Hi all, just bought a 1993 VW Passat GLX V6, 170,000 miles. Looked good, test drive for half hour in various conditions.
Drove for two days before white smoke started coming out from under the hood and through the A/C vents; temp light came on. Pulled over immediately and had it towed to my mechanic.... who was on vacation.
Next day drove it a few blocks to Jiffy Lube and on the way it smoked again. I stopped and checked the coolant level and there was hardly anything in the damn thing! Construction guy on the road dumped water into it and I headed to Jiffy Lube; changed oil, told them about what happened, they said they filled the coolant and I should be alright just have it checked when my mechanic gets back. Sure enough not halfway home the smoke started from under the hood again.
It looks like smoke, not steam. Under hood every time and through the vents the first time while A/C was on; left A/C off after that. Hard time distinguishing smell; kindof burny possibly electrical but I'm not real sure.
Took it back to my mechanic who got home this morning; right off the bat he found a coolant leak where a hose connects to the thermostat housing.
Could there be something else going on as well? Any questions I should ask my mechanic? What do you think I should expect? I want to do some research on my own, not just take one person's word for it - you never know.
Thanks much,
Cris