Overheating problem and white smoke coming from exhaust

SAMB3

MEMBER
2005 VAUXHALL ASTRA
1.8L
2WD
MANUAL
149,000 MILES

My car keeps overheating (not losing any coolant) and also there is white smoke coming from exhaust. I’ve changed the coolant sensors and still the temperature is rising. We realized when it reaches 105 the fan comes on for 1 second and goes back off and temperature still rises. Started to smell something as it gets hotter like a chemical smell or something (not petrol). If you can help me out as to what this could be I’d be grateful. As I’ve had a mechanic come out and he’s stated that it’s normal for the car to overheat when parked up which I think is very wrong. Also when the car is off before starting the hose which goes into the engine is all sucked in. The mechanic also said he’d never seen this before which I think is strange seen as he’s experienced apparently.

Friday, September 4th, 2020 AT 2:07 PM

3 Replies

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

Just to be clear, the mechanic is saying it is normal for the engine to overheat when sitting still? If it is what they are saying then I agree, they are wrong. Only in the most extreme conditions would it be expected for the vehicle to overheat when sitting still.

If you have white smoke coming from the exhaust then you have water/coolant in the engine and coming out the exhaust. This is most always a heat gasket issue.

Here are some guides that will help with this. We don't have a manual on this vehicle due to it not being offered in the USA but we can help in more general terms.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/radiator-pressure-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/white-smoke-or-steam-coming-from-the-exhaust-pipe

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/head-gasket-blown-test

Let us know what you find with this and we can go from there. Thanks

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Friday, September 4th, 2020 AT 5:36 PM

SAMB3

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thank you so much for your advice. We bought the car a month ago for � 1000?From a company who state they are not a dealer but they sell cars on behalf of private sellers. So they are not willing to give us a refund. Which is wrong. The mechanic who came was sent by these people and he’s the one who said the car should be overheating when stood. I knew this was totally wrong this is why I’ve come here for advice as I can’t afford to be paying out more money as you may understand. They are trying to say that the car isn’t cooling down because of the fan not kicking in but as I said about the smoke coming from exhaust makes me think it’s a waste of time to fix other stuff if I think it’s a gasket problem. We noticed these problems on the next day of buying the car. First overheated then smoke started coming from bonnet. I’ll pass on your advice to the company and see if we get anywhere if not I’ll have to try and get a mechanic to come and see the car in person and get something in writing from them. Thanks so much for getting back to me so quick.

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Friday, September 4th, 2020 AT 11:57 PM

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

That makes sense. Thanks for that info. Unfortunately it sounds like these people are just finding rundown vehicles and trying to flip them by just getting them running. Yeah any "mechanic" that says a car is supposed to overheat when standing still, ask them if their car does that. Clearly the answer is no so they are just telling you something hoping you will just go away.

Sorry you are dealing with that but I think your approach is correct. Let me know what happens or if you have other questions. Thanks.

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Saturday, September 5th, 2020 AT 6:29 PM