What do you do when your car overheats and smokes?

If you notice your engine releasing steam or starting to smoke up, pull your car over when it is safe to do so and turn your engine off. If you are comfortable doing so, pop the hood of the car. Dot not pop the hood until the engine has cooled.

What does it mean when your car is smoking under the hood?

The most common cause of smoke under the hood is small amounts of motor oil or other fluids accidentally spilled or leaking from a bad gasket or seal onto a hot engine or the exhaust system. Those other fluids may include engine coolant, power steering, brake and transmission fluid, even window washer solvent.

Why is there smoke coming from the back of my car?

Many times, this thick smoke is due to the likes of a blown head gasket, damaged cylinder, or a cracked engine block, which is causing coolant to burn. Thick white exhaust smoke usually indicates a coolant leak, which could cause overheating and put your engine at a serious risk of damage.

How do I know if my head gasket is blown?

Bad head gasket symptoms

1. White smoke coming from the tailpipe.
2. BUBBLING IN THE RADIATOR AND COOLANT RESERVOIR.
3. unexplained coolant loss with no leaks.
4. Milky white coloration in the oil.
5. Engine overheating.

What happens when smoke turns black?

Thick, black smoke indicates heavy fuels that are not being fully consumed. At times, black smoke can be an indicator that a manmade material is burning such as tires, vehicles or a structure. Grey smoke can indicate that the fire is slowing down and running out of materials to burn.

Can overheating cause the car to stall?

If your vehicle has a coolant sensor, then overheating can cause your vehicle to immediately quit to prevent engine damage. In some cases, this sensor might be faulty and giving wrong readings that result in stalling.