White smoke, coolant seal?
 

My car pours white smoke on idle I was told its most likely a coolant seal but I tried the bubbles test but there was no bubble, but when the car was idling I saw that the exhaust was pouring white smoke but still no bubbles any suggestions?


thanks alot scott

1. Are you losing coolant? Keep a close watch on it. If you are AND have continuous white steam from the exhaust (not just at start-up or in cold or damp weather) you may have bad coolant seal.
2. Coolant seals can leak either coolant into the engine, or exhaust gasses into the coolant (bubble test), or both, depending on their exact condition. So, the absence of one or the other does not eliminate the possibility of coolant seal failure.

im only losing about 1-2cups a month and thats driven about 40kms a day.

You shouldn't loose any coolant, could be a cracked rotor housing as well...but for sure it's pulling coolant into the engine.

You could still have a small coolant seal leak even with that small coolant loss.

I'd do a coolant pressure test to see if coolant gets into the combustion chambers - pressurize the system, and see if coolant leaks anywhere externally and also then pull the plugs and crank to see if any coolant comes out of the spark-plug holes. Otherwise, just keep an eye on it until it gets worse.

yea the engine never heats up and after being driving for awhile it stops smoking but as soon as it sits for 20mins+ it starts smoking again, thanks for the posts

??????

If he's truly having coolant out the exhaust, it has to be coming from the cooling system, and he is losing a small amount...

Dave

thanks ill get a pressure test dont

I’m always concerned at any type of coolant leak internal or external of any amount, and I’m well aware it’s coming from the coolant system, I’m just saying there’s more then one place the coolant could come from....:)

:)
OK - I understand your point.

Dave

does this help
 

Certainly doesn't look good, but the only way you'll know for sure is to do the pressure test and see where coolant leaks or if it winds up in the combustion chambers.

Dave

with any coolant leak, you wont know until the motor is apart. since you caught this at a relatively early stage with your loss being around a few cups per month.

start saving cash for a rebuild either way. once the coolant loss gets bigger(if it ever does) you run the potential of making things worse than they already are. best thing to do is just drive it very carefully and mind the coolant levels as stated.

I chased my tail for a couple weeks thinking every possible reason why it wasnt my coolant seals, tried all logical test, pulled plugs and pressure tested, bubbles, etc, trust me it is either a coolant seal or rotor housing, either way the motor has to come out and apart to check it out, SORRY TO HEAR but no easy way around it.....u will feel better once you have it apart and know for sure too!!