White smoke coming from hood of Chevy Prizm

[VF]

:ohmy: After driving Chevy Prizm recently there has often been white smoke coming from the hood. There is a known leak in the Power Steering Fluid which I recently topped up again after doing an oil change. What might be causing this white smoke to appear from under the hood sometimes?

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[Richard Kirshy]

Radiator over flow possibly

[VF]

Thank you for your input. I will check that out.

[Rob]

[quote=”VF_415″ post=170261]:ohmy: After driving Chevy Prizm recently there has often been white smoke coming from the hood. There is a known leak in the Power Steering Fluid which I recently topped up again after doing an oil change. What might be causing this white smoke to appear from under the hood sometimes?[/quote]
also check to see if the oil fukter is leaking and did you oil around the oil fuilter before installing it… did you mable spill a little bit of oil when filling it up…
does the smoke smell like anything … oil burning or sweet like antifreeze?
how long ago did you have the oil change done
now the power steering will have a very strong smell like trans fuild… it could also spry all over by the belt so if you see it on one side of the engine you cant rule it sprying to the other side… you can also check the belt because you might show some on there

[Mike]

Do you hear the radiator fan running? It’s summer, and you might be nudging things towards an overheat condition if your cooling system is running borderline.

Perhaps a flakey rad pressure cap not holding pressure.

[dave1645]

are you having to add coolent often if so have the system prsuure checked you might havea hose or pinhole leak in your radiator

[Jose]

Your power steering pressure line may also have a leak. If memory serves me right the line runs along your firewall and directly over the exhaust. The fluid may drip on it and cause some smoke. The smoke may be visible more when the car is at a dead stop.

[Jake]

Why don’t you just pop the hood while it’s smoking and BOOM, diagnosed! Works for me every time. B)

[Author]

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