
Seems normal condensation to me.
Don't forget, usually it's a component that caused the over heating. Loke water pump, radiator, etc. Replacing gasket or engine and not the cause will only get you a second blown gasket.
Good info! This video is about identifying.
My car eats oil.. Do u think the excessive oil seaping into the seals and valve cover could cause a blown gasket?
No
Seal around pistons are worn probably burning an unholy amount of oil. I believe 2008-2011 Camrys had this problem
What other reason would air be getting into my system and causing it to overheat? No smoke, no milky oil, no oil residue in reservoir.
Awesome video and its giving me hope that I don’t have a blown gasket SO FAR. I have a 2016 kia with 133k miles. I have replaced thermostat, cooling sensor, radiator cap, coolant housing. performed radiator clean and flush. The only place I am losing coolant is from the reservoir overfilling and only during 30 min+ long drives. And im assuming its because air gets into cooling system by that point
Thank you very much in advance
If the coolant system is not bled properly it would cause it to overheat. Also the only way air can get into the coolant system is a leaking head gasket pumping up the system. Hopefully it just has to be re bled.
@@motorcarnut thank you for that, I've parked up a steep incline (lol) and used the coolant funnel system to purge all the air out a few times already.
@@motorcarnut is doing a vacuum bleeding of the air a must on certain vehicles?
Do this, when the car is overnight cold, squeeze the top radiator hose with engine off to get an idea how much pressure it takes then start the engine and wait about 2 minutes if the hose feels the same as when cold that’s a good sign but if it feels harder then the cylinders are pumping up the coolant system because of a head gasket leak or cracked head. Because in 2 minutes the car is not hot enough to build pressure caused by heat. Make sense?
Hi there, my Renault Clio Mk2 has milky residue under the oil cap but no milky residue on the dip stick.
There’s also no oil in the overflow tank.
There is blue smoke that comes out of the exhaust when driving which is probably piston rings.
How do I know what the issue is ?
A little bit of milky residue under the oil cap is probably normal condensation. Try a thicker oil change with some “stop smoke” additive.
@@motorcarnut thank you 🙏🏽
No problem
Hey, I have a 2011 Honda Civic. My car started smoking like that right after an oil change. Does that mean the head gasket is blown and I need to replace the whole thing?
Being it was right after an oil change that seems kinda strange? Are you sure it’s white smoke? Or is it blue? I say this because if it’s blue it could related to the oil change, wrong weight, overfilled etc?
@@motorcarnut the smoke is definitely white. I did check it and it is overfilled by quite some bit. But 30 minutes after the oil changed something made a scratching noise and a big cloud of smoke was behind the car.
What I don’t like is right after the oil change this happened. Oil should not be overfilled and without being there it’s hard to know what happened, do you know what burning coolant smells like? to see if the car is burning coolant?
@@motorcarnut this is my first car and i just barely bought it. I have no idea about a lot of stuff. It did have a weird smell to it. But there’s no leaking or puddles anywhere under the car. (Not sure if that has anything to do with it.) I did check the oil and it doesn’t look like milky or anything like that. and thank you for responding I don’t have anybody else and i definitely don’t know anything about cars.
I have the exact same car as you and I am experiencing a couple things. One i get the abs light and traction shown on my dash only when it is raining. I think it must be a speed wheel sensor fault or some sort but this doesn’t mess with the brakes and still doesn’t affect the performance of the vehicle.
2nd. I was a while ago getting the red coolant light appearing on the dash and I had checked to see that there was barely any coolant? It was way past the min level and I am not really a mechanic but I think that is abnormal. I obviously topped up on coolant and now upon checking, it has went down a lot and is past min too. I have checked around to see if any visible leaks but there hasn’t been any and I don’t experience white smoke like shown in the video but I sometimes get rough starts and even sometimes it starts up but the rpms are low and shakes for a couple of seconds as if it is pushing to start and then gets back to normal.
Other than what I have stated, the car runs fine, never broke down on me but I am not waiting for that to happen. There is an engine light that comes up but when scanned it states O2 sensor fault. This light comes and goes and could be the fault to the car starting up weird and shaking but I haven’t checked that out yet.
I am not sure if I have a blown head gasket as I will do some checks now because I am not sure where the coolant is going but any feedback is appreciated, thanks
Note this car is very dirty from the outside and inside when first received. Makes sense for the abs light and o2 sensor as they could just be really dirty as they come and go
Upon checking, the coolant is visible when I take off the cap but it is at a very low level from when I have topped it at max. It has been only a month since I have put in coolant. There doesn’t seem to be any type of mixture in the coolant and after checking the oil level, there is no mixture either and the oil is sat at the correct level too.
