Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting steam coming from front of car

I've noticed that in cooler weather, I can see steam coming from the front of the car. Every time I pull over and try to locate the source of the steam, it's gone before I can open the hood. The radiator doesn't have a cap like most cars. The coolant level is always the same and doesn't go down.

What can I test for? Radiator pressure test? Or is it just the zetec engine running so hot that the moisture from the headlights and hood is vaporizing? My car is a stock 98 Mystique zetec ATX.

Thanks.

probably just moisture evaporating from engine heat.

I get that whenever I drive into huge puddles on the sides of streets after a big rain. Scared the hell out of me the first time. Still not as funny as how scared the pedestrians get.

Could it be coming from the radiator and is there moisture in the air? Sometimes I get this too and it seems to be coming from evaporation on the fins of the radiator.

its been raining alot in my area lately.. and the sun is out and its hot(south Louisian), high humidity.... well the roofs look like they are smoking (just a bit).. its the steam from the rain hitting the hot roofs.. just like the hot under engine temp. in your car... and the humidity or running into a puddle would do... then the moisture stops when you open the hood... the temp. went down some or the stuff evaporated real quick or its the angle you are looking at it from the drivers seat....... i would not worry about it, seