Is my car ruined? Smoke coming from bonnet

ba_barabus

KildareP wrote: »

By any chance the dipstick is not part of the oil filler cap?

Could be, it was on our 1.5dci Megane.

Del2005

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Sheepdish1, the only question that really matters now in terms of us helping is what car is it?

Make, model, year and engine.

E.g
Mercedes, C class, 1.8 kompressor. Or something...

But either way, don't start it. Don't drive it. Call your mechanic and see if they can pick it up. That's probably the best option here.

Does it really make any difference what the car is?

The OP can't drive it and has to get it to a mechanic/garage to check out what's wrong. They could be lucky and have gotten away with little damage to the engine or it could be completely destroyed, the model won't make the slightest difference at this stage.

Sheepdish1

Kevin Mushy Shelter wrote: »

cnocbui wrote: »

I doubt what you saw was smoke. if it was white, it was most likely steam. If the engine head didn't overheat, you will likely just need the source of the leak seen to and a refill of coolant. If the head overheated, You might have a blown head gasket, which would be a lot more expensive than an external leak or a tow.

Happened to mine, head gasket was gone and needed to be fully replaced.

Cost near enough to €1k for parts and labour at the time, car was jittery and then temp gauge rocketed and white smoke (steam) billowing out of it.

Oh no! I’m hoping because the temp gauge didn’t move that it isn’t head gasket! My car wouldn’t be worth more than 1k at this stage!

I checked the car as one of the posters recommended and couldn’t see the substance they said to check for. There was a clear residue on the lid of the engine though.

ba_barabus

Sheepdish1 wrote: »

Oh no! I’m hoping because the temp gauge didn’t move that it isn’t head gasket! My car wouldn’t be worth more than 1k at this stage!

I checked the car as one of the posters recommended and couldn’t see the substance they said to check for. There was a clear residue on the lid of the engine though.

How do you mean clear residue? Did it look like mayonnaise? Was there any coolant in the expansion bottle?

Sheepdish1

elbyrneo wrote: »

Wind up or not, post the model and engine type. At least 3 posters have asked, at least 10 posters have been kind enough to offer advice.

Take the 30 seconds to post the model details.....

I don’t feel me posting the model of my car is going to make any difference. There is also a lot of doubt over the car having a dipstick , it’s probably unusual but it doesn’t. The car has a few odd things about it. It isn’t on euroncap . It also has a foot brake instead of a handbrake and the car battery isn’t where it normally would be.

It is getting towed shortly so hopefully mechanics will let you all know what he thinks! Wish me luck!

saabsaab

You may be ok, I had something happen like this before. the AA fitted a hose fresh coolant and it was fine afterwards. perhaps your insurance (many do ) has breakdown cover to fix or tpw to your garage.

Tzardine

I think the OP is on a wind up.

Won't give the model of the car as they have backed themselves into a lie by saying it had no dipstick.

Please prove me wrong though. What model mercedes was it.

I don't understand what people get out of making up spoof threads like this. Attention I guess.

This is it

Sheepdish1 wrote: »

I don’t feel me posting the model of my car is going to make any difference. There is also a lot of doubt over the car having a dipstick , it’s probably unusual but it doesn’t. The car has a few odd things about it. It isn’t on euroncap . It also has a foot brake instead of a handbrake and the car battery isn’t where it normally would be.

It is getting towed shortly so hopefully mechanics will let you all know what he thinks! Wish me luck!

In the time it took you to write that you could've posted the model, I'm not sure what the secret is.

Sheepdish1

saabsaab wrote: »

You may be ok, I had something happen like this before. the AA fitted a hose fresh coolant and it was fine afterwards. perhaps your insurance (many do ) has breakdown cover to fix or tpw to your garage.

Yes it does have this in my policy thank you!

Dave147

Phileas Frog wrote:

Not all cars have dipsticks. Though some cars have 2, one in the engine bay and one behind the wheel.

Post of the day!🀣🀣

Car99

Dave147 wrote: »

Post of the day!🀣🀣

Post of yesterday

H3llR4iser

Tzardine wrote: »

I think the OP is on a wind up.

Won't give the model of the car as they have backed themselves into a lie by saying it had no dipstick.

Please prove me wrong though. What model mercedes was it.

I don't understand what people get out of making up spoof threads like this. Attention I guess.

Could be entirely legit, doesn't have to be a windup - a lot of people know NOTHING about cars, and I mean absolutely NOTHING; It wouldn't surprise me if someone saw a Mercedes with a foot pedal handbrake and thought it's a specially modified car.



As a matter of fact, I've met people who DIDN'T KNOW what model their car was nor what capacity engine they had - they only knew they were driving a Ford or an Opel, to say; I've also known people who would drive around in search of a manned petrol station (different country) as they actually didn't know how to fill the car, less than anything the difference between petrol and diesel.

punisher5112

Dipstick probably fell down into the oil well....

It's like the Simpsons Timmy fell down the well.....

Sheepdish1

Good news! My car isn’t completely ruined but it did cost a few bob to fix! It was just a water pump that was gone and the auxiliary belt was changed at the same time too, I’m still none the wiser why there was steam or smoke coming from the bonnet but it has stopped now so I’m happy with that :-) there was some coolant still in the car and mechanic said that I didn’t do any damage which is great! Am delighted as I thought my car was gone!

Jeff2

Steam was likely from the water pump seal I'd say.

Good you got the old faithful back going cheap enough.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

great news !

if you are sick of shops , could you poop into Spirit Skoda as a favour for me ?

Phileas Frog

Sheepdish1 wrote: »

Good news! My car isn’t completely ruined but it did cost a few bob to fix! It was just a water pump that was gone and the auxiliary belt was changed at the same time too, I’m still none the wiser why there was steam or smoke coming from the bonnet but it has stopped now so I’m happy with that :-) there was some coolant still in the car and mechanic said that I didn’t do any damage which is great! Am delighted as I thought my car was gone!

*ahem*

Phileas Frog wrote: »

It's probably just water pump failure, not engine failure like the doom mongerers above would have you believe.

:pac:

CoBo55

Phileas Frog wrote: »

*ahem*



:pac:

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day...

Sheepdish1

CoBo55 wrote: »

Phileas Frog wrote: »

*ahem*



:pac:

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day...

I like that saying!