'03 cab, 40k miles, IMS done, cars in great shape...

hi,

Driving in this morning w. the top down (76 degrees, very humid, sitting in chicago traffic). i noticed "steam" coming out of my engine compartment - not a lot, more like whisps, but visible. No warning light came on and the temp guage was right in the middle and never changed. I pulled over, noted no leaks or problems. I had another 3-4 miles of stop and go traffic ahead of me. It persisted.

Now, driving home yesterday afternoon it was 100 in chicago, i had the top up, ac on, and noted no problems.

Just curious if anyone has encountered anything like this. The strange thing is, i would have expected a warning light.... and again, the temp guage was fine.

i'll probably take it to Eurosport and have them check it out. Thanks in advance for any advice. Am i over concerned?

Tony

 

I've driven in pretty hot conditions and even had a fan fail during 95F temperatures in a 1.5 hour traffic jam. In no case have I seen steam come out of the engine bay. If your temperature gauge is reading normally I suspect you have a leak that's dripping onto the exhaust and being vaporized. Do you see any signs of dried coolant in the engine bay?

 

Steam is a leak, regardless of what anyone has to say.

 

Check for leaking of the coolant O-rings on the oil cooler. They tend to weep as the engine compartment heats up like in stop and go.

 

1) Visually check all fluid levels and make sure they are correct.
2) Was the car garaged or not? I've seen a lot of water in the spoiler area after rain or washing the car. Could be some dripped down on the warm engine creating some steam. Lift engine lid and raise spoiler, check for water.
3) Are you certain it was coming from your car? Might have been from adjacent vehicle....

One thing for sure - lift that engine lid and check everything out. Don't wait to drive to some shop to have it looked at.

 

Make sure that you have the latest update expansion tank cap. Part # should end in 04.

 

hi thanks for your response. I just got off the phone w. Eurosport ( a good shop, here in chicago). i explained it, he thinks there's a crack in the expansion tank - he said it's common. I'll try to look at it this weekend, not that i can do much. I'm going to top off w. coolant and do some light driving. yesterday, driving home, i could smell something (almost like a butterscotch smell) but there was no visible steam. of course, no indicator lights etc.
thanks
tony

 

Tony, Im sure your capable of lifting the engine cover and looking. I was going to suggest, start with the obvious. Tank, cap, and hoses. Pressure test is even better if you can do it.

 

Why you want to drive your car with a coolant leak is beyond me. Why not just get the car to Eurosport and have the leak id'd and fixed?

Done.