Can Coolant Cause Smoke? (Answered)

Coolant is a familiar name to all vehicle owners. To extend the life of their car engine and have a great experience while enjoying long drives, coolant is used in every type of vehicle. 

Like its name, coolant works to keep the engine and internal temperature in control and cooler with the changing outside temperature.

If you’re new in the car world and wondering if a cooling product can be responsible for a smoke? We have got a researched answer and explanation here. You can read further to know if coolant causes smoke.  

Can coolant cause smoke?

Coolant can cause smoke when low. Low coolant causes overheating in the engine thus smoke is produced. Smoking may occur by a coolant if the engine is damaged or has damaged parts such as a cracked cylinder head, blown gasket, etc. Sometimes coolant smoking happens due to coolant leaking. 

Coolant is a liquid or gas-like product used in vehicles for cooling purposes of course. It burns and controls the operating temperature by keeping the engine as well as the vehicle cool. Coolant prevents overheating and protects different internal parts from getting heat damaged.

However, this cooling product can often be responsible for producing smoke in the engine or coolant system. Let’s know what causes coolant smoke.

Spilled coolant: 

Spilled coolant can be the reason you’re noticing smoke. Spilled coolant creates smoke if it enters the combustion chamber. It thus pollutes the internal parts such as the engine oil, gets burnt the wrong way, and produces smoke. 

Too much coolant: 

If the coolant is overfilled, it will get into the combustion section. Coolant entering the combustion chamber can create internal damage and thus overheat the engine. Excessive coolant flow might ruin electrical wires and motor parts. Then cause coolant system smoking. 

Coolant leak:

Coolant leak is one of the most common reasons for coolant smoking. Leaked coolant gets burned with engine oil and makes its way through the exhaust path. 

Low coolant: 

Low coolant can cause coolant smoke. If the coolant level is lower than the ideal level, it will not cool the engine properly. The engine will overheat then and cause smoke in the coolant system 

Bad coolant: 

Bad coolant is when you are using the wrong coolant for your vehicle. Coolant is needed to choose according to the vehicle. A wrong coolant can produce smoke anytime.

Does coolant make white smoke? 

White smoke is mostly produced by your coolant. Different issues with the coolant of your vehicle can be responsible for making white smoke.

You may notice smoke coming out of your vehicle. Well, smoke can happen due to any reason including damaged casing, overheating, clogged engine, etc. You have to investigate properly to know the exact reason for smoke but by observing the color of the smoke, a primary idea can be collected. 

If the emitting smoke is thick and white in color, it is possible to the coolant. A coolant leak can be the reason behind the smoke. 

A lot of the time if the coolant got into the combustion chamber due to a blocked engine or crack in the cylinder head and causes the coolant to emit white smoke. Moreover, if the coolant level is high, it’s likely to leak and produce smoke. 

Will my car smoke if it needs coolant? 

Your car can smoke if the coolant level is not sufficient. Continuous engine runs can heat a vehicle and make smoke if the heat crosses the vehicle’s tolerance limit. 

Thus the vehicle can lose its efficiency or get damaged. Sometimes the vehicle emits too much smoke due to heat. That’s why coolant is used.

Coolant is an essential gas or liquid element that helps to avoid heating in your vehicle. It’s used in engines to prevent overheating. 

It helps a car to maintain a certain temperature with the changing heat of the outside environment. It also protects a vehicle from several heat damage as well as helps to smoothen other parts’ performance.

But even after using coolant, you may experience smoke if the level of the coolant is too low. Running an engine with low coolant can blow the head gasket and cause smoke. 

Can no coolant cause white smoke? 

No or fully depleted coolant in the coolant reservoir can be responsible for making white smoke. It’s when there is a coolant leak and the burnt coolant is getting out via the exhaust system. Thus the vehicle may lose the coolant, empty the reservoir and emit smoke.

If the coolant level is near zero or almost similar to null, you might notice white smoke coming from the vehicle. Mostly it doesn’t wait till gets empty. White smoke can be produced even if the coolant level is lower than the sufficient amount.

Coolant level lowers mainly because of a leak, blown head gasket, or faulty engine. Because of any of these reasons, a vehicle faces low coolant or no coolant at all. 

And if there is no coolant overheating issues can happen and thus white and thick smoke can be emitted from the coolant system.   

Why is my engine coolant smoking?

If you notice smoke emitting from your engine and get to know it’s because of the coolant, it might surprise you. Since people use coolant to keep the engine cool, it’s quite obvious to get stressed about this.  

If you don’t have any idea why your coolant engine is making smoke, here we’ve listed 3 possible reasons: 

Coolant leak: 

Coolant leak is one of the most common reasons behind the smoke. A coolant leak can happen if the radiator is at fault or its hose is damaged. 

Besides this, a leak in the radiator cap, blown head gasket, etc. is the other common causes that are responsible for a coolant leak. 

A coolant leak lowers the level of coolant in the engine, thus the engine gets heated burning the fuel. When the overheating happens coolant makes smoke. 

Faulty engine: 

A faulty engine is another reason your coolant is smoking. Insufficient lubricant often causes coolant to smoke. Also, if the wire casing is damaged or the engine is blocked or clogged, it affects the coolant system.

When the coolant system can’t function properly because of engine issues, it starts smoking. 

Low coolant level: 

Coolant is meant to keep the car engine cooler. But it only works this way if the level of the coolant is sufficient for the engine to maintain the operating temperature. 

If you notice the coolant level is low, it’s the reason you are expiring smoke from the engine. Low coolant heat up the engine thus it smokes.   

What to do if coolant is smoking? 

Coolant smoking is a serious issue for any vehicle but it’s not impossible to resolve this problem. Depending on the reasons, you may have to work harder as well as spent more money, but it can be solved if you know the proper things to do if coolant is running.

Here are some top picked suggestions for such a case to help you:

Fix coolant leak:  

If the coolant is smoking because of a coolant leak, you’ve to find the exact reason and solve it. 

A coolant leak can happen because of a loose radiator cap, blown head gasket, or faulty radiator hose. Check the other pipes and internal parts too to ensure there is no other leakage.

Repair the engine: 

a damaged engine is often responsible for causing coolant smoke. If there is a coolant leak, it could be the engine of the vehicle that’s faulty and not letting the coolant work properly. 

If the head gasket is blown or the cylinder head is cracked, repair it as soon as possible.

Add coolant: 

Coolant can make smoke if the coolant level is low and not enough for the engine. 

By checking the coolant system if you notice the coolant level is lower, you must add coolant. If you’re on a journey and don’t have access to coolant, top the rest of the coolant with water.

For a permanent solution add a good coolant according to your card type.

Final Thoughts

Smoke can emit from a coolant system if there is any coolant leak or the coolant level is insufficient. Low coolant heats up the engine and creates smoking. Besides, a cracked or loose cylinder head, blown head gasket, or blocked engine can be responsible for coolant smoke.