Damage from starting car with engine covered in snow?
Posted by Much-Degree1485@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 12 comments
I'm dumb and forgot it could snow
1994 Caprice lt1
When I start it usually I hear the air pump come on. But today it was delayed and sounded like it was "wheezing" then I seen and smelled a bunch of smoke coming out of the rear of the engine by the transmission..it smelt electrical. It was going as high as the roof.
I could not see exactly where it's coming from but it was down by the transmission
I know without a location you guys probably can't answer but if I dry the battery terminals should it be fine?
Any idea what it is?
Disastrous_Fix6084@reddit
Your battery terminals aren’t the culprit.
Much-Degree1485@reddit (OP)
So an exposed wire I have to find?
No_Dependent_8346@reddit
Perhaps you've plugged up the radiator/transmission cooler from airflow causing the transmission to overheat and start to burn fluid, or there's a leak in the transmission somewhere that's starting to drip onto a hot surface like the catalectic converter or some other part of the exhaust. She's an old girl you've got there so cooler lines or seals could be failing.
braunc55@reddit
Exhaust leak?
Much-Degree1485@reddit (OP)
The manifolds are loose at the block.
But the smoke looked to be coming from the transmission and it smelled pretty bad
Cyberdink@reddit
A wet engine is not normally a big deal. I know people that pressure wash their engine
Much-Degree1485@reddit (OP)
An air pump is something LT1 engines have that forces extra air into the engine when it starts to warm it up?
Cyberdink@reddit
Oh shoot, my area of expertise is imports
Much-Degree1485@reddit (OP)
It smelled like a fire ..
Cyberdink@reddit
Maybe a little water in your alternator? Just keep it running to fill operating temperature, see if it dries up and seems normal
right415@reddit
Was your tailpipe blocked by snow? I have a car that had an exhaust leak under the middle of it and when it is cold (especially if blocked by snow) all the condensation comes out of the exhaust around the middle of the car.
Much-Degree1485@reddit (OP)
My exhaust manifolds are slightly loose at the block, but my tailpipe isn't blocked.
This smoke was shooting straight up and not from where the manifold goes to the block