Engine smoking

Hi Kia,

The cooling system is leaking resulting in the green colored liquid and steam being emitted from the engine compartment.

You can use water as a temporary measure but the leakage must be identified and if possible patched or repaired to enable you to continue driving, failing which you might damage the engine if you have not already damage it yet.

I have replaced my stock intake manifold with a skunk2 intake manifold on the car listed above EX model with d16y8. Skunk2 did not provide a intake manifold gasket so i decided to use the old one from the stock manifold. i am aware this was a terrible idea and now i am reaping the consequences. Now my car smokes out of the engine bay and i believe it is coolant that is coming through my headers and exhaust. My question is, when this happens is my engine damaged beyond return or can i flush the coolant system and oil change and everything will be okay?

Hello,

It should be the latter of the two. If the coolant is getting into your vehicle's engines combustion chambers, then be very careful of developing hydrolock, because this can do serious internal engine damage as coolant does not compress and will be forced out the valves and past your pistons rings, possibly damaging them. If you go to start your engine and it refuses to crank, stop, remove all the spark plugs, and crank the engine. The coolant will get ejected out the spark plug hole and you are okay then to reinstall the spark plugs and start the vehicle. I hope this helps.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

Thank you for the advice. It's greatly appreciated. I will follow your advice. One more thing, my car starts but I have to let it sit for one day until my new gasket arrives. This should be okay, right?

Hello again,

Yes. If the engine isn't running then the coolant isn't circulating. Make sure to change the engine oil and filter as well. Also, you might want to check the inside of your valve covers to see if you have any of that thick white goop in there. If you do you should definitely take them off and clean them.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros

Thank you so much for your professional and helpful input. I cannot stress how much this means to me. You have been a blessing!

SCGRANTURISMO is one of our best! Please let us know what you find.

Engine Cooling problem
1999 Honda Civic Manual 15000 miles

I got into an accident a couple of days ago, and my car ran up, under a Jeep. The hood got smashed down, and pushed in. Today, I noticed that the engine was revving when I was in neutral, and the engine light came on shortly afterward. Then smoke started coming from under the hood, and when I parked the car, my friend noticed that the anti-freeze was leaking out of the bottom of the car. My worry is that the hood cracked the radiator, and that is the source of my problem. I was wondering a general estimate of the cost to fix this problem: the hood (which is practically folded) and the anti-freeze leak, which could possibly be related to damage to the radiator. The lights work, and everything else.

Hi s.scott,

Without a visual inspection of the damages, it would be impossible to provide any estimates. I would suggest getting it quoted by the local body repair shop. GEt a few opinions if possible.

However remember to rectify/check the radiator first, possible the fan motor housing is damaged causing the fan to seize and overheat Shortage of coolant can have dire consequences if the engine overheats and blows a gasket.

I followed the recommended methods and everything turned out great! The car is running perfectly fine. I appreciate you guys.

Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.

Yesterday I did a Muffler change, Oil Change, Oil filter, Air filter, and spark plugs.

Today earlier I was driving my car to work, then the car it started to stall very little at first, then the Check Engine light came on, then Smoke started coming out of the engine, and I parked.

I checked the Oil level, was fine.
The Coolant, was fine.

The smoke was coming from beneath the car or from the center of the engine.

I checked the transmission oil and seemed to be ok.

I did noticed, that one of the spark plug wire came out from its position as it had blown.

What is the problem?

Does it sound like you have an exhaust leak? If so, it's most likely the down pipe to catalytic flange that is leaking.

If not, it is most likely oil or coolant that is dripping onto the exhaust and causing it to smoke.

The hand on the temperature gauge went up to the H. and when I stop to look under the hood, it was smoking. I twisted off the top and there was no water in it. so I poured water in it and it started leaking from the bottom. I think the pipes are loose. How much would it cost to repair?

Hi there, you will need to get this pressure test to prove the leak, if just a hose, it will not cost a lot $50-70 there abouts, but you have to make sure that no further damage has been done due to this over heating.

mark (mhpautos)

when ever i start my car it shakes really really bad and when i first start driving the gear slips a little but after driving around a little it seem ok

when i looked under the hood it looks like my radiator fluid is being forced out of its container becuase the fluid is all over the place

when i look at the back of the car the smoke from the exhaust putters out this with smoke and it smells really bad

somebody told me that my car needs a new engine becuase there is anti freeze wheres its not supposed to be and my bearing are getting there grease eating away and at some point my bearings will lock

is that correct and if so what does like something like that cost to repair is it even worth repairing?

It sounds like you have a headgasket issue. This is a major repair.

Get a cylinder leakdown test done to confirm that it is your headgasket that has failed.

great thanks!!!

Engine Mechanical problem
1989 Honda Civic 6 cyl Automatic 188000 miles

Last week I did a tune up and then my car began stalling while driving especially after stopping at a red light or at a sharp turn. I notice when car stalls the fuel needle goes down gradually. When I did my tune up one of the spark plugs was soaked with motor oil. Twice this week after I turned off engine my car wouldn't turn on and a large cloud of gray smoke emits from exhaust. The car wants to turn on, but turns off quickly unless you heavily step on the gas. Once on the large cloud of gray smoke continues.

In addition, I changed the valve cover gasket and no luck.

if you have oil on the plugs your piston rings are bad or you have worn cylinder bores ..which is making the vehicle lose compression and both are major repair jobs !!