Help white smoke!

[Fuman]

I was driving to DT to work today.

I stopped the car (cause of traffic), and notice a puff of white smoke from the front of the car. thinking it was the exhaust of the car infront I ignored it. I switched lanes (new car in front). Same thing. Just a puff though, its not continous. Does NOT happen everytime the car comes to a stop.
NO CLUE what it is.

The engine was warm, prehaps too hot? signs of overheating?

HELP!

(dis is not a mz3, its 1991 protege)

[FLIPDADY]

What was the reading from the temperature gauge? Did you pop the hood and check for coolant leaks? From the front of the engine sounds like the car was overheating.

[Fuman]

temp gauge was normal....
I didnt have time to check, i was 15 min late for work, parked and ran.
so it should be over-heating,
that means i have to go to my mechanic after work.
****

[TheProfessor]

I have no idea what it could be but please keep us posted......also, when you say your \"mechanic\" do you mean a dealership or really an independent mechanic?

[Junior]

check all fluids, make sure everything is topped up

[Fuman]

independent mechanic.... nice guy.

If u want I can ask him to be an affliate but I would\'t know what kind though.

[bluntman]

It means you\'ve elected a new pope. :D

[RedRaptor]

Originally posted by bluntman


It means you\'ve elected a new pope. :D

hahahahaha...oh man...:hoho

[firstmazda]

Originally posted by bluntman


It means you\'ve elected a new pope. :D

ROFL just got it! hahaha lol

it\'s either that or \"BLUNTMAN\" is hiding under your hood.
puff puff pass!!


Ray

[Fuman]

mechanic put in some additional coolant yesterday.
Smoked up again today.
Dis is starting to piss me off.

[wtom]

So the mechanic didn\'t actually check for anything?

Sounds to me like your car is leaking coolant and it\'s hitting the hot pipes.

[Fuman]

leaking coolant? lol, life gets better by the minute
I\'ll check the coolant lvl when I get home, since he filled it yesterday.

thanks 4 the tip man

[torpedo20]

Originally posted by bluntman


It means you\'ve elected a new pope. :D

Man, that was brilliant! :D

I gotta use that one under your permission of course, lol.
I hope the car is ok, though.

[Fuman]

i hope so too, or i\'ll be busing my butt to work.
I already paid for my parking for this month and july (I had to, it was part of the contract).
QUEERRRRRRRRRR

[iconicrocket]

I\'ve noticed that after driving about a couple of mins the temp gauge goes to the halfway point on the dial. My old \'96 never moved passed the mid point even on a hot day, and even after I drive it on the highway.

Damn, I know Mazda3s are hot cars but this is alittle ridiculas. :sarc

[Geologic]

Originally posted by iconicrocket


I\'ve noticed that after driving about a couple of mins the temp gauge goes to the halfway point on the dial. My old \'96 never moved passed the mid point even on a hot day, and even after I drive it on the highway.

Damn, I know Mazda3s are hot cars but this is alittle ridiculas. :sarc

i noticed that too.. after pulling outta my driveway it goes up to the halfway point. Thought it was normal.

[majic]

it\'s normal, the operating temp of the engine is 90C (194F) and now b/c the ambient temp is higher than in the winter that temp is achieved much faster. halfway is where teh needle should be at..

[Fuman]

I checked the coolant today.

The coolant box has mud in there (tiny little pieces)... Gonna clean it afterwork.
Its not normal right?

[BigWilly]

mud in there? do you think it might be engine oil?

can possibly be a headgasket problem? I had a head gasket fail on my old bonneville.. thing put out tunz of white smoke..

but it\'s just a puff rite? . may not be the Headgasket.

how many km on the protoge?

[Fuman]

207,000km close to 8000 now.

Engine oil in the coolant tank?
that weird. Either way, I\'ll take a closer look at those shit looking particiles when I get home today