HELP Smoking

[DaveZ4richardson]

Today i started the car and decided to take it out for a spin, its been parked in the garage for 5 weeks without turning a wheel. Checked all the levels before setting off. Ran it idling for about 10 minutes before driving off. Took it out for just over 20 minutes with no aggressive acceleration just steady driving, i did find it a little sluggish to respond when accelerator used. Came back to park car in garage to find smoke coming from under the bonnet (at least i think it was smoke) no overheating warning lights but front end of engine was very hot, no smell of burning oil. Any suggestions anyone? Could the cooling system be at fault? Like i say no warning lights or fault codes.

[Chris_D]

coolant/washer fluid leaking onto a hot part of the engine. check level and for leaks....If you're really sure it's not oil that is.

Could also have been condensate if you had the airco on and coming into a cold garage....

anyone's gues really.

[Silverzedtom]

First place to check has to be the rocker gasket. Plenty on here about the issue of you aren’t familiar.

Any puddles on the garage floor?

[DaveZ4richardson]

No thats just it. Garage floor is clean. So is engine

[firebobby]

Did you lift the bonnet to see where the smoke was coming from ? is the temperature gauge normal ?

[Chris_D]

Did you lift the bonnet to see where the smoke was coming from ? is the temperature gauge normal ?

is ur fire extinguisher finger twitching in anticipation fred?

[firebobby]

Possibly Chris, possibly

[sticky]

Coolant overflow, check level when it"s cooled off again.

[mac27040]

Check expansion tank for cracks common fault

[DaveZ4richardson]

Coolant level fine, oil level fine, coolant gauge if working ok was normal. No warning lights nothing?? Like i said the front end of engine was very hot and the back end fine. Am no mechanic so not sure what am looking for with expansion tank?

[Chris_D]

How can you gauge that the engine was hotter at the front than the back.
Imo all engines get hot after being driven and are usually too hot to touch for any length of time, front or back.

So if you dont have any leaks, arent experiencing any temp indicator-indicated overheating issue or warning lights or thrown codes i'd suggest just....not to worry about it.
Just keep an eye on it...

[DaveZ4richardson]

There was a heat haze coming off the front of the engine but not the back.

[Yorkie Z]

Ultimately I think your best best is to pop the bonnet, start it up and just watch the engine and temperature gauge. That's all a mechanic's going to do first.

[DaveZ4richardson]

Will check it at the weekend and run it and see what happens.

[Smartbear]

There was a heat haze coming off the front of the engine but not the back.

The radiator is at the front end, it may have clouded your diagnosis
Rob