Heavy White smoke coming from my exhaust

Tiny
TWKOCH
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 LAND ROVER
  • 231,000 MILES
I have a 96 Land Rover Range Rover 4.0. It has 321000 miles. I was driving yesterday on the highway going about 65 miles an hour when I noticed smoke coming the engine compartment. Immediately the temp gauge spiked. I stopped the car and checked under the hood. I found the radiator hose was unclamped from the radiator. I did not have tools to clamp the hose, so I used electrical tape to reattach the hose.
I was able to drive it slowly to a gas station about 1 mile away.
I wasd able to reattach the hose using the clamp.
I let the engine cool, then proceeded to fill the radiator via the coolant overflow tank with a 50/50 mix of antifreeze and water, roughly 1.5 gallons.

Iwas able to drive the car the 150 miles back to my home. Everyything seemed normal.
When I went to start it today, the "Check Engine" came on and stayed on. I drove it about 10 miles. The temp guage spiked again.

When I got home, I let the engine cool before adding more coolant.

When I went to start the car, the Check Engine light remained on and thick white smoke was pouring from my exhaust system. Also, the smell of burnt maple syrup was prevalent.

? How bad is this? Can I drive the car into a radiator shop, about 30 miles from my home to get it checked out? The nearest ROver Repair shop I trust is 200 miles away.


This is my only car and I have no one in the area to assist me.
Friday, November 4th, 2011 AT 2:40 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,724 POSTS
When coolant enters the combustion chamber, it burns white and has maple syrup smell to it. Therefore, you either have a blown head gasket, cracked head. Chances are it is just the head gasket. However, it needs taken apart to determine which is the problem.
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Friday, November 4th, 2011 AT 3:36 AM

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