Heater smokes - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

atcavage · 11-13-2005, 03:05 PM

On cold mornings (go figure), I'll turn on my heater and defroster, and after about five minutes (once it heats up), I get smoke. If I turn off the heater, smoke will gently creep out for a while. If I crank it, smoke will pour out and fill the cab until it runs out of whatever is causing it. I haven't been able to reproduce it except driving on a cold morning, and can't figure out what the problem is.

I've heard leaves rustling around in there, but I'm pretty sure I got them all out. It might be electrical, but I've experienced no electrical problems and the smoke doesn't smell like an electrical fire.

I've had no other problems, and the fan runs fine. Not a major issue, but I want to run my heater without walking into work smelling like I was just at an early morning barbeque.

Longhorn Man · 11-13-2005, 03:11 PM

mmmmmmmm barbeque........ droooooooooolllllllllll.

What exactly does it smell like?

llegos · 11-13-2005, 03:14 PM

yea whats it closer to, beef or pork?lol

atcavage · 11-13-2005, 03:59 PM

Doesn't really smell like anything. I would almost say it was dry ice. Perhaps slightly like vinyl or plastic, but not like burning wires.

Longhorn Man · 11-13-2005, 04:33 PM

Your truck have A/C by chance? (or originally had a/c even?)

atcavage · 11-13-2005, 04:47 PM

No a/c ever.

Air conditioning is the only requirement of my next vehicle.

jhow66 · 11-13-2005, 08:37 PM

Heater core leaking--antifreeze fog.

**68 Stepside** · 11-13-2005, 08:55 PM

I agree with jhow. My 66 C20 did the exact same thing. Kind of a sweet smell.

franko72 · 11-13-2005, 09:29 PM

The only thing that has happened like this in one of my cars has been the heater core causing a mist to fog up the cab. Check your fluid level in Radiator

atcavage · 11-13-2005, 10:11 PM

The mist/fog from the antifreeze is probably it. Didn't really smell though. I'll pop the hood and Czech out my fluid levels.

Longhorn Man · 11-13-2005, 10:12 PM

Does it actually defog the glass...or cause more fog?

atcavage · 11-14-2005, 11:13 AM

Just creates more fog, until a few minutes later it mysteriously stops.

**truckdude239** · 11-14-2005, 01:14 PM

sounds like an leaking heater core to me my 87 f-150 beater was dping the same i just by passed the core but i think for 17 buxs i'm going to install an new one. but i'd change the fuild when i change the core if i was u. just my$0.02

Longhorn Man · 11-14-2005, 04:32 PM

well, some liquid is getting on thew heqater core, this is certian.
The part I find interesting, is that it doesn't get worse with higher eng temp/higher pressure.
Seems odd.

Plan on pulling the hood hinge off and dropping the fenderwell and looking at what is going on. Heater cores are cheap, and the fit is close... not dead on, but close.

Z28Owner · 11-14-2005, 06:51 PM

My first 1970 truck did that too, caught on fire and burnt down in my driveway. Might want to keep it off till you figure it out. I still dont know what happened, I am thinking it was the blower motor and sparks set something ablaze.

atcavage · 11-15-2005, 12:26 AM

Thanks. Guess I'll have a 'fun' weekend ahead of me. Why is it that none of the things you plan to replace break, and instead is the stuff you actually need? At this rate, the only original thing on my truck will be the body and chassis.

Cop: And what exactly are you doing at 3AM with both windows down and all that smoke coming out of your windows?

11-13-2005, 03:05 PM	#1
atcavage Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Camarillo, Ca Posts: 79	Heater smokes On cold mornings (go figure), I'll turn on my heater and defroster, and after about five minutes (once it heats up), I get smoke. If I turn off the heater, smoke will gently creep out for a while. If I crank it, smoke will pour out and fill the cab until it runs out of whatever is causing it. I haven't been able to reproduce it except driving on a cold morning, and can't figure out what the problem is. I've heard leaves rustling around in there, but I'm pretty sure I got them all out. It might be electrical, but I've experienced no electrical problems and the smoke doesn't smell like an electrical fire. I've had no other problems, and the fan runs fine. Not a major issue, but I want to run my heater without walking into work smelling like I was just at an early morning barbeque. __________________ 1972 1/2 ton Chevy C10 V-8 350, crate engine, with Flomaster dual exhaust. She's Old Blue the Truckinator (no relation to Arnold )

11-13-2005, 03:11 PM	#2
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Heater smokes mmmmmmmm barbeque........ droooooooooolllllllllll. What exactly does it smell like?