You probably have a small leak somewhere or the head gasket is failing. Try replacing the radiator cap and see if that helps.
Sounds like you have a couple of issues to look into, but the coolant light and the rough start are symptoms of a head gasket.
@@motorcarnut Idk what it is but coincidentally I had the engine light today and upon checking it was a P0300 - Random cylinder multiple misfire and P0301 - Cylinder 3 misfire detected. I am unsure what to do at this point but the car’s performance has been fine although I don’t wanna wait and see if it gets worse..
@@motorcarnutbut your feedback has been really appreciated if you could help me with what this engine light code is and what actions I should take, I’d highly appreciate it, thanks
Nice video! My 2011 Mini Cooper S has symptom #3... a white smoky exhaust when warmed to operating temperature.
If it doesn’t go away and smells kinda sweet then it’s burning coolant and head gasket or a crack somewhere but probably the gasket is starting to go.
i have replaced the radiator cap and the thermo but my problem is mine doesn't over heat nor does it blow white smoke but it goes up in temp when under load but doesn't over heat just get alittle hotter then normasl and then goes down just as fast as it goes up when not under load.
Can be a defective coolant temperature sensor.
hey man appreciate the video, i recently had a radiator hose blown and there was water in the entire hood. i replaced it and its all okay but i recently pulled out the oil cap and there was a green residue like coolant so im not sure if my head gasket has blown as well. i cleaned the cap and checked today and there was no residue again, there is no white smoke in the exhaust, the dipstick is fine, coolant level is ok, im just worried about that residue that was in the oil cap and today my low oil pressure light came on for seconds then disappeared, thank you in advance!
No problem thanks.
How long did you drive with the blown hose or how hot did the coolant gauge get before shutting it off? There should not be any coolant in the oil like you know already. A little condensation under the oil cap is normal but not green as that’s coolant.
@@motorcarnut hey man sorry to bother, my coolant leaks to the floor now, head gasket already replaced, water pump replaced, no hose cracks or reservoir cracks, keeps dropping out from the bottom, a metal
Tank any idea where this could come from
@@gonzalotorres4570hey sorry to bother you.. i have same issued like ur car.. but may i knw did you detect already whats the signs problems that may caused?
I have a 20i18 jeep wrangler. It started overheating by the time i turned to my house...i saw that the antifreeze reservoir was empty. I put 50/50 antifreeze fluid in reservoir. Then the next day it start with white smoke from tailpipe and got up next morning now it wont crank up...what can i do to get it fixed?
Sounds like a blown head gasket to me. I have many videos on head gasket repair.
Short and to the point. Thank you
My pleasure
If I see coolant on the floor does that mean it HAS NOT got into the engine? Please advise.
No, it just means either you have a leak somewhere or the engine is overheating and boiling out on to the floor.
@@motorcarnut but if the engine is keept on overheating if loong way drive.. is it posssible the head gasket was blown or something?
Hey boss, i had my radiator give out which was leaking and overheated the car. I replaced it but noticed the coolant was a cloudy blue instead of blue. I was wondering what you think i should look at next because its idling like its ok so far. Im scared to drive without completely fixing it. Its a 09 maxima
When the car is hot meaning driving it for about 10 miles or so there should be no smoke. When cold there should only be a light tint of white smoke, never blue, blue is oil burning and not thick white sweet smelling smoke either that’s burning coolant. Does the car overheat now?
@@motorcarnut hey thanks for the quick reply. At the moment it seems ok .. i got prestone radiator cleaner cycling through with water to clean any thing left out of the system. I also meant the coolant its self was that color. The coolant is usually blue but when i emptied it it was blue with some sludge
😮@@motorcarnut
05 jeep 3.7 laredo had radiator, water pump and thermostat replaced just in August. Last oil change (faithfully change by sticker date), the guy says i have an oil leak. He suggests i let him put some lucas oil stop leak in there. I don't have any coolant leaks, resevoir is full, no white smoke after the initial very cold startup and jeep warms up. For the first time ever, I have yellow sludge on oil cap. Dispstick is clean. I decide to do my own oil this time so I could inspect the oil myself and I notice the bolt under my water pump is half out and another bolt is missing from the left side top of those wheels. 🤦🏾♀️I was hoping it was just the Lucas causing condensation issues and i just needed an oil change but now I am wondering if those bolts being loose and lost is causing problems. 🙏🏾 a good mechanic walk into my life. I didn't complete the oil change yet.
