White smoke coming from vents when heater is on - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

QuackCocaine · 08-17-2018, 02:25 PM

2013 2LT/RS

Running the heater has always smelled a little coolant-like since I got the car (used). Recently I turned the heater on and white smoke started coming out, which made me instantly connect the dots and assume the heater core is bad.

Thankfully I live in Florida so 90% of the year I have the AC on as cold as it can be set and I don't notice the smell or smoke at all, only when I turn the heater on. Checked coolant levels as well and they were extremely low. Refilled and keeping a close eye on it, but my coolant and oil temps have never been abnormal, usually sitting just below the middle vertical mark or on it after running for awhile (did a 15 hour road trip, never passed vertical).

I also haven't seen the fogged window or puddle or any sort of leak on the floor of the passenger side and its been almost a year since I got the car but only about a month since I found the smoke.

Not really wanting to drop $2k on the repair bill (from what I've heard) so I wanted to check with you guys to see if anyone else has had the same issue and maybe its not the heater core but rather another component nearby? I have also ran the car with the hood open (heater on and off) to check for any other signs of a coolant leak or the smoke but it only comes out of the vents.

hunter1660 · 08-17-2018, 06:49 PM

Maybe it's that bag of blow you misplaced...j/k...couldn't resist with that screen name

29er · 08-21-2018, 11:43 AM

heater core would be my 1st guess.if you put defrost and the windshield just fogged up bingo. you can pressurized the cooling system to verify it.
good luck.

You Aint Slick · 09-15-2018, 11:07 AM

Sounds like the heater core, I've read that you can just bypass it if you don't use heat.

Expensive repair bill, very invasive for a stupid core.

QuackCocaine · 09-19-2018, 09:49 AM

UPDATE

Just got my car back, it was the heater core. Took it to a small shop I trust and they confirmed but said they wouldn't do it and I had to take it to a dealership. Dealership was slammed and it took a week just to get the tech to C/A my car. They also confirmed heater core. Quote was $2,400 for the repair. Involved pulling the glass and dash = 13 hours of work.

I had a rock chipped window that I planned on fixing next but ended up working out a deal to have insurance cover the labor / cost of a new windshield (FL covers deductible for this) so the window broke when they pulled it, insurance covered labor and glass.

Final price was $2000 because insurance covered all the glass work.

08-17-2018, 02:25 PM	#1
QuackCocaine Drives: 2013 2LT/RS Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Florida Posts: 26	White smoke coming from vents when heater is on 2013 2LT/RS Running the heater has always smelled a little coolant-like since I got the car (used). Recently I turned the heater on and white smoke started coming out, which made me instantly connect the dots and assume the heater core is bad. Thankfully I live in Florida so 90% of the year I have the AC on as cold as it can be set and I don't notice the smell or smoke at all, only when I turn the heater on. Checked coolant levels as well and they were extremely low. Refilled and keeping a close eye on it, but my coolant and oil temps have never been abnormal, usually sitting just below the middle vertical mark or on it after running for awhile (did a 15 hour road trip, never passed vertical). I also haven't seen the fogged window or puddle or any sort of leak on the floor of the passenger side and its been almost a year since I got the car but only about a month since I found the smoke. Not really wanting to drop $2k on the repair bill (from what I've heard) so I wanted to check with you guys to see if anyone else has had the same issue and maybe its not the heater core but rather another component nearby? I have also ran the car with the hood open (heater on and off) to check for any other signs of a coolant leak or the smoke but it only comes out of the vents.

08-17-2018, 06:49 PM	#2
hunter1660 Drives: 2011ss/rs camaro Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: florida Posts: 1,261	Maybe it's that bag of blow you misplaced...j/k...couldn't resist with that screen name __________________ . OBX LTH,Rotofab,Magnuson Heartbeat.AEM wideband, HP Tuners

08-21-2018, 11:43 AM	#3
29er Drives: 14 1LE Garage King Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MTL Posts: 1,519 View My Garage	heater core would be my 1st guess.if you put defrost and the windshield just fogged up bingo. you can pressurized the cooling system to verify it. good luck.

09-15-2018, 11:07 AM	#4
You Aint Slick Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 79	Sounds like the heater core, I've read that you can just bypass it if you don't use heat. Expensive repair bill, very invasive for a stupid core.

09-19-2018, 09:49 AM	#5
QuackCocaine Drives: 2013 2LT/RS Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Florida Posts: 26	UPDATE Just got my car back, it was the heater core. Took it to a small shop I trust and they confirmed but said they wouldn't do it and I had to take it to a dealership. Dealership was slammed and it took a week just to get the tech to C/A my car. They also confirmed heater core. Quote was $2,400 for the repair. Involved pulling the glass and dash = 13 hours of work. I had a rock chipped window that I planned on fixing next but ended up working out a deal to have insurance cover the labor / cost of a new windshield (FL covers deductible for this) so the window broke when they pulled it, insurance covered labor and glass. Final price was $2000 because insurance covered all the glass work.