Car getting hot smoking

Asked by Kristen Jun 03, 2018 at 10:34 AM about the 2005 Buick LaCrosse

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

So I pull up to pick my bf up from work and
as soon as I get there to car gets all the way
hot was on the h and starts smoking so I
turn car off it smokes for about 5 mins.
Then finally cools off we open the hood the
oil is fine but the antifreeze is empty and I
just filled it up about a month ago so we put
some antifreeze in and we back car up and
theres a big puddle of looks like dirty water .
Anyone know what's wrong ?? Or what it
needs .

1 Answer

103,215

You have to find where it's leaking from. From your description it leaked out almost immediately so look for a split or loose radiator hose. Check all the hoses, check the radiator petcock. Then start looking at things like water pump gasket, thermostat housing, engine block freeze plugs. A cooling system pressure test can find a leak pretty quick if a visual inspection doesn't reveal one. DO NOT drive the car with it low on coolant, an overheating engine will die a premature death. After replacing any failed cooling system parts, top off coolant and be sure to bleed air from system, it may take more than one attempt to get all the air out.

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