I don’t think loose bolts are connected to the yellow sludge. I never use aftermarket additives. A little condensation under the oil cap is normal if not excessive. Tighten up the bolts, change oil again and monitor the oil again to see if there’s still a problem
You left out the part where the only symptom is compression from the cylinder escapes into to radiator forcing coolant into the overflow tank
Mines doing that at the moment.
No other signs just bubbles in the radiator.
Yes you’re correct, I made another video on 2 other symptoms and it included this one.
I had my radiator and my thermostat replaced on my 2007 Mazda 6i 2.3L . The car still overheats. What other part/s can I check next that will cause it to overheat?
Start with the simple things first. Check or replace the radiator cap, make sure there is no air in the coolant system. Make sure radiator fans cycle on and off. When the car is overnight cold try squeezing the top radiator hose see how it feels then start the car and wait about 2 minutes the hose should feel about the same if it’s noticeable harder then you may have a blown head gasket pumping up the coolant system.
my tacoma is smoking out the tail pipe when it cold but once up to temp it stops I feel a little loss of power and it vibrates more is it completely blown or would k seal maybe work?
Hard to know for sure but some light white smoke is normal more like condensation when cold. You may have a head gasket starting to fail, I would stay away from any of those additives, most never work and if they do only for a short period of time.
What if the white smoke only occurs when you rev the car & it not excessive like that & see no milky & colant level fine
During a cold start up that would be considered normal condensation, when engine is hot like driving on the highway for 10 minutes and does it that is not normal and can indicate burning coolant.
@@motorcarnut I prob got do compression test their no smoke when I turn it on only when I’m reving it or coming to a light or stop put car netural roll to stop
@SeanMcKenzie-mt5ml try pressurizing each cylinder to see if air goes into the coolant system.
@@motorcarnut it most likely seals in my motor
Head gasket
Very helpful video thank you I have that same problem where the coolant is not mixing with the oil......coolant runs low when I drive it and leaks different places below the vehicle...is it cause their is a blockage in the combustion chamber?
Thank you, well it depends where it’s leaking from underneath the car? Could be a leak in the radiator or hose or pumping up the coolant overflow and leaking down underneath as well. You have to see the location where it’s leaking from first. Good idea to dry everything as best as possible then watch where the leaks are coming from
Hi my Suzuki is also boiling when the fan goes on the water go to level low.... Now the problem is the water on coolant is drying I have to fill up every morning I dnt see any leakage can it be the headgasket or the seal cap is putting more air on it... How must I blow out the air
Try a new radiator cap first, if not vehicle should be diagnosed by local mechanic
Tnx will try that aiy is giving stress
You won't believe I tried radiator cap now the car is bck to normal no boiling.... Thanks a lot
@tshepomokgoro2941 of course I would! I’m glad that’s all it was! Always start with simple and cheap things first.
@@motorcarnut❤
I have an rx8 and I noticed a few days ago white smoke started coming from my exhaust on a cold start and my coolant levels are normal no mix on the dip stick and the smoke immediately stops once the car is warmed up. And there has only been one misfire since I noticed the smoke.
I would keep an eye on it, cold start up with a little white smoke ( condensation) is normal but if the misfire is associated with the burning of coolant that will be a problem. You could get test strips that test the coolant for any signs of exhaust gasses to see if your head gasket is starting to go.
Rx8s don't have head gaskets
Wow, good call, must of forgot about that and was thinking about a conventional Mazda combustion engine, not rotary. Even though they don’t have head gaskets they are still coolant reliant and can leak from various seals and places.
Why do mazda 3 have overheating issues??
Well, all vehicles will overheat if not properly maintained. Most issues are caused by a leak ( low or no coolant) Bad radiator, water pump, thermostat or even a bad radiator cap could cause a vehicle to overheat.
Mine starts up really easy has white smoke though no oil on coolant and I just changed oil but didnt seem unusually brown. The bike sat for years so I expected the fluids to be bad
I'm sorry, but other then what I told you, I don't know what the problem would be without seeing the bike.
@@motorcarnut if you have time I can post I video of it
My 2014 Durango does not have coolant on the deep stick nor oil on the coolant radiator cap. No smoke neither but I do hear bubbling when turning the vehicle of after driving
Some are normal, coolant is supposed to flow in and out of the radiator into the overflow tank and vice versa
My coolant levels keep dropping about 1/4 cup a month. No visible leaks on the ground. No smoke from the tailpipe at all, no visible signs of coolant in the oil. Doesn't overheat. Temperature gauge stays just below half way. Car runs perfectly fine though. It's a Toyota so I use the recommended red coolant. So when the car was completely cooled, I took the radiator cap off and started the car, and coolant immediately started to rise, but no bubbling whatsoever. Is this a symptom of a leaking head gasket?
