Its raining here all day. i took my fc to the gas station after changing my timing to 900 rpm.

got to the gas station, put in gas. While filling it up, I see light smoke/steam coming from the hood/head light area. Popped the hood and didn't see anything out of the ordinary. Tried to find the source, but no luck even with a flash light.

started the car up and smoke/steam again. Temp gauge stays around middle, if not, slightly below middle. Lifted up the hood and no source of smoke location, but the smoke all cleared up. Drove home in the rain and car seems to be fine. Got home, slightly smoke from hood, but didn't see anything wrong.

before all this, I did spray carb cleaner on the hoses under the hood to check for my timing issue. It turns out my lug nut for the bolt was loose.

is this normal? Am I fine? Car is stock 89 13b. Car was running fine earlier all day. Took it to get a haircut, went to WalMart, took the car in for smog and passed, drove it on the highway to the mall and back home in traffic. Then that's when I started adjusting the timing and gas station trip.

 

Ill give you a blue clue...rain water is cold, engine exhaust is hot. Tires like to kick up water...do you know where your mystery smoke comes from now?

 

I don't, TELL ME! TELL ME!
Unless he has an ultra rare JDM front exit exhaust, it's more likely just random rain hitting the hot radiator.

Next time you notice the smoke, pop the hood and check the coolant recovery tank.
If it's not bubbling and perking, your coolant is probably fine.

 

this is 100% normal. nothing to fear.


theres also a chance that ain water has made it THROUGH the rad fins and is just getting on the exhaust or something else hot enough to boil the rain water off.

 

Is that the same exhaust given to James Bond by Tiger Tanaka and modified by Q into a front firing flame thrower to fend of the crazed Japanese while filming You Only Live Twice?

Tiger Tanaka can be seen below


It is nearly referenced, and at the least implied, in the following quote from IMDb.com

While in Japan, Sean Connery and his wife Diane Cilento were hounded by the international press. During news conferences the press insisted on referring to Connery as James Bond. Local newsmen attempted to photograph him in a rest room. Thirty extra private security guards were hired to combat the excess noise and hindrance but even the guards started to take photos. Connery was allegedly photographed on a toilet and the picture published in a Tokyo newspaper. Halfway through filming, Connery announced he would not be returning as James Bond. To ease the tension the producers removed his contractual obligation to do one more 007 movie, despite being offered $1 million. After the film wrapped, Connery was reportedly asked whether he found Japanese women attractive to which he allegedly replied, "No," causing many Japanese to call him bad names. This faux pas turned out to be based on a mistranslation on a day when Connery was exhausted after an intensive day's filming. Connery didn't go out of his way to be too personable with the interviewer who was aghast that the actor showed up in a casual T-shirt with baggy trousers and sandals, and not wearing a toupee. "Is this how James Bond dresses?" he asked, to which Connery replied tersely "I'm not James Bond, I'm Sean Connery, a man who likes to dress comfortably."