Is It Safe to Drive When White Smoke Comes from the Front of the Car?
2 Answers
If the engine emits smoke with a burning smell, it is best not to continue driving. This situation is mainly caused by excessively high engine temperature, radiator failure, oil leakage, or friction of the clutch plates in the vehicle's transmission. Below are several reasons for white smoke emission: 1. Overheating of the engine: After the car is used under high-intensity overload conditions, the engine temperature will rise sharply, resulting in a large amount of white smoke accompanied by a burning smell. 2. Radiator failure: If the car's radiator malfunctions, the engine cannot dissipate heat effectively, leading to smoke emission. In this case, professional inspection and repair of the radiator are required. 3. Oil leakage: Oil leakage can also cause the engine to emit smoke with a burning smell due to high-temperature evaporation. A comprehensive inspection is necessary in such scenarios.
If I see thick white smoke coming from the front of the car, my first reaction would definitely be to pull over and turn off the engine immediately! In nine out of ten cases, this situation means coolant has leaked into the engine and is burning. If that white smoke has a slightly sweet smell, it's almost certainly the antifreeze that's the culprit. Keep driving? Absolutely not! The temperature gauge will skyrocket in no time, and the engine could be completely ruined. I've seen people stubbornly keep driving, only to end up with a seized engine requiring major repairs costing tens of thousands. Pull over right away and call a tow truck—and remember, don't try to open the hood yourself, as the high-temperature steam can scald your skin right off.