So, when you say the coolant immediately rises when you start your cold engine, does it overflow and spill out? Also try when the engine is cold overnight and radiator cap it installed start it and immediately check to see if the large upper radiator hose has pressure, it should have pressure within 2 minutes or less
@@motorcarnut Yes, it does overflow, but slowly.
How do I check the radiator hose pressure? Do I need a pressure gauge?
....also it stops overflowing once the car reaches its operating temperature, and fans kick on.
When the car is overnight cold, squeeze the top radiator hose before starting the engine and feel how it feels with no pressure in it then start the car and immediately squeeze it again and see if it feels the same when it was off. Should not have pressure until the car is hot, if it has pressure let’s say with 1 minute after starting then the pistons are pumping up the coolant system because of bad sealing between the block and head and probably the head gasket starting to go.
Ok that’s a good sign that’s it’s probably fine. Try what I said above.
Can it cause hard start of the engine? My golf 7 tdi is sometimes having problem woth it. White smoke is there, coolant leaking is there. How much could it cost?
Yes it can. Cost varies too much to quote a price. Get local prices
How long should I wait for the smoke to clear after I’ve done an engine overhaul on my car?
What was wrong with the engine before the repairs?
I have excessive white smoke but goes away after like 5 minutes when I start in the morning or when the car rest for like couple hours. What does that mean?
Can be the first signs of a failing head gasket.
how long will your car smoke for if your head gasket is blown or leaking?
If it's indeed a failing head gasket and leaking into the combustion area, Always. But can also be mixing with Engine oil and really no smoke at all.
I replaced two anlasers (starters). It died because it coupd not start the engine. Can it be that much water on piston heads?
Possiable, try turning the crankshaft by hand to see if it's locked up
Makes sense about the coolant now. I was wondering wtf keeps happening to my coolant when I had no leak in the line. And my car is running and idling rough as hell. Man wtf! Smh to my money pit. 🙇
Sorry to hear that, you can take out the spark plugs and see if you see coolant in the cylinders, you’ll know for sure.
Can a blown head gasket lead to extreme wear on the ignition coils?
Not directly no, a bad or poorly gapped spark plug can put undue stress on the coils unless there were so much coolant in the cylinders to short out the coil but this is rare and car would run too long anyway.
@@motorcarnut can a steering rack and pinion leak cause a blown head gasket? My subaru outback sedan 3.0R has a mild leak
What about oil leaking from the seam That separates the engine block and cylinder?
That’s a good point, it’s rather rare but does happen on a lot of Subaru’s and that’s also a sign of a blown head gasket.
After I replaced my radiator the bottom radiator hose keeps popping off. It's a Mercedes CLK550 and it's almost like a clip holds it in. I bought a new clip and was going to try another lower hose. Prior I replaced the oil cooler because because there was oil in the coolant, no other signs of the gasket being blown and after I replaced the oil cooler it hasn't leaked into the coolant again, and thermostat was replaced and it doesn't over heat.
Is it an aftermarket radiator? Sometimes they are not made as well as OEM. Make sure you push the hose all the way in and the new clip and o ring are seated the correct way. The clip sits in a grove in the radiator a certain way so when the hose is inserted it click into place.
@@motorcarnut Do you have an email I can send the pictures to? $400 OEM radiator.
Thank you buddy I caught my over heat right after I got off the highway and by my coolant outlet pipe it was hissing nd water or oil on it
Great, glad to hear you caught it in time!
Mine does it for maybe 5min soon when I turn mine on. Do I have a gasket problem?
If it stops then no, if it doesn't then probably yes.
I did not catch my over heating in time and it blew some sort of valve and drained all the coolant. I had that fixed along with the thermostat, but it's still over heating and I hear what sounds like gushing/dripping above my feet when I drive. I don't see anything coming out and I don't see anything leaking on the ground when I'm stopped or parked. I watched for white smoke today but didn't see any. The mechanic thinks it might be a head gasket that blew with the original over heating. I noticed when I lifted the hood this morning that the reservoir cap had blown off and broke. I'm assuming I need a new one of those for sure. Any other ideas?
The reservoir cap can not just blow off I don’t care how much pressure there is. You should find another mechanic and I think from what you’re explaining you did blow the head gasket or can be a cracked head or block but more likely the gasket. The gushing noise as you described is boiling coolant.
Hello sir! Did you have to resurface/flatten the cylinder head or only a gasket swap fixed this problem? I would highly appreciate an answer, thank you so very much for your video and your attention.
