1991 Other Mazda Models White Smoke On Startup

DOMINIQ916

MEMBER
1991 MAZDA
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
140,000 MILES

Hello. I have a 1991 mazda navajo truck 4.0L v6 automatic. It never had a problem until I saw my temperature gauge go from all the way cold to 3/4 of the gauge hot. It never got any hotter than 3/4. I finally figured out that it was an upper radiator hose that had a hole the size of a screw hole in it. I replaced the hose and replaced the thermostat connecting to it at the same time. I started having a loss of coolant. And everytime I start my truck no matter if cold or warm. White smoke comes out (when cold probably like 20- 30 seconds idle. When warm 5-15 seconds idle). And never smokes while driving, only when I start it up. Then I started having a water pump leak not too long after that. I keep putting water in it because coolant is too exspensive the way its burning up out of the exhaust. Checked to see if water was mixing in with oil and is not And the water evaporates and steams so quickly. Have any ideas? Would replacing the water pump solve my problems (What is the purpose of a water pump anyways and what happens if the water pump were to stop working?

1 Reply

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

You should check for a blown head gasket as the coolant loss will only get worse. The water pump is a very important piece of equipment, with out a water pump the coolant would nor circulate around the engine and to the radiator, this would create hot spots and boiling of the coolant causing a great deal of damage to the engine.

Mark (mhpautos)