Steam from bonnet– this doesn’t look good

[SimonR]

Just got back from a quick trip to Tesco and when I switched off the engine I got a significant billow of smoke/steam from the engine bay. Grabbed the fire extinguisher (which I carry ever since Joe’s Soarer was cooked) and jumped out ready for action. No smell of smoke and the billowing stops as I (tentatively) open the bonnet. No sign of fire – just an ominous gurgling coming from the area of the turbo.

Started the engine again to see what would happen and immediately got steam from the turbo area again. I didn’t leave the engine running long enough to pinpoint the precise area it was coming from (perhaps I should have) but as soon as I switched off the engine the steam stopped and this time so did the gurgling noise.

I’m hoping it’s just a question of low coolant (I had this last winter but not again since I replace the rad cap) but I wasn’t going to check it with a hot engine of course. The top pipe to the rad was tight though, if it was low coolant that pipe would be sqidgy I believe.

Anyone been here before?

NB: It’s a single turbo (GT3040) on a 1.5JZ-GTE. The engine was built last October and the only trouble I’ve had with it was dodgy rad cap. It’s had plenty of runs at the Pod since then so it isn’t as though I was over-working the engine tonight.

[SimonR]

This'll be it then (pics).

Any idea what would have caused this? Cheap water pipes? What are the correct ones to buy and where are you guys buying them from?

[Hermit]

Eek! Glad you found the cause, good thing it didn't happen on a longer journey.

[SimonR]

Indeed. Halfway down the track at Rotorstock wouldn't have been a good time.

[Hermit]

If that's a long journey you're a bit lazy driving to Tesco's :D

[Class One]

This'll be it then (pics).

Any idea what would have caused this? Cheap water pipes? What are the correct ones to buy and where are you guys buying them from?


Are they the pipes running on the hotside? Looks like heat damage that could have cause those pipes to perish like that (external heat source).

[Ric]

are those even water pipes,

The metal parts on it make it looks like a aircon hose?

Edit, single turbo, ah, :)

[SimonR]

Are they the pipes running on the hotside? Looks like heat damage that could have cause those pipes to perish like that (external heat source).That did occur to me and it does get pretty hot under that bonnet but the cracked part is next to the turbo blanket so I'm guessing that it doesn't get as hot as the bit that's close to the manifold.