Thank you, really appreciated! If the engine did not overheat then you don’t have to resurface the cylinder head, but you should still check it for straightness. I have a video on checking cylinder head for straightness too.
@@motorcarnut I really appreciate your answer. In my case yes, it did overheat a little and then the white smoke starting coming out of the exhaust pipe. So I guess I'll just take the head out, have it resurfaced somewhere and then put it back on the car... thank you so much
@guitartur Yes to be on the safe side.
Great video! I have a 2008 BMW 116i and after a fairly long journey my car is violently vibrating and I have a yellow oil light on. There doesn’t seem to be a coolant leak and the oil level hasn’t changed however my Rev limiter is bouncing between 600-750 rpm rapidly. Any suggestions?
Could be a bad vacuum leak somewhere? Does it have any codes?
@@motorcarnut I am unable to find any codes but the problem isn’t noticeable when driving the car, it is only noticeable when fooling after a long drive if that helps your diagnosis. Furthermore, the radiator runs exceptionally loud.
Hard to diagnose without being there but sounds like what i said a air leak somewhere, a hose popped off? Fans running a lot could be a head gasket starting to fail , meaning the engine is running hotter than normal but the computer doesn't see that condition yet. Like I said hard to know without the car in front of me and I don't want to steer you in the wrong direction so you may have to have someone look at it for you before it gets worse .
My thermostat is stuck closed I believe so it's overheating and not allowing the fluid to fill up the radiator when it got too hot it started to make a clanking sound
Can be anything so I would have local mechanic check it out
Great video! I have a question I have a bmw 114i and the coolant reservoir boils if the car has been driven for about 2 miles. There is a slight white smoke coming from the exhaust when it has been idling for a minute or so but once you rev the car a bit it goes and doesn’t continue whilst driving any help would be appreciated! Thanks
Something is making the car overheat OR a blown head gasket is pumping up the coolant system as well. You should start with the simple things first. Make sure the radiator cap on the reservoir is good or just replace it. Also, try this, leave the car cold overnight and then before starting it squeeze the upper radiator hose ( the large one) and get a feel of how soft it is, then start the car and wait about 2 minutes and see if it feels the same, if it's harder than when it was cold only after 2 minutes then the pistons are pumping up the coolant system from a probably blown head gasket. Because 2 minutes isn't enough time for the engine to normally build up enough pressure to feel harder when you squeeze it, Make sense? Other things is from a dead cold start without driving the car, how long does it take for the overflow tank to boil over?
@@motorcarnut it takes about 10 minutes of driving to boil, I’ll give what you said a go
I forgot to add the car doesn’t overheat (that I know of) the oil isn’t milky or anything like that and the car still drives perfectly fine despite the boiling coolant. I’m not sure how to find a temperature gauge on this car as it doesn’t have one on the dashboard
The "boiling over" IS overheating.10 minutes is kinda of a good sign because that doesn't seem like the pistons are pumping up the coolant system. Like I said try replacing the coolant cap, it's cheap and can cause the overheating by not holding pressure. I know a lot of cars don't have coolant gauges and some you can't even check the engine oil. It's ridicules. They want you to bring the car to the dealership so they can make money off you, no other reason.
@@motorcarnut I also forgot to add that there seems to be some red/orange stuff that looks like it has boiled on to the reservoir where the bleeding plug is I don’t know if there could be something linked with it. I asked a mechanic about it and he said it’s nothing to worry about but I’m not sure.
thanks dude, what if I don't have any white smoke on ignition but after 10 min when stopping in a red light I can see a white smoke for 1min?
Not normal if the vehicle is at operating temperature
Hey when im sitting idle at a red light, the temp gauge moves a little above the middle, then when I accelerate it goes back to the middle. What do you think this means? Some said radiator fan is cracked or thermostat. Im in a 09 Buick Lucerne super.
If the car has no symptoms as I explained in the video then it could be a failing thermostat. Also make sure the coolant is clean and properly filled and system has no leaks.
My pt cruiser only runs hot when the coolant gets to boiling point then it runs to reservoir bubbling and it doesn't go back to radiator so it's dry and start getting hot and we lose coolant out the reservoir hose is it my gasket or air in system or icm or the thermo or coolant sensor. I straight wired my high n lol fans but now that don't work. The fans just quit working today Fri Nov 12
Well you have an overheating problem for sure. Could be as simple as a faulty radiator cap or stuck closed thermostat, or the head gasket. You should get the fans fixed properly not wired manually the computer controls the fans so the car doesn’t overheat.
My FJ overheated then when we filled the radiator bubbles overflowing everytime i drive the radiator hose always pops off is this a sign for blown head gasket?
Yes
@@motorcarnut i told my mechanic and he was telling me "oh its only making bubbles because we put that radiator cleaner" now when we check the oil mixed up with water. Would it get fixed if we replace the head gasket?
That don’t sound right to me.
Yes, but also have to make sure head and block are straight and not warped.
My mechanic sees the 'milkshake' but not on the diptstick, it's leaking in the engine. He was testing the heating core cause we have no heat. He said the oil was very low and had to add 3 quarts of it (it was changed 3 months ago). Also he pulled out the oil filter and it was saturated with oil. Looked like it had been dipped in oil. He said the place that changed my oil did not change the oil filter which led to the issues that he says may be a damaged head gasket. The car has not overheated.I don't know what to do. Any suggestions?
If there is mixing of coolant and oil, you probably have a blown head gasket at a minimum. How it happened I can’t tell by your post but either way that’s what it sounds like. Maybe get a second opinion to make sure?
D40 no symptoms but coolant keeps leaking from the over flow, constant has to top up
Either blown head gasket pumping up coolant system or bad radiator or thermostat
@@motorcarnut thanks will check all 3 leaving the head gasket for last
No problem, good luck
Thank you for the video! Keep up the good work. God bless 🙏🏼
Thank you!
2014 Town and Country blows white smoke only when revved to 4000+ rpm. Head gasket?
Possible, yes
Great video. Stoked that I appear to have escaped the shit realm of this problem. I have a 2004 tacoma 344k and it’s had a terrible leak from the water pump. I switched out the thermostat and housing and it got worse. The car would go from cold to hot very quickly once running. I’m assuming that’s a water pump at this point but I was worried that maybe the head had blown out. And that’s why there wasn’t enough pressure to seal up the system. Having it towed to a mechanic today. Fingers crossed. This is the first problem I’ve really ever had. Great truck. Scared to be told it’s time to move on.
Just make sure the simple things like the radiator cap and the sealing point where it sits and seals is not distorted. Just replace the cap if in doubt. The radiator is not clogged and flows properly. Another test is when the truck is cold, start it up and see if the top radiator hose gets hard fast before it gets hot, if it does the head gasket is failing and not necessarily you will see that thick white smoke.
its time to move on
I have a 2010 Hyundai sonata when I bought it it had a coolant leak out of the thermostat housing replaced it with a aluminum housing and it seemed to be fine the thermostat gage doesn’t work nor does the gas gage I drove it it for weeks but today on the way home we heard a pop under the hood pulled over in a parking lot and under the hood the hose from the heating core was popped off the housing (bottom one)
Put it back on opened the radiator cap and it was clogged with black puddy or something I dug it out and you could hear some pressure release I filled it back up with maybe a quarter of coolant and the rest in water and when it was burping it was foaming a little bit also the coolant reservoir also had some black sludge in it
You blew the head gasket
Awesome thank you!
You're welcome!
how i can find out if the block or head has cracked? well explained btw.👍
Thank you! Both would have to be pressure tested but usually it's a bad head gasket.
What is the oil is like sprayed all over the engine??? Like it over heats all of a sudden an oil lol over engine ??
Tough to answer without seeing the vehicle. But doesn't seem good. Have to wait for engine to cool try to clean it and then start it and watch where it starts to leak.
I got a error about cilinder 1 (ignition problem) with lots of white smoke but it doesnt seem to lower my coolant levels?
Could be a blown head gasket leaking coolant into that cylinder causing the misfire and smoke. Should be checked asap.
My old 1990 Celica is beat up with all bald tires and all the warning lights on. When I drive it's sluggish with white smoke coming out the exhaust. Engine is always hot on the temperature gage indicator.
Well first should see what codes are coming up but either way there should not be thick white smoke at all
Will it be continuous white smoke or just temporary if the gasket is blown
If the gasket is blown letting coolant into the combustion chamber then yes it will be constant. However there are times when the leak is so minor it can leak into the combustion chamber overnight while the engine is cold and upon start up burn thick white smoke not to be confused with normal thin condensation smoke.
My car has low coolant despite a new radiator and there are no leaks. Can a coolant leak into the engine cause a catalitic converter to go bad? My check engine light is on and the code read P0420 as a catalitic issue.
Yes, if you’re burning coolant because of a failing head gasket.
@@motorcarnut It may be the coolant reservoir leaking from the cap. I drove the car and when I got home I saw coolant leaking out of the cap. It is still under warranty so exchanging it today.
