Started smoking a white thick smoke

Tiny
ANONYMOUS
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 JEEP LIBERTY
  • 99,215 MILES
My vehicle started smoking a white thick smoke that by the smell I'm assuming was coolant. When I would drive my heat gauge would start to climb so I would pull over before it could get too hot so I couldn't drive at all. I of course checked my oil and coolant and both were where they needed to be. I had the radiator checked thinking my radiator must have been cracked and that's where I'm leaking from but there weren't any leaks. So I had the thermostat replaced knowing that by now it has to be stuck and for about an hour it had repaired my problem until the heat started to climb again. What could possibly be wrong with my car? I'm now thinking of having my water pump and head gasket checked but is there something that is being overlooked. Recent History on my car: About a month ago my cars heater would only work if my car was going 40 mph or faster but when slow or stopped would blow cold air. Around that same time my car would start to make this squeaky noise like as if a belt were loose, I have checked the belts and everything seems to be in place. My engine is a 6 cylinder 3.7L.
Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 11:19 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
CADIEMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,544 POSTS
You would notice the coolant going down in the overflow jug. This sounds like coolant leaking into the combustion chamber. There's only two ways it can get in there. The intake or the head gasket.
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Monday, December 17th, 2012 AT 11:29 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good morning,

The thermostat is part of the system but circulation is just as important.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-water-pump

The radiator could be clogged not allowing circulation at all. It will also build up pressure.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-an-overheating-engine

I would have someone check the temperatures of the upper end and the lower end of the radiator when it gets to normal operating range. There should be about a 40% change in temperature.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-overheating-or-running-hot

Yes, the head gasket should be checked as well. Have a leak down test done to be sure compression is not leaking into the combustion chamber.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Roy
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Monday, May 18th, 2020 AT 3:49 AM

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