Engine smoking

[billzebub87]

I have a 90 celica, and while I driving today, the engine started smoking. I pulled over and took a look. The smoke was coming from behind the smoke and air filter area. I let it sight for about 2 hours and drove it back home and it wasn't smoking. Both times, it was on the road for about 20 minutes. I got a buddy of mine to take a look and he said that it was caused from the coolant boiling(I didn't think coolant coils boil). And it rained for a week straight, and I haven't driven it since it started raining. Could that have anything to do with it? Any advice would be helpful. Thanks in advance

[RobMilkshakes]

Was it a whitish steam or more of a colorless -> gray smoke?

Its posssible you have an oil leak, but it would have to be rather substantial to see a significant amount of actual smoke.

More than likely it is a coolant leak. Coolant can leak from radiator hoses, heater hoses, or even from water outlets onto hot surfaces and make a cloud of steam. One water outlet is very close to the air filter box, as well as the heater hoses that run from the housing to the firewall.

If your coolant boils (it can, Etholene Glycol has a higher boiling and lower freezing point than pure water, but can still boil) either the temperature is too high or the system isn't pressurized. Usually if it boils you would see it coming out near the front left corner of the hood, near your overflow bottle. If thats the case and it wasn't overheating, I would recommend replacing the radiator cap.

[billzebub87]

It was more of a gray smoke. I know the power steering liquid leaks. I'm getting that fixed right away. It was also coming in through the vents

[BLUEMEANIE]

Hmm... oil is blue smoke. Rich mixture is black. Coolant is white and can indicate a cracked head or ring, or a blown head gasket. ...but it has to be burnt to smoke and if its in the combustion chamber it will come out the tail pipe.

I'm just spit balling here but since it is coming out of the engine compartment it sounds more like its a fast leak that is burning off. Also, the smoke can exit at the back of the hood and immediately get sucked into the fresh air vent at the base of the windshield, which is why you might see smoke from the interior vents.
The radiator top hose as well as the TB coolant lines are located on the same side as the air box in the 5S...
Does the smoke stink like burning antifreeze or oil?
If it has a bitter sweet smell it could be a leaking heater core.

It could be as simple as a fluid leaking, drying and then burning off. Start the car and have a look around the general area for leaks. Also, have a friend rev it up pretty good and hold it for a second so you can look around while its under load.

Can you get a video of it smoking and follow the smoke to pinpoint an exact location? We might be able to make some more accurate guesses if we could see it in action.

[billzebub87]

There was no smell, and I drove it some more yesterday and it didn't smoke again. I'm gonna take for a quick spin before work and if it starts smoking, I'll try to get a video.

[BLUEMEANIE]

fyi, I added some more to my post above while you were replying.

Also make sure you test it with the vent on fresh and recirculate, and the a/c and heater both on and off. Then let us know if it occurs in the cabin in one or more combination.

[billzebub87]

So I drove it around the other day with my mechanic buddy, when it started smoking we took it back to his place. He looked it over and said that some of the smoke was coming from a coolant gasket and that the dipstick needs to be replace. Thanks for the helP guys