@arielrodriguez6980 that will do it
Elo I have a jetta 4 AKL engine overheats and I replace the waterbottel and cap put new cold new fanswitch but still the water is boiling inside the bottle if I drive 60kms the temperature stay at 90⁰C but if I drive 110 to 120 it's going up to 110⁰C
A bad thermostat or clogged radiator would be next to check. Make sure coolant system is bled properly as well.
Got a 1.4t petrol, loosing water and oil,
Oil doesn't seem in with the water and no smoke. But loosing both oil and water.
Any ideas.
Has to be a leak somewhere
My 2019 dodge ram (148000 miles) lost all its coolant. Pressure checked it two months ago and it passed pressure check. I’m not seeing any coolant leaks. Only other symptoms is a burning smell from the truck. No white smoke or milky oil. Any thoughts?
It has to be burning it then when it’s hot. Try test strips that detect exhaust gases in the coolant indicating a blown head gasket. That’s where I’d start.
I've had issues with my 2001 diesel ford courier. Car overheated out of nowhere. Replaced the rad cap, the water pump, the thermo, replaced most heating hoses, flushed the radiator out, no luck. Car doesn't like starting and has a slight bounce on the idle when cold. Slightest bit of white smoke/condensation out of the exhaust, but as i put my foot down on the throttle it blows out clean instead of more smokey etc. My heating core in the cab has its issues, doesnt like to open up for heat often but when it does open up it's blowing hot hot lol when the car starts to get hot it blows out coolant into the overflow and boils/steams out the overflow hose. Wondering if its a bad head gasket or worse, a bad head.. i cant figure it out atm. Thinking of replcing the head gasket and checking if that does it, but if you have any suggestions or tips, id love to hear them :) cheers mate. Great video.
Seems like its a failing head gasket, probably from corrosion being you said heater doesn't work good.
@@motorcarnut cheers for the response mate. That's what I've been thinking myself tbh, another persons input is always welcomed though :) I shall replace the head gasket and see how i go. Wish me luck lol cheers.
Good luck and let me know how you make out!
I have a 1973 450 sl Mercedes it's running with a miss and when I push on the gas it feels like it's clogged! And made a popping noise from the muffler and when I really push on it on the freeway a lil white smoke comes out from the muffler not a lot , ????????????????
Sounds like timing is off ( popping sound) and faulty ignition system, maybe a bad spark plug, ignition wire or cap and rotor.
@@motorcarnut just curious? Can a bad camshaft cause it to run like that?
Absolutely, if the cam lobe is worn enough and not opening the valves properly that in turn will give you a miss
@@motorcarnut ya it sucks cause my car was at this mechanic for 2 months all he did was put wires and he said he put plugs and new cap but it seems like it's running worst when I bring it in it was not that bad ! I gave him 1200 $ he didn't no how to work on my 1973 450 sl
Shame, most mechanics get lost on German cars.
Hello mister i have a coolant leaking on my system , iswiched the radiator, checked the oil george to check if there was a leaking inside the chambers but there was not, i wonder where could the leak be , i have a honda civik 2009 automatic
Could be burning it from a head gasket that’s failing
I have a 2012 dodge charger that randomly shakes/vibrates on idle..car doesn’t overheat but it does randomly have white smoke coming from the exhaust when I accelerate,some days it will and some days it won’t.
Some thin white smoke is normal condensation. They have test strips you can buy that detects exhaust gases in the coolant system indicating a blown head gasket.
I had a new radiator installed over a year ago and I just noticed I have water or coolant not sure coming from the bottom front left and right side close to the radiator. Any ideas?
Could be a hose, overflow tank or the radiator again. Try cleaning undertone car then recheck for leaks, should be easier to find
@@motorcarnut For now until I figure it out can I put water vs coolant to avoid wasting so much money on coolant until I get it fixed?
Not really because using straight water will make it overheat even more.
@@motorcarnut I am taking it to a shop to have it diagnosed. Yesterday the check engine light came on again. Before it was a misfire and later catalitic bank 1 issue. I do not know why the code reader goes back and forth.
my car has very similar symptoms - No milky stuff, white smoke on start up and acceleration (not as much smoke as the car in the video tho). Smoke smells like petrol, not sweet smell. Could this be a head gasket? Or fuel injectors. Thank you!
Hard to know with doing some tests. Thick white smoke is coolant burning so can be caused by a failing head gasket not fully blown yet.
I have a question no white smoke no milky oil but the car is running hot and I’m losing water from the reservoir but it’s not leaking out the car it gets hot at soon as it’s idled
Try simple and cheap things first. Could be a bad radiator cap.
After I Drive my Saddat a bit then it Starts to show White Smoke, . What do you think about that ?
If the vehicle is blowing white smoke with the engine hot then it’s probably burning coolant. Which can be a head gasket or oil cooler failing etc.
My radiator doesnt have oil and my dipstick doesnt have water
But my truck has a little white smoke, could this be a blown head gasket?
Depends, A little white smoke is condensation which is normal.
does it hurt to use gasket sealer liquid if you don't have a gasket leak?
I wouldn’t use it, they just don’t work and can cause clogging of the small coolant passages and in turn cause engine to overheat.
I just purchased a 2018 Cadillac CTS 2.0 turbo it only has 30,000 miles clean engine but I have noticed that when I shut the car down I hear like a bubbling noise so I popped the hood and I noticed like a lot of bubbling with antifreeze coming from the radiator holes going into the reserve tank what does that mean now the car doesn't overheat at all I have not seen any milky substance and I've had the oil change twice already in my mechanic tells me everything is fine so what does the bubbling in the reserve mean
Slight bubbling ( coolant moving) is normal as the car heats up then cools coolant pressure expands and contracts. As long as it doesn’t overheat or have excessive pressure and or boiling.
My 2010 GMC Sierra blows out blueish grayish smoke on startup out the exhaust and dissipates within 5-10 seconds. What could be the best guess for the problem I have?
Oh and it doesn’t do it while I’m driving only on startup no matter the temperature, it doesn’t do it all the time either only if it’s been sitting for about 3 hours
The blueish smoke is oil burning probably from worn valve stem seals from what you're explaining. Regular light white smoke is condensation ( normal ). The proper way to fix the oil burning is replacing the valve stem seals which is a big job, heads have to come off. You can try some (stop smoke) oil additive as a temporary fix.
Hey,
So I don't know much about cars, but my car started giving that white smoke, and someone suggested getting gasket magic.
Another thing is, sometimes when I drive, it feels like the car is losing power because the gears take long to change, and when it eventually changes to the next gear, the power is up again.
Any advise?
You may have a head gasket problem or something else, no way to know without being there. I don’t recommend any sealers but you can do anything you want. I would have a local mechanic advise more.
My car blows white smoke every time I start it and eventually goes away after 3 min. Not sure if this is a head gasket problem. I know there’s is a leak in the coolant because I hear a water sound in the dashboard whenever I start my car and I have to fill it up every two weeks. Just not sure if this is a head gasket problem or not. What do you think?
A little white smoke on a cold start is normal condensation but you have to find where it’s leaking from. Can be the head gasket is leaking as the sound you hear air pumping up the system from the pistons
My car doesnt overheat or blow smoke but it loses coolant. Every week i have to do a bit of refilling.No leaks found so far
It’s probably burning it but not bad enough to see smoke.
@@motorcarnut do I have to replace the head gasket then
Well without the car in front of me I don’t want to say 100% yes, you should have a mechanic check it out first just to confirm. Could also have a small leak only when hot which is harder to find.
I have a 2014 dodge charger R/T. I believe is losing coolant somewhere, car does not overheat nor have any problems but I do seem to keep filling up reservoir to the top of coolant range every week/2 weeks and it’ll end up under the coolant range. No white smoke, nor coolant in oil vice versa. What you think I can check out if you could help or anyone else
It’s either a tiny leak maybe when engine it hot on the highway or it’s burning it slightly
I checked under car earlier and I seen couple drops of coolant on the lower radiator support I’ll have to check some hoses I believe
o4 expedition temp guauge goes from the middle of the guage normal then drops to cold then back to normal i am losing coolant but i dont see any water or coolant on the ground truck has a rough idle but smooth as butter when i step on the gas i do have coolant coming out my tailpipe not an excessive amount. i do have a new cylinder head temp sensor and yes the truck when i shut it off i can hear coolant bubbling in the plastic resevoir if the new head tempsensor doesnt solve the issue? im ost i bought the truck abot 6 months back t ran fine ice cold no over heating i drove it every day then one evening just drove it a few miles ac shutdown truck got hot guage was normal then cold then normal i was less than a mile from home ..i got it home th next added water and it drove fine for about an hour and same thing happened
There should never be coolant coming out the tailpipe, you have a blown head gasket or a crack in the head or block but most likely a head gasket failure
I have a question. I have a carolla Toyota 1996. We were passing someone and the car started to smoke and it sounded like we blew a tire. But there was leaking oil from the engine and no hoses popped off. So what can it be ?
Hard to say without the car in front of me but doesn’t sound good, maybe the car blew a rod something bad enough to cause oil leaking after a loud noise should be check by a local mechanic immediately