Engine Steaming
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 6,884
Likes: 2,884
From: Toronto
Engine Steaming
For those of you in the south you have probably never experienced this.
Its a nice sunny day here but the first time its well below freezing. Decided to wash my vette and managed to get water down the hood vent. When driving home as the water boiled off it puts a tonne of steam out the vent. Sitting at a stop light people are looking at you like "cant you see your engine is on fire". So embarrassing. Good for a chuckle.
Anyone else experience this?
Its a nice sunny day here but the first time its well below freezing. Decided to wash my vette and managed to get water down the hood vent. When driving home as the water boiled off it puts a tonne of steam out the vent. Sitting at a stop light people are looking at you like "cant you see your engine is on fire". So embarrassing. Good for a chuckle.
Anyone else experience this?
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4,754
Likes: 1,650
For those of you in the south you have probably never experienced this.
Its a nice sunny day here but the first time its well below freezing. Decided to wash my vette and managed to get water down the hood vent. When driving home as the water boiled off it puts a tonne of steam out the vent. Sitting at a stop light people are looking at you like "cant you see your engine is on fire". So embarrassing. Good for a chuckle.
Anyone else experience this?
Its a nice sunny day here but the first time its well below freezing. Decided to wash my vette and managed to get water down the hood vent. When driving home as the water boiled off it puts a tonne of steam out the vent. Sitting at a stop light people are looking at you like "cant you see your engine is on fire". So embarrassing. Good for a chuckle.
Anyone else experience this?
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 1,908
Likes: 1,944
From: Colo Spgs, CO
For those of you in the south you have probably never experienced this.
Its a nice sunny day here but the first time its well below freezing. Decided to wash my vette and managed to get water down the hood vent. When driving home as the water boiled off it puts a tonne of steam out the vent. Sitting at a stop light people are looking at you like "cant you see your engine is on fire". So embarrassing. Good for a chuckle.
Anyone else experience this?
Its a nice sunny day here but the first time its well below freezing. Decided to wash my vette and managed to get water down the hood vent. When driving home as the water boiled off it puts a tonne of steam out the vent. Sitting at a stop light people are looking at you like "cant you see your engine is on fire". So embarrassing. Good for a chuckle.
Anyone else experience this?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,037
Likes: 9,799
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
When the water gets into the radiator fins it will start to evaporate when the radiator gets warm enough. I have had it happen several times even in above freezing temps.
Bill
Bill
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 4,303
Likes: 2,055
From: Margate, FL
I had this problem the first time I washed my C7 
Water dripped from the hood liner onto the engine and steam came out at the first red light I encountered. I thought the car was overheating but no coolant smell and temp read normal. Only happened when the car was stopped as that allowed the water to collect / pool up and drip down. I am in FL and this happened in 85 degree weather.
Water dripped from the hood liner onto the engine and steam came out at the first red light I encountered. I thought the car was overheating but no coolant smell and temp read normal. Only happened when the car was stopped as that allowed the water to collect / pool up and drip down. I am in FL and this happened in 85 degree weather.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,528
Likes: 444
When this happens remember.
Spray the under hood liner around the vent area to stop getting the stains when it dry's Leave hood up till it drips dry easyer in summer
Spray the under hood liner around the vent area to stop getting the stains when it dry's Leave hood up till it drips dry easyer in summer
Last edited by rtruman; Jan 9, 2021 at 08:35 AM.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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Yes, it does happen. I guess if it was the first time you have seen it it would be a little concerning.
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