Diagnostic [Overheating?] Question

[jbmcohen]

I was driving my BJ8 today and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. Upon further checking, it was coming from the front, left side. There was some smoke coming from the drain pipe but it didn't account for all of the smoke. There also was a burning odor.

The car temp gauge was running cool, there was the correct level of coolant in the radiator. Is it a waterpump issue or something else I can check?

Thanks for the help!

Barry

 

[Genos2]

Perhaps valve cover gasket leaking onto exhaust manifold? Or coolant temp sender is on left side of cyl head. White smoke or blue?cheers Genos2

 

[jbmcohen]

white/ grey smoke; definitely not oil. There is like a brake burning smell as well.

 

[jbmcohen]

I did forget to mention that the car was pulling to the left upon braking. This hadn't happened before.

 

[Healey 100]

White/grey smoke and burning smell is almost certainly oil burning off the exhaust manifold. On a Healey, look at that valve cover gasket or other leaks that are finding their way to the exhaust pipe or manifold. You don't need much oil on the manifold to produce lots of smoke and smell once the manifolds heat up.

Brake pulling is probably a different problem, but the master cylinder and brake lines could possibly be leaking on the manifold. Usually a brake pull is caused by leaking wheel cylinders.


Good luck!
Bill

 

[wheelwright]

Brake hoses can collapse and keep your brakes "on".I have seen new hoses fail,and even a good hose will fail in 5 or 6 years.You can try applying your brakes firmly and then drive on for a bit,and then check to see if the suspect brake feels hot,indicating a stuck brake.If you decide to replace the hose,do both sides,as it is possible the other one could fail too.I always recommend using Castrol LMA dot 4 for British cars.You might also check your pads for wear,if they get too thin,you can have a bit of sticking as well because the pistons are extended too far.
The pulling sounds like you have a stuck piston,that brake is fully engaged before the others can work...

 

[Randy Forbes]

Is the brake fluid reservoir low, at all? Healey's have been known to have the brake power booster fail, and suck brake fluid into the intake manifold, though usually the white smoke emits from the tail pipes...

 

[jbmcohen]

No - the brake fluid level is correct. I double checked it yesterday.