[sportdan]

Hey
Please help! I have just seen a thread on here relating to steam coming from the grille. I noticed this tonight and have done before but only on odd occasions mainly if its cold etc.

I had a safety check done on the car a month or so ago. Surely anything major would have been noticed then?

I looked under the bonnet but what am I supposed to look out for? There was coolant but I think it could do with topping up! What else? Sorry im a novice at this kind of thing.

I got a 51 plate cooper by the way and so far I always seem to see sumin wrong with it!!! The other day I heard a clonk from the steering when turning at slow speeds which I believe from what I read on here is the steering column

Wish I had gone new or cherished now because I have no warranty or anything!!!

ARGHHHHH IM GOING INSANE. THE MINIS ARNT THIS BAD SURELY!!

[Mess]

Was it raining as it might have been the water evaporating from the radiator?

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mess (original)

Was it raining as it might have been the water evaporating from the radiator?

That's what I thought too - but wasn't confident enough to voice it.

[parklaneuk]

normally if you see abit of steam its an indication there could be a slight leak on the rad, especially if the coolant tank is on the low side. keep an eye on it. as said it can also be just harmless rain water running off the rad. the clunking/knocking noise when turning is either the steering bushes or the column. the joys of owning an early production mini. had all the problems u have mentioned and more.

[Keano]

I have seen this steam coming from the front of my 04 JCW MCS at standstill on a number of occasions. I have taken it in to BMW but I have been told, following a pressure test, they can find anything wrong. The temp gauge doesnt move and it doesnt seem as though the coolant has dropped so maybe it is just water evaporating as Mess suggests above.


The clunking noise I also had - it used to happen for me following an (approx) 90 degree turn of the wheel to the left and required a new steering column...

Good luck.

[sportdan]

Quote: Originally Posted by parklaneuk (original)

normally if you see abit of steam its an indication there could be a slight leak on the rad, especially if the coolant tank is on the low side. keep an eye on it. as said it can also be just harmless rain water running off the rad. the clunking/knocking noise when turning is either the steering bushes or the column. the joys of owning an early production mini. had all the problems u have mentioned and more.

Sorry its a bit of a late reply! Im hoping its just a bit of water! Its not there all the time from what I gather. My car was iced up this morning and by the time I got to work (about 9 miles) I saw steam coming from the front which in a way could easily be water i guess.
Way home it was there when I parked but wasnt constant, just a few seconds!

As for the knocking... its not dangerous for me to drive is it? lol im scared to go anywhere!!! I know several people have had it

Damn early MINIs! Wish I went newer... I keep gettin moaned at by my parents about havin a MINI and I should get sumin else etc... but I dont want to! Love the car and its great to drive

[NeuroBeaker]

Quote: Originally Posted by sportdan (original)

I keep gettin moaned at by my parents about havin a MINI and I should get sumin else etc... but I dont want to! Love the car and its great to drive

You're definitely on the right forum them.

[supa-dupa-cooper]

I had steam coming out my front grille yesterday, and it wasnt cold and it hadnt been raining Normally only does it if it is cold and wet, or if I go through a puddle

[sportdan]

Quote: Originally Posted by supa-dupa-cooper (original)

I had steam coming out my front grille yesterday, and it wasnt cold and it hadnt been raining Normally only does it if it is cold and wet, or if I go through a puddle

Yeah I read your post which made me worry cause originally I thought it was just the rain etc and didnt think it could be anything else lol well... i havent seen any signs of steam today! Yesterday morning my car was iced up and i noticed it when I got to work so like you say the cold and wet.

The coolant looks ok and isnt low although could do with a top up! I have only seen the steam on odd occasions. Im guessing im safe? lol and im just getting paranoid!

[supa-dupa-cooper]

I honestly wouldnt worry about it, when it gets to the point its really bad, then you know you've got a problem

[sportdan]

Quote: Originally Posted by supa-dupa-cooper (original)

I honestly wouldnt worry about it, when it gets to the point its really bad, then you know you've got a problem

yeah fair dues! im just a bit of a stress head when it comes to my car lol

[supa-dupa-cooper]

Quote: Originally Posted by sportdan (original)

yeah fair dues! im just a bit of a stress head when it comes to my car lol

So am I though Hence why ive booked it in for the suspected engine mount leak - knowing my luck it will be nothing

[sportdan]

Quote: Originally Posted by supa-dupa-cooper (original)

So am I though Hence why ive booked it in for the suspected engine mount leak - knowing my luck it will be nothing

lol gets it off ya mind though! i saw your post yesterday though and all of a sudden panicked and thought.... arghh i had the same problem lol

[debbieh1]

Same thing happening with my standard Cooper - steam coming from passenger side through the front grille.

Have spoken to Mini/BMW service guys, who hadn't come across this before (maybe just this bloke I spoke to?) and they want to check it out to make sure everything is ok.

Sounds like it may be a waste of time though, looking at the discussions on here - seems perfectly normal when it's damp and rainy. Panic over?

[Richard Crofts]

Steam from the grill/scoops on an S is usually caused by water on the intercooler. On a cooper its something more probably, possible a leak on the rad etc. Usually the rad is not hot enough to create enough steam to be noticable, so its possible its over hot or there is a leak. However it is just possible that its water on the warm rad on a cold day.

[sportdan]

Quote: Originally Posted by Richard Crofts (original)

Steam from the grill/scoops on an S is usually caused by water on the intercooler. On a cooper its something more probably, possible a leak on the rad etc. Usually the rad is not hot enough to create enough steam to be noticable, so its possible its over hot or there is a leak. However it is just possible that its water on the warm rad on a cold day.

In all honesty I havent really noticed it any more since my original post so I reckon its water on the warm rad like you said. If it was a leak then I woulda thought I would have noticed it more often or it would be there all the time. I have only seen it odd times!

[r1_kde]

mine steams on cold morning and when its wet, sometimes the clouds of steam are quite big. but its just normal. did s***t me up the first time though.

[Posts001]

I had steam from the grille after i had washed the car, took it straight to BMW and they said that it was the water evaporating from the radiator. Still very scarey

[Roadrunner_1]

Quote: Originally Posted by Richard Crofts (original)

Steam from the grill/scoops on an S is usually caused by water on the intercooler. On a cooper its something more probably, possible a leak on the rad etc. Usually the rad is not hot enough to create enough steam to be noticable, so its possible its over hot or there is a leak. However it is just possible that its water on the warm rad on a cold day.

Completely agree Richard, Steam comes out of my scoop if there has been heavy rain and then slow moving traffic, air temps increase and intercooler inlet starts to get hot and the rain water starts to evaportate off.

[cooperSMark]

I saw steam coming from the scoop on the cooperS i test drove at the weekend and it turned out to be water which had settled on top of the intercooler. Looked a bit odd coming from the scoop but it stopped after a short time. I think the answer is to keep an eye on your coolant level and, if it doesn't go down, it's probably just a bit of water which has settled on the radiator or intercooler.