White Smoke Coming from Under Hood - Passenger Side

BarryT · 03-26-2009

Here is a description of my issue:

Manual 1990 5.0 GT

After driving for a while and after coming to a stop I notice white smoke coming out the passenger side of the vehicle. When I pop the hood to take a look, it looks like it is coming from the back left area of the engine. It smells sort of burnt....and the smoke color is definently white. It almost smells like a burning clutch.

Speaking of the clutch, the car grinds getting into 4th gear and also vibrates pretty hard in 5th gear around 2700 RPM...and then it goes away if above or below that RPM level.

So I guess I have 2 problems i need help with....the first being the smoke and the 2nd being the grinding (going into 4th) and the strong vibration in 5th gear around the 2700 RPM level.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

samotrx7 · 03-26-2009

Welcome to the site. Does this happen after hard use or just general driving? Have you checked to see if it's a coolant leak from the rear of the intake maybe?

BarryT · 03-26-2009

The smoking happens under general use....i have not yet checked anything. I am pretty mechanically ignorant, so i am seeking thoughts first.

**pcfrisch** · 03-26-2009

Does it smell in your car? any steam coming out through the vents?

BarryT · 03-26-2009

No steam or smell coming in thru the vents. But you can definently smell it once stepping outside of the door or if the windows are down when you come to a stop

samotrx7 · 03-26-2009

Hmmm when it does that look for any type of leakage immediately to try and find the source. If there are no apparent leaks than we can move on to the next phase. It doesn't take much to make a liquid steam on a hot motor so give it a look and let us know if anything.

BarryT · 03-26-2009

I will check this evening after driving home.

Any ideas on the grinding going into 4th and the vibrations around 2700 rpm in 5th?

thanks

BarryT · 03-26-2009

Okay, here is an update. I made it home from work....popped the hood and there was some minor smoke coming up from behind the engine. So, I guess I need to retract my initial statement on that it was coming soley from the passenger side.

I inspected all up in the engine bay and underneath the vehicle....I did not notice any leaks of any kind and was unable to pinpoint the source of the smoke.

I checked the engine oil and it was at the full line and the coloring was good. I checked the coolant and it was a nice greenish color.

I want to stress that it is not a TON of smoke, but it is definently there and has an odor to it.

Also would like to state that i just had it on an 800 mile journey where it ran like a champ (some smoking) BUT the thermostat did never run hot at all.

Any insight is appreciated.

**EagleAutosports** · 03-26-2009

I would then start checking the transmission for any leaks, when fluid hits a hot surface like the exhaust it'll make a large white plumb of smoke and you'll smell it.

76Ford90LX · 03-26-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleAutosports

I would then start checking the transmission for any leaks, when fluid hits a hot surface like the exhaust it'll make a large white plumb of smoke and you'll smell it.

+1
Sounds like a minor leak that is dripping onto the Exhaust pipe.

BarryT · 03-30-2009

thanks for your replies. Here is an update.

I've identified the source of the white smoke i have been seeing. It is coming from the passenger side catalytic converter. Again, this is not a ton of smoke, but it is noticeable after driving for maybe 5 to 10 minutes at a minimum and then stopping the car.

The smoke is white, very faint.

Any ideas on what could be causing this?

In the near future, i am planning on replacing my entire exhaust from the headers back, do think this would eliminate the smoking issue?

PunchRacing · 03-31-2009

the exhaust shouldnt fix it. the exhaust shouldnt have any fluids in it that would cause smoke(just small amounts of water). its probably something dripping onto the cat, not the cat itself leaking. check right above the cat and see what you can find that could be leaking.

samotrx7 · 03-31-2009

^^^^^ I agree with him good advice and welcome to the site

BarryT · 03-31-2009

I'll check to see if anything is leaking onto it. After reading thru others posts and other materials online, I am just a bit confused since I don't see any smoke coming out of the tailpipes / oil level and color is good and the coolant level and color looks good.

The smoke i saw coming off the cat definently looked like it was coming off of the top of it.

What would be above that cat that might be getting onto it?

Also, if there is some fluid like transmission fluid up there, how long would it take to burn itself of if the source of the tranny leak was fixed?

BarryT · 03-31-2009

Wanted to give an update. The cats are welded in and i noticed on the passenger cat that the weld is starting to come undone.

Could this be contributing to the occasional smoke i am seeing. Again, all the fluids are looking good and i've wiped down the underbody near the cats.....there was some grease there but nothing too major.

Thoughts...