11-13-2005, 03:14 PM	#3
llegos Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: pleasanton, CA Posts: 570	Re: Heater smokes yea whats it closer to, beef or pork?lol __________________ -Steve

11-13-2005, 03:59 PM	#4
atcavage Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Camarillo, Ca Posts: 79	Re: Heater smokes Doesn't really smell like anything. I would almost say it was dry ice. Perhaps slightly like vinyl or plastic, but not like burning wires. __________________ 1972 1/2 ton Chevy C10 V-8 350, crate engine, with Flomaster dual exhaust. She's Old Blue the Truckinator (no relation to Arnold )

11-13-2005, 04:33 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Heater smokes Your truck have A/C by chance? (or originally had a/c even?)

11-13-2005, 04:47 PM	#6
atcavage Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Camarillo, Ca Posts: 79	Re: Heater smokes No a/c ever. Air conditioning is the only requirement of my next vehicle. __________________ 1972 1/2 ton Chevy C10 V-8 350, crate engine, with Flomaster dual exhaust. She's Old Blue the Truckinator (no relation to Arnold )

11-13-2005, 08:37 PM	#7
jhow66 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Knoxville Tenn. Posts: 3,058	Re: Heater smokes Heater core leaking--antifreeze fog. __________________ 56 Chevy Bel-Air 2dr. HT (purchased new) 71 Chevy Cheyenne SWB PU (502HO) 65 GMC short bed step--work in progress and my gofer

11-13-2005, 08:55 PM	#8
68 Stepside huh? Join Date: May 2000 Location: Washington, Illinois Posts: 5,692	Re: Heater smokes I agree with jhow. My 66 C20 did the exact same thing. Kind of a sweet smell. __________________ Someday when I'm lonely, Wishing you weren't so far away, Then I will remember Things we said today. RIP El Jay

11-13-2005, 09:29 PM	#9
franko72 Franko72 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Cincinnati,Ohio Posts: 471	Re: Heater smokes The only thing that has happened like this in one of my cars has been the heater core causing a mist to fog up the cab. Check your fluid level in Radiator __________________ 1972 C20 cheyenne Super 402 BB/400 turbo LWB A/C Tilt, Cruise Control, Saddle tanks, Tach My Home Page Better to burn out than it is to rust

11-13-2005, 10:11 PM	#10
atcavage Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Camarillo, Ca Posts: 79	Re: Heater smokes The mist/fog from the antifreeze is probably it. Didn't really smell though. I'll pop the hood and Czech out my fluid levels. __________________ 1972 1/2 ton Chevy C10 V-8 350, crate engine, with Flomaster dual exhaust. She's Old Blue the Truckinator (no relation to Arnold )

11-13-2005, 10:12 PM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Heater smokes Does it actually defog the glass...or cause more fog?

11-14-2005, 11:13 AM	#12
atcavage Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Camarillo, Ca Posts: 79	Re: Heater smokes Just creates more fog, until a few minutes later it mysteriously stops. __________________ 1972 1/2 ton Chevy C10 V-8 350, crate engine, with Flomaster dual exhaust. She's Old Blue the Truckinator (no relation to Arnold )

11-14-2005, 01:14 PM	#13
truckdude239 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Lewisville, Nc Posts: 10,233	Re: Heater smokes sounds like an leaking heater core to me my 87 f-150 beater was dping the same i just by passed the core but i think for 17 buxs i'm going to install an new one. but i'd change the fuild when i change the core if i was u. just my$0.02 __________________ David fuller Ase Certified Mechanic Click here to help support our board!! 1971 Chevy c-10 under going a 4.8l LSx swap Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=421305 2007 Honda Accord my daily 145kmiles 2002 Honda Accord 4 door With 330k(sisters car) 2005 toyota Avalon 228k( brothers car) 2002 Sububran 5.3 245k 2000 Tahoe 5.3l 378 General manager for Marco's Carwash & lube

11-14-2005, 04:32 PM	#14
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Heater smokes well, some liquid is getting on thew heqater core, this is certian. The part I find interesting, is that it doesn't get worse with higher eng temp/higher pressure. Seems odd. Plan on pulling the hood hinge off and dropping the fenderwell and looking at what is going on. Heater cores are cheap, and the fit is close... not dead on, but close.

11-14-2005, 06:51 PM	#15
Z28Owner ......................... Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: benton, ky Posts: 288	Re: Heater smokes My first 1970 truck did that too, caught on fire and burnt down in my driveway. Might want to keep it off till you figure it out. I still dont know what happened, I am thinking it was the blower motor and sparks set something ablaze. __________________ 1971 LWB Chevy C-10 350/350 3:42 eaton



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11-15-2005, 12:26 AM	#16
atcavage Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Camarillo, Ca Posts: 79	Re: Heater smokes Thanks. Guess I'll have a 'fun' weekend ahead of me. Why is it that none of the things you plan to replace break, and instead is the stuff you actually need? At this rate, the only original thing on my truck will be the body and chassis. Cop: And what exactly are you doing at 3AM with both windows down and all that smoke coming out of your windows? __________________ 1972 1/2 ton Chevy C10 V-8 350, crate engine, with Flomaster dual exhaust. She's Old Blue the Truckinator (no relation to Arnold )

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.