Jump to content

Steam from front end in cold snowy/rainy weather?

crushNchowda

Recommended Posts

J-man67 Senior Enthusiast

J-man67

Posted
Posted

Keep an eye on it. There is another post discussing this very topic but smelling coolant. Some found leaks service centers missed. My 15 did it last week. I smelled coolant.

  • 1 year later...
  • Replies 37
  • Created
  • Last Reply
fishman27 Enthusiast

fishman27

Posted
Posted

I have a 2015 GMC Sierra and am experiencing the same issue, white steam/vapor coming out of the front grill when coming to a stop. No leaks and temp. gauge is normal. Brought it back to the Dealer and said the same thing that it is most likely moisture burning off of the radiator or other hot components. If this was true, this should be happening with all owners when it rains or snows. Im still not convinced. Has anyone actually seen the location of where the steam/vapor is being generated from before it comes out of the front grill? Usually on the right side of the grill as well.

fishman27 Enthusiast

fishman27

Posted
Posted

Mine has done it since the day I bought it. I thought I was over heating at first when I saw the steam coming up from the front of the hood. Found out it's the water on the hood area that goes forward onto the radiator top, etc that creates the steam.

Could you explain your findings better. How does the water from the outside of the hood get on the radiator top?

Would"nt it just roll off the hood?

ShotgunZ71 Senior Enthusiast

ShotgunZ71

Posted
Posted

Could you explain your findings better. How does the water from the outside of the hood get on the radiator top?

Would"nt it just roll off the hood?

Best I could tell was it just rolled under the end of the hood, down over the plastic cover and onto the hot metallic fins, etc of the radiator. Never saw any steam while travelling, only either stopped or parked after driving in rain. Hard to explain, but I will say that it did not have any odor that would indicate coolant, etc.

fishman27 Enthusiast

fishman27

Posted
Posted

My 2015 Sierra does this as well. If this was a "normal" occurrence with the late model Sierra/ Silverado, then why do only some have this issue with vapor/steam coming out of the right front grill area during a stop? If water is collecting in a certain area (right side) due to the front end design, then all trucks should have this condition. My question is, what is on the passenger side near the radiator that could be burning off the water, thus causing steam? The only way you could see the steam where it originates from is to remove the plastic covering that covers the radiator/transmission cooler area. Some are saying that it does this in dry weather as well. Very suspicious. Is the radiator cap in this area? Could it be venting or defective covers? Any GM reps on this site with an input?

Z45 Senior Enthusiast

Z45

Posted
Posted

Normal, moisture is contacting a warm or hot surface, hood, radiator etc. I really notice this coming out of car wash.

BigBadSierra Senior Enthusiast

BigBadSierra

Posted
Posted

I had a 2013 Traverse and it did the same thing.

 

These DI engines heat up good so the Rad is good and hot.

 

It's funny when your at a light and people look over at you like there is an issue. ha ha.

 

I should make people real nervous an drive a round with a fire extinguisher in my lap :)

  • 11 months later...
Bienio Enthusiast

Bienio

Posted
Posted

Hi everyone!

 

I noticed a few days after I bought it, which was 2 weeks ago, that my truck is sometimes letting off some steam. It's a 2014 Sierra, and the steam/smoke was barely noticeable at first, but became pretty alarming today.

 

The coolant was a bit low, so I added some a few days ago. That fact, coupled with a significant drop in temperature and possibly change in humidity today seems to have made the leak, if there is any, more apparent. Anyway, there is some vapor coming out of the driver's side area of the radiator. There is a little bit of a smell to it, I can't say if it smells like coolant, just a funky burnt smell to me.

 

The temperature gauge never goes above 100C or 212F, but it is still winter. Has anyone had any issue like that? There's a link to a video I shot today below. I will probably have to take it to a dealership, I bought it certified pre-owned, I hope that will be covered (only powertrain warranty left - I read some people were able to get some leaks fixed under powertrain warranty if it was at the thermostat).

 

 

 

Thanks!

x219c Enthusiast

x219c

Posted
Posted

5bfe7bd07a4971cc9dfe981209e7dd3e.jpg

 

Mine does it too... does it the most in snow, I figure it just catches enough in the radiator to steam as it evaporates.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bienio Enthusiast

Bienio

Posted
Posted

I understand why it may happen when it's raining or snowing, but does yours do it too when it's dry out? When I shot that video, there was no precipitation, and it was after about a 20-30 min drive. I think any water that could've been there should've evaporated after that time.

Sean Neilan Enthusiast

Sean Neilan

Posted
Posted

Mine has done it dry. The first time I noticed it was cold outside and I thought I maybe had an exhaust leak by the manifold or something like that, but I haven't seen it happen in several months now.

Thomcat Senior Enthusiast

Thomcat

Posted
Posted

Caught me by surprise a couple times. I smelled just straight steam, no anti-freeze.

x2 When in doubt, use your sniffer.

Bienio Enthusiast

Bienio

Posted
Posted

I don't know, seems like a leak to me... I will be observing the coolant level for a few more days, but I am pretty sure I will have to get that checked out at the dealership.

 

post-170001-0-50007600-1488667102_thumb.jpg

post-170001-0-50007600-1488667102_thumb.jpg

post-170001-0-50007600-1488667102_thumb.jpg

post-170001-0-50007600-1488667102_thumb.jpg

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • hotfish
      Forward collision and lane keep assist still a problem on 2022 refresh?

      By hotfish · Posted

      Did you ever get this worked out? Mike is doing the two start thing now too. This is after a new camera back in December. 
    • KARNUT
      AFM Disabler Question

      By KARNUT · Posted

      I’m doing an experiment on a vehicle I don’t have much money in. I’m going by the premise that after they last 100K miles they were no mechanical problems with assembly. Or defects with the parts. With oil changes by the minder for the first 127K miles when I acquired it. I quickly went through low mileage oil changes then settled on 5k oil changes with close to 170K miles on the vehicle currently. I did have the option to turn off the cylinder deactivation. I didn’t on this vehicle because it’s in ECONOMY mode at least half the time. It should be a no brainer frequent oil changes are the key. The manufacturer gets away with the long oil changes with its severe service  maintenance. Just ask them what is normal. 
    • baglie1
      Hot air constantly blowing through floor vents, drivers side only?

      By baglie1 · Posted

      Even set to "recirculated", the air pushes out and is hot. I have noticed that sometime it doesn't want to switch between recirculated/vented air. Say it is set to Circulated Air and I want to switch to Vented, when I click the Vented button, it just quickly lights up/clicks and immediatly switches back to Circulated. It's done this a few times now. So maybe it is an actuator getting stuck? But then, that doesn't explain the hot air when everything is off does it?
    • Chuck FB
      Gas Prices

      By Chuck FB · Posted

      I wonder what the price is out at the coast, Big Sur or other out of the way locations as I bet they are charging quite a premium over the in land pumps. 
    • Chuck FB
      2 speed transfer case optional now?

      By Chuck FB · Posted

      Were you looking at the HD trucks on the GM website or the half tons as that makes all the difference. As far as I know there are only two options for the HD trucks and that is the standard 2 speed transfer case or the 2 speed transfer case that has the added 4 high auto feature and they put that transfer case by default into the LTZ and High Country although its optional in the LT and not sure if its available in the work trucks.    The half tons, that is where its been a total mess in my estimation for a few years now with most trucks below the top trim having the single speed transfer case as standard but with the option of having the two speed such as one would get by choosing the Z71 package, however then not being able to get the two speed transfer case with the towing package unless it was a higher trim truck AND had the 6.2 gas so one could combine the towing package gearing diffs with the two speed transfer case. Having said that if its a trail boss package then it gets the two speed transfer case but not necessarily able to get the tow package as it would depend on trim level and engine chosen. Believe me, people have bought the GM half tons assuming "of course it will have a two speed transfer case" only to find out after when they really pay attention to what they now own .... crap, there is NO low range !.    I don't believe Ford or Ram have gone that way yet with their half tons but like I say its been a few years now that GM has done this with the half tons. 

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...