Q: Car is burning antifreeze
My car is overheating and I can smell antifreeze. I've had to add antifreeze twice and sometimes I see smoke coming out from under the hood. I suspect it might be the thermostat.
Recommended Services
| Coolant is leaking Inspection | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
If your car is overheating, smelling like coolant, and always in need of coolant, then those are signs that you may have a coolant leak somewhere. The smoke you are seeing may be antifreeze leaking out onto hot parts of the engine, and evaporating into steam. As cooling system problems can potentially lead to other serious problems, I would recommend having a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect the vehicle for coolant leaks and make the necessary repairs for you.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
What Does a Starter Motor Do?
The starter motor (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-does-a-starter-motor-work) is a 12 volt, permanent magnet DC motor that engages a small drive gear on the starter with a larger ring gear that is attached to the flexplate, or flywheel. The flexplate is bolted to the...
Car won't start
Hello. If you are able to "turn over" the engine (using, say, the starter motor) but the distributor rotor is stationary, that means the gear on the distributor shaft is sheared off. However, you are also indicating that the battery...
Car jerks when shifting into reverse gear
I think you are correct - the transmission is in "limp" mode. Have a professional mechanic check for problem codes to indicate what the fault might be. This is an important "next step" because that problem may not be with...
C0281code for brake switch circuit came up and I replaced the brake switch but ABS Light is still on
Hello. The C0281 code is a software-driven code if the ABS module doesn't detect "brake switch release", but sees speeds above 15 mph during the first minutes of operation. Check that the brake light switch (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/brake-light-switch-replacement) is in fact going...
Steering shakes when I get to 100 kph, also makes a scrubbing noise in front over bumps/driveways 2003 Holden Commodore (VY)
Hi there - sounds like your tires/wheels are out of balance, out of round or you have a bent wheel. The "scrubbing" noise when the front suspension is compressed going over bumps also suggests that the tires are rubbing on...
Do i have to use synthetic oil in my bmw
The manufacturer recommends 5w40 or 5w30 full synthetic oil only for your car's engine. I would recommend only using full synthetic oils.
Car starting at 1000 RPM, having brake issues
It sounds like you might have a vacuum leak at your brake booster, or maybe the booster itself is bad. The booster uses engine vacuum to assist the brake pedal so when it fails, you can get a vacuum leak,...
have a 96 miata that i am trying to restore. It will not go into reverse nor will it shift it second gear when driving. It is an a
Hi Tim. Thanks for sending your question to us today. There could be a few different issues causing this problem, ranging from a damaged shift solenoid to an obstruction of debris inside the transmission hydraulic lines. A blown inner seal...
Turn signals don't work right when I have headlights on but when there off everything works right
If the turn signals and headlights are both activated by the same column-mounted "combination switch" a possibility is there an internal fault with that switch. If the two circuits are not working off the same "combination switch", there is some...
Related articles
How Often Do I Need to Refill the Windshield Washer Fluid?
Your Your windshield gets dirty. It also gets frosty, dusty, and icy. Since it is an immediate concern to clear any obstruction from your view, it is important to be able to wash your windshield right away. Every vehicle is...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK
It’s It’s not a sedan and it’s not quite a sports car, but chances are that brand-loyal fans desiring that luxury-class hard-top convertible with some oomph under the hood won’t care. The SLK roadster boasts three attractive engine options, and...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Cooling Fan Relay
Common signs include the engine running hot and cooling fans either not functioning or running all the time.
Browse other content
Estimates
Services
Maintenance