Shelton92

Got home tonight and was sitting in the car with the a/c on and next thing I know we smell coolant and hear the overflow gurgling coolant then pull up the hood and white smoke is everywhere. It's not a think cloud of smoke just enough to prevent you from seeing real well. I need help I have no idea what it is.

Bustedback

That is called steam. It comes from hot coolant leaking from someplace under the hood, like a split hose, or leaking gasket.

Dr J

Hey, Shelton.
With the engine cool, I mean cool! remove the radiator cap and check the coolant level in the radiator. Top up with a 50/50 mix of coolant and water, if necessary. Check the level in the plastic overflow reservoir. This should normally have some in it. Make sure it is full to the "Full cold" line, with the 50/50 mix. Then, start your engine and open the hood. Check for coolant spewing from a pinhole leak of crack in the rubber hoses - the big ones that go to and from the radiator, as well as the smaller diameter ones (heater hoses) that run to and from the firewall. Sounds like your leak is beg enough that it is a hose, not a fitting. Once you find the leaking hose, replace it, and then top up your coolant again.

Do not ever open a radiator cap with the engine hot.

Good luck. This isn't a hard job. Or very expensive, either.

dave1123

AGAIN, you didn't specify which model, year, or engine you have. Check the radiator for a leaking tank seam. That's the only one that will be expensive.

Shelton92

It's an 04 jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4.0 4x4

Shelton92

I've had some people suggest the Heater core is that a possibility?

dave1123

It's possible, but your pass side carpets would be wet with coolant. That's another one that's expensive as far as labor. You really can't tell until it cools down and you look for a leak. My Dodge Caravan's heater core blew and it covered the inside of the windshield with coolant. Defrost on at the time.

Creature85

Did you do what Dr J and Dave suggested? If not you should. I don't think your heater core is the issue.

dave1123

I just think it got really hot and the weakest link blew, whatever that was. I suspect a hose.

MCosta

check your thermostat as well...I had an overheating problem a few months back and it turned out i had a thermostat stuck closed and caused serious overheating withing a 10 minute drive and had all the same symptoms you mentioned (even though I have a V8...they're cheap to replace so that's a place to start too as well as checking hoses that were mentioned above