Engine overheats and smoking?

Thanks for your promptiness.

I didn't notice any slime in overflow tank, not sure if you meant oil filter cap, but oil cap (where I add oil) does not have chocolatey slime. The smoke looked to me to be a bluish, greenish, little whitish. Not just white smoke. I hope it isn't head gasket, I understand it is major expensive work. Would even driving to garage destroy the engine? Thanks in advance.

On the night of first occurence, I had noticed some small amount of fluid under the hood on the right side, exactly diagonally across from the overflow tank on the left side. So it definitely wasn't coming from the overflow tank. Yesterday, during the day, I drove about 3 - 4 miles, and the overheating and smoking problem re-occured after a while (after starting - all was fine including the temp gauge). There wasn't any leakage of any kind.

I have just started the car now - temp gauge is on C (cold), and no extra / unusual amount of smoke is coming out of exhaust. I suspect the antifreeze overflow tank doesn't show any decrease or increase. Should I add antifreeze directly to the radiator?

PS: If I recall correctly, once the car overheats and smokes out of the engine hood, there might have been extra smoke coming out of exhaust as well. Just now not sure whether to drive few miles and re-duplicate problem because I am not sure what that would do the engine.

Many thanks for your assistance so far.

I started the car, and let it run for a while. All seemed normal, and temp gauge stayed on cold side. I noted the fan coming on after few minutes. It has snowed, so I decided to turn on the air-defroster inside. Noted little heat, but not usual strength. I watched to see if temp gauge will rise to Hot with turning the heater on (defroster). Temp rose just a little from cold to 1/3. I then decided to actually drive it. As soon as I engaged in drive gear, the temp gauge rose steadily to Hot, and within a mile, engine light flashed on, and smoke started coming from under the hood. Opened the hood, and noticed smoke was coming out of, in general, a spot where radiator connects to a hose [right side of radiator under metal panel that covers the radiator and allows seating of hood]. From a distance, smoke looks like is coming out of right side of radiator (when facing the car), but on closer inspection, it is coming out of seemingly where radiator meets the gadget that might be thermostat, a gadget that connects to the hose that goes into the engine block.

Hi Dave,

There might be a slight drop in coolant level in overflow, but then again I didn't get to drive far. Unlike my older cars, this car's radiator cap isn't meant to be removed, is it?

You are correct for the location being under the cross-beam. It is, facing the car, to the right top end of radiator where there is a circular component (looking like a thermostat) seemingly inserted in a metal L-tube which connects to a hose that goes into the engine block. It is on the top of this circular component on radiator that smoke was coming out like it was a chimney. I would try to take a picture if it still necessary.

Again, thanks for your help.

Hi Dave,
Couldn't get my camera from my GF on time anyway.

The 'smoke' was coming out of the release valve on top of radiator's left top corner (when facing the car). I have managed to change the thermostat, and now I am noticing some smoke (maybe) coming from under the vicinity where thermostat is housed. It seems like the exhaust now has white smoke (probably not good news). I am running the car with radiator cap off to bubble air up, and will let u know what happens next.

You've been great with your feedback.

If it is head-gasket issue, is it an easy task? What will it involve?

My car overheats and there is plenty of antifreeze in it and in the coolant. You can hear it boiling in the overflow. I just had a new thermostat put in. What else could it be?

It mostly gets hot while sitting just a short time. I never paid any attention to the cooling fan. I just bought this car from my granddaughter and she had a wreck this winter in it. They had to replace the radiator and has had this trouble ever since. They thought the radiator was no good so they replaced it again. Same problem.

Fan was not working. Checked fuses it needed the 50 A fuse. Put it in but it does the same thing. And I noticed the battery light flashed off and on a couple of times.

I am having problems with my 95 taurus overheating I think the Integrated Relay Control Module is bad. The fan will come on when I run the codes so the motor itself is good I think. I need to test the relay module next, can you get me a wiring diagram for this, thanks.