need help/advice immediately

[robby]

Ok so the other day I topped off my coolant (didn't know not to fill direactly into the radiator)

As I'm driving I noticed my car is smoking pretty bad and I'm almost positive the excess coolant is leaking out and burning off.

What should i do? Should I let it cool down completely and siphon some coolant out of the radiator?

Any advice is much appreciated. Sorry I don't know much about cars.

Thanks in advance

 

[DirtySho1]

just take enough to make the level full. but let it kool first.

 

[robby]

and i know its full from the gauge on the overflow reservoir?

 

[Toolman]

Rob, go to the chat section, we can talk more there.

 

[platoribs]

Smoke+lost coolant=head gasket.

Your results may vary...

seek professional assistance.

 

[Toolman]

robby, we need more info. Was it smoking before you added coolant? What color is the smoke? Is it coming out of the exhaust pipes are from under the hood? What does your coolant look like? What does your oil look like? Lots of questions need answered before we can give you a decent idea of potential issues.

 

[robby]

phone died. im in the chatroom now. need help still

 

[robby]

in response to toolman. it was not smoking before i added coolant. the smoke is white. it is coming from underneath the hood only. coolant looks yellowish green. oil looked perfect (changed my oil about 2 weeks ago) but was a quart low so i added. probably need a new oil pan gasket.

any other input is appreciated

thanks

-robby

 

[RStalveyARFF]

There's nothing wrong with adding coolant to the radiator itself as long as the car isn't overheating already. Any extra coolant should go into the resevoir as by design that's what it does. The radiator should be filled to the top and then the air should be bled out of the system, add more coolant if neccessary. You should not be having any coolant leaking unless your resevoir is completely to the top.

 

[LOUDSHO92]

Is it leaking from a hose or the side tanks?

 

[robby]

There's nothing wrong with adding coolant to the radiator itself as long as the car isn't overheating already. Any extra coolant should go into the resevoir as by design that's what it does. The radiator should be filled to the top and then the air should be bled out of the system, add more coolant if neccessary. You should not be having any coolant leaking unless your resevoir is completely to the top.

my reservoir is close to the top when the engine is completely cold so im guessing it overflows once the engine gets to operating temperature.

so i opened the coolant drain valve and let some drain out. about to drive it around and see if it still smokes.

crossing my fingers it doesnt

-robby

 

[robby]

Is it leaking from a hose or the side tanks?

i dont believe so. my reservoir was almost to the top when cold.

drained some and going to see if it still smokes

thanks

-robby

 

[frosho]

my reservoir is close to the top when the engine is completely cold so im guessing it overflows once the engine gets to operating temperature.

so i opened the coolant drain valve and let some drain out. about to drive it around and see if it still smokes.

crossing my fingers it doesnt

-robby

Are you talking about the drain on the radiator? You shouldn't have done that! The radiator is supposed to be full to the brim. It's the overflow tank that will "leak" when the system is over-filled.

 

[robby]

thanks guys

got it all taken care of.

no more smoke and the radiator is full to the brim