White coolant smelling smoke in the cabin

[bradleybishop10]

I was driving home from school to day and noticed a white smoke coming in from the vents in my car. The temperature gauge was reading normal and when i got home i check the coolant and it was alittle low but not terrible still just above the low line. I turned the head on for a second and it blowed just fine and it was warm just like normal but smelled really bad of coolant. when i turned it back off it took a few minutes then the smoke started pouring out again.

Any ideas what this could be?

I think im leaning towards the heater core or a leak around that area.

Thanks in advance for the help.

and would it be ok to drive it for alittle bit with this happening?

 

[rlacasse1]

Heater core.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

Yep... Sounds like a heater core problem.

 

[BogusSVO]

text book heater core leak

 

[bradleybishop10]

Is it ok to drive around for a bit?

 

[92AWDHX40]

No you cant see, and youll over heat its a leak.

 

[BogusSVO]

Go to a local parts store ask for a heater hose "splice" in the proper size and 2 clamps.

Remove both hoses from the heater core at the firewall, Install the splice into the heater hoses and clamp. This will bypass the heater core.

You can drive this way as long as you care too, you just will not have heat in the cabin of the car.

Cost of the splice and clamps $10.00 or less

 

[bradleybishop10]

On the firewall inside the engin bay correct?

 

[FearlessNick]

Yes, the fire wall inside the engine bay. Also put some plugs on the core too so your not throwing coolant around. I have a system set up like this. Hoses still go to heater core. But I also have A by pass switch that I turn on during the winter and off during the summer.

Havnt looked into how or what to do to replace them. But it would be some fun.


- Nick
Email- [email protected]
Twitter- @FearlessNickCG
Vehicle- 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS

 

[bradleybishop10]

You said the splice should be cheap? I was on autozone.com and the only line splice i saw was $60

 

[FearlessNick]

Post the link of what your looking at.


- Nick
Email- [email protected]
Twitter- @FearlessNickCG
Vehicle- 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS

 

[BogusSVO]

Doiubt they have them listed online....

I know NAPA has them for like $6

 

[FearlessNick]

NAPA is where I got mine. And I know it was under ten bucks. I think he is looking at something else.


- Nick
Email- [email protected]
Twitter- @FearlessNickCG
Vehicle- 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS

 

[bradleybishop10]

ok well napa doesnt have them listed online either so i guess ill just have to go to the store and talk to them in person. what should i use to plug up the other hoses?

I went to napa and got the part thanks for all the help

 

[DSM1G90]

ya..bit of fun ripping off the entire dash to get to the heater core....

 

[FearlessNick]

Just let us know if you need anything.


- Nick
Email- [email protected]
Twitter- @FearlessNickCG
Vehicle- 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS

 

[bradleybishop10]

so i just bypassed the heater core and just checked the oil while i was there and notice that there is coolant in the oil. Is this also the heater or did i blow a head gasket?

 

[FearlessNick]

If you found coolant in oil then it is the head gasket. Or somebody poured coolant in your oil. You will be able to tell if it's a head gasket of you take the head off. Or I think you can do a compression check? I'm not to sure.

And you maybe be able to tell if it is by looking around the engine between the head and the bottom end. Like if it's wet or if you have dirt build up.


- Nick
Email- [email protected]
Twitter- @FearlessNickCG
Vehicle- 1998 Mitsubishi Eclipse RS

 

[BogusSVO]

sounds like a blown HG, with water in the oil.

Coolent pressure test or leak down test will confirm.

 

[bradleybishop10]

I would assume its bad to drive the car with it like this. How big of a job is it to change the head gasket?

 

[BogusSVO]

That depends on your skill level and tool set

The theads you need to read are here, and what you need to do to inspect the head is too

 

[bradleybishop10]

what would the oil look like if there was coolant in it?

and would there be any other symptoms

 

[BogusSVO]

Loss of coolent
white smoke out the tail pipe
skipping/missing
lack of power

If the oil is dirty, it will look like coffee with cream when the water mixes.
But the oil and water will seperate again over time, and the oil dipstick can read over full

 

[bradleybishop10]

ok because the only thing that i saw was the oil was just a really light color like almost a brownish green and the dipstick read pretty normal. and i have coolant loss but i think that was from the heater core and i havent noticed any smoke out the tail pipe or any lack of power or anything like that.. Maybe i just over reacted to the color of the oil, i had the oil changed the other day with valvoline (which i have never used) and maybe thats just the color of that?

 

[preludeachris]

Compression check would be a easy start ...I would highly recommend not driving it around for 2 reasons A: Antifreeze is poisonous dont be breathing that crap in when your driving B: if you do have a blown head gasket you can warp the head/damage the engine....overheating is sometimes associated with a bad head gasket..... usually not right away...dont take chances get it checked... good luck!