[Grease23]

Don't guess. Pressure test it. Then you'll know.

[mainbearing]

Usually these radiators fail on the upper hose bibb or plastic tank seams. There may be hose o-ring leaks too. It is less common that corrosion ate a hole in the middle of the aluminum "core".

It is not possible for stone damage, because the radiator is behind the AC condenser.

Are you also losing coolant at this stage as the radiator smokes? If so a pressure test should make that hole leak more coolant. See if the local Autozone free loaner program carries the tank adapter for doing a pressure test.

Also, I would think for it to smoke a lot (like valve cover oil leaks) the coolant likely hit the exhaust manifold (as in coolant getting sprayed onto the manifold somewhere). If it is just steam from hot coolant, I am not sure it would make that much smoke.

After the car was driven and then cooled off, also shine a flashlight down and see if there are coolant spots collecting on the belly pan. You can try carefully hosing down the radiator to clean off whatever liquid is there now. Do not get the nearby alternator wet.

Originally Posted by greenberet123

I hosed down the engine bay and dried everything off. Took the car for a short drive and came back. This time, the amount of smoke was not much.

Popped open the lid and a little bit of steam coming from behind the radiator fan. I didn't see any steam from the bottom passenger side radiator hose or the top driver side radiator hose, or the MM flange, or anywhere else. The only steam that is coming is from seems to be behind the fan.

I also see the radiator "wet" a little bit i.e. one portion is darker than the rest and seems "wet", but might just be a different coloring. What do you think is wrong? Is the radiator just busted? Or is there something fallen on it that is just burning off? Should I hose off the radiator?