white smoke???

[mykg4orce]

I had some white smoke puffing out of the exhaust while my car was heating up in traffic. Damn fans kicked in but temps still rised......

Does the white smoke mean anything??

[Jim H]

White smoke (steam, does not hang around or drift) while warming in cooler weather = water vapor, probably normal.

Steam while warming in warmer weather can be water vapor, probably normal.

White smoke (steam, but may hang around longer and drift like smoke) after running some miles and at operating temperature = water vapor, but possible from coolant entering combustion chamber, not normal, possible head gasket.

Which describe your experience best?

Best Regards,
Jim

[mykg4orce]

No no this was in hot weather, car was around 110 degrees, i was low on oil also, I saw very thin smoke just once, it disappated quickly, but it wasnt like the steam that hangs for a little while.....

[mykg4orce]

Jim, what I dont understand is that, lets say it is the head gasket. But when the dual aux fans come on, the coolant in the radiator should be cooled right away? No? And if thats correct, when the coolant makes it's way back into the engine block it should bring the temps down. How is it possible for the temp to just keep rising....even with the fans on? It just doesnt make sense. Leads me to believe that it could have something to do with the radiator not performing the way its suppose to. All I can recall is that, when I bought the car it would overheat, not boil over tho.... Then I changed the coolant and replaced my aux electric fans, I had the car working fine. It would heat up to 105 degrees then the fans would kick in then the temps would come down. I could spend hours in rush hour traffic.

Then one day I decided to remove the condenser and aux fan assembly, so that I could sand down and paint the aux fan assembly/frame. Because it was beginning to rust in some spots. Anyways when I re-assembled the system, it didnt worked like it used to. Dont know what has happened.


BTW, I see some oil residue in the area indicated in the picture attached (circled area). This is on the left side of the engine, below the valve cover, around the area where there is a large hexagonal shaped indentation in a raised round metal surface (thats the best way I can describe it). I always see oil residue here.... I can touch it and smell that its oil. I am sure oil is leaking out of here.


There is no sign of oil in my coolant, and no sign of coolant/water in my oil.

[Jim H]

Originally Posted by mykg4orce

Jim, what I dont understand is that, lets say it is the head gasket. But when the dual aux fans come on, the coolant in the radiator should be cooled right away? No? And if thats correct, when the coolant makes it's way back into the engine block it should bring the temps down. How is it possible for the temp to just keep rising....even with the fans on?

A head gasket can put a lot of 'heat' into the coolant. It can also result in a lot of pressure in the cooling system, and a loss of coolant. However, check for all of the symptoms of a head gasket before deciding to replace it. Are you losing coolant?

Leads me to believe that it could have something to do with the radiator not performing the way its suppose to. All I can recall is that, when I bought the car it would overheat, not boil over tho.... Then I changed the coolant and replaced my aux electric fans, I had the car working fine. It would heat up to 105 degrees then the fans would kick in then the temps would come down. I could spend hours in rush hour traffic.

OK, many things here. Yes, the radiator is a very important component, and if it is restricted, plugged, or somehow does not flow as it should, you will see 'overheating' and other symptoms. However, depending on the outside air temperature, heating to 105, then cooling off with the electric fans may be normal slow speed operation. We should also discuss the mechanical cooling fan.

For now a few more details, please
What is the car model/year/engine?
Do you know if the fan clutch is electric or hydraulic? If it is electric, have you ever felt it engage?
Are you losing coolant?

Best Regards,
Jim

[Kestas]

Originally Posted by mykg4orce

BTW, I see some oil residue in the area indicated in the picture attached (circled area). This is on the left side of the engine, below the valve cover, around the area where there is a large hexagonal shaped indentation in a raised round metal surface (thats the best way I can describe it). I always see oil residue here.... I can touch it and smell that its oil. I am sure oil is leaking out of here.

This oil is leaking from the upper timing cover gasket... a common problem with these engines.

[mykg4orce]

Jim,

The car is a 1990 190e 2.6 with 276,000KM (convert to miles) on it.

The fan clutch looks like the picture attached, I'm not sure whether to call it electric or hydraulic.( i just got this pic of ebay, but it looks identical to it)

As far as losing coolant, I am not too sure. Should I be expecting a drastic drain in my coolant right after engine overheating? Well all the times my car has over heated I have never seen the coolant light come on, and when the car cools down the coolant level in the expansion tank seems to be the same as it was before.

A head gasket replacement seems like quite an expensive project...

[Bill Wood]

Originally Posted by mykg4orce

Does the white smoke mean anything??

We have a Pope!

[clk230cabrio99]

Originally Posted by Webmaster

We have a Pope!

haha! that was the first thing that came to my mind when i read the heading.

[HJHJ VAN EKERT]

Always suspect a leaking transmission vacuum modulator
when nothing else makes sense. Just pull off the hose connecting the intake manifold to the transmission vacuum modulator (either end) and use a cotton swab to check for any trace of transmission fluid inside the hose. There should not be any. If oil is found, replace the modulator, it is leaking.

[mykg4orce]

where is the modulator located on the 201?