It smells a lot like coolant, and the exhaust is always blowing out exaggerated amounts of white smoke. The other day, I saw a little bit of steam coming out from the front. I kept the car on, and saw that some coolant was being shot out in streams. I then turned the car off, and the motor was ticking, which is normal when it's cooling off. But I think the engine overheated without telling me in the dashboard because it was ticking fast. I don't know at what intervals the ticking is normal. I might tick slowly when it's hot outside, but that day, it was very cold (under 20F). What is a normal ticking interval?
I've heard internal leaks are expensive, which will suck. But I've also heard that it's impossible to tell by looking at the motor. I remember not driving the car for days, and some coolant had dripped on the ground. You can see it on the motor too. The previous owners said that it was the O-ring that needs replacement, but that doesn't explain the white smoke. Could it be that some of it gets in the cylinders somehow?
I drive a 1994 BMW 540i, by the way.
I've heard internal leaks are expensive, which will suck. But I've also heard that it's impossible to tell by looking at the motor. I remember not driving the car for days, and some coolant had dripped on the ground. You can see it on the motor too. The previous owners said that it was the O-ring that needs replacement, but that doesn't explain the white smoke. Could it be that some of it gets in the cylinders somehow?
I drive a 1994 BMW 540i, by the way.