SMOKE!!! what hidden POS could it be?

[Pathofinder]

2 days ago I noticed smoke coming from under the hood while idling, enough smoke to notice anyways.

Today at EVERY light I seen the smoke, seemingly more than yesterday. To me, it smells like coolant burning, not oil burnt or gas, but kinda sweet burning.

We popped the hood and there was a breeze so it was hard to really see the origin, but it was coming from the rear of the engine against the firewall, and coming out the passenger side mostly (because of the breeze I suspect) The heater hoses were dry and fine, valve cover looked quite clean, seemed like it was coming from the middle of the rear of the engine...

I dont see any drops under the car, and when it cools down I can check coolant level and oil.

Any suggestions??? Stupid car

[ProudNissanFreak]

I was going to say the valve cover gasket could be shot in that area, but if it's clean, then I'm not too sure. What color is the smoke?

[Densetsu]

My initial thought, if the smoke is coming from the rear passenger side of the engine, is the heater core. Do you smell the sweet smoke inside the Pathy, or is it just outside? Is there any sign of coolant leaking onto the carpet underneath the glove box?

[Chuck Tribolet]

There is a metal (I think) coolant line that goes across the back of the engine. It has been a bit problematic on the early 3.5's.

Coolant steam smells very different from oil smoke.

Keep an eagle eye on the temp gauge.

[Pathofinder]

You can smell it inside when your driving, definetely doesnt smell dirty rotten like oil burn, almost smells just like coolant does in a jug so I figured it was that

I just went and felt the floorboards, not wet, heater hoses are fine, it definetely appears to be coming from the center rear of the engine.

Im waiting for it to cool some more before openning the cap, hopefully a drip will have formed or something. Doesnt seem like a problem that will just sure itself

[ARKQX33V6]

If it is coolant, look at the overflow tank where you top up the coolant level. Mark the height of the coolant and recheck at a later time. Test when engine is cold. Remember that the normal temperatures of coolant are at around 15 PSIG so when you do have a leak that coolant coming out is reduced in pressure so can vaporize at 1 atmosphere. When coolant burns or vaporizes you will smell it before you see it. Seeing it, will be cloudy whitish as it puffs out, but be very careful coolant is ignitable and will burn and flame up.

Since it is at the firewall check the surface of the firewall, end bell around the transmission. If you have a coating of coolant there is a definite leak, when coolant condenses it leaves a sticky film that you will feel with your hands and if you taste your finger tips and they taste sweet, it's coolant.

If it gets on the floor of your garage clean it up because animals will lick it and coolant will destroy kidneys, no antidote for it.

Do not swallow coolant!

[Chuck Tribolet]

Any further news on this one?

[Wkz1gg0a]

YOU GOT A LEMON

[Towncivilian]

YOU GOT A LEMON

Right, because a 10 to 11 year old vehicle can't possibly encounter mechanical issues.

[Densetsu]

YOU GOT A LEMON

Right, because a 10 to 11 year old vehicle can't possibly encounter mechanical issues.

Sure, it can have the odd mechanical issue. But the number of issues Pathofinder has gone through since buying it?

post5921935.html#p5921935 - CEL bulb removed, 4 codes thrown, stalls after being started.
post5922357.html#p5922357 - Missing vacuum line.
post5957244.html#p5957244 - Broken cooling fan.
post5959731.html#p5959731 - Replaced radiator.
post5963576.html#p5963576 - Disconnected air bag, steering wheel controls.
post5976350.html#p5976350 - Poorly done electrical work in engine bay, possibly a security system bypass.
post5987605.html#p5987605 - Facebook removed right-click and save functionality for pictures.

And now this.

I think it's a lemon, and in that first thread of hers she even admitted it.

[Chuck Tribolet]

A lemon or an abused truck.

[Pathofinder]

Well I guess it falls into the abused truck category on this one but I wouldnt say we have a lemon. Just some problems that some cars come with after multiple cheap owners it seems. Im looking to fix the truck up into a reliable daily driven car though

I told my husband on the friday that the car had smoked and he told me what probably caused it. He said he dropped the rubber coolant air relief plug down the back of the engine, couldnt find it, and just replaced it. So it must have heated up on something, smoked for the 2 days until it burned away I guess, and smelt of coolant because it was plugging a coolant vent for 11 years??

No longer a problem

[Wkz1gg0a]

I said lemon becasue of what DENSETSU had also pointed out and from what i read the pathfinder was recently bought and there are some used car delearships that do try and hide alot of problems on cars. I have a 99.5 and im the second owner the original owner was my step mother and she beat the hell out of the truck it has issues also my driver actuator is shot , i need some suspension elements, and a paint job But im slowly saving my money to get her back and looking pretty damn good.