[Robbgt]

Guys, 'nother newbie question.

I drive about an hour to work every morning on the highway (70-80mph) and if I pop the hood when I get to work, the engine 'smells' and feels hot. I can almost see heat/smoke radiating off the engine bay. As a note, the Temp gauge is dead center in the middle and never moves. Coolant level looks good also.

The way I can describe the smell is almost as a belt burning, but I've taken my serpentine belt off, found no signs of wear, and nothing is rubbing. It's definatly not a cat converter smell either. This morning it was raining/snowing on the way in, and when I parked I could swear I could see smoke coming from the hood/engine bay (again, no overheating, good coolant level and belt is not rubbing).

The is the first car I've owned that has an aluminum block (other than my street bike) and I'm just wondering if this is a normal smell, as aluminum will soak up heat from combustion and dissipate it to the engine bay? Just worried because it's winter now and I'm worried about how hot this thing is going to get in the summer..

Thanks all

 

[scubadiver305]

I've noticed the steam on my car after long drives in the winter. there is a blow-off cap on the radiator fluid reservoir that will release the extra pressure from the tank when the air space and fluid heat up and expand.
I have only noticed this in the winter as that gas is causing steam when it blows into the cold weather. I've never noticed this in the summer so thats my best guess. just check your fluid level and make sure you havent over filled it.

 

[Robbgt]

Thanks for your reply.

I don't think it's an overfill issue, as the level is where is should be. The 'steam/smoke' appears to be coming from the entire engine bay. As a note, it was 35ºF this morning, so it was a bit brisk out and raining/snowing. There is no fluid leaking anywhere either that is burning off. Just HOT engine smell. It's hard to describe... just figured I'd ask. I'm used to a cast iron block 7.3L diesel that retains most of it's heat and never smells like anything other than diesel smoke from exhaust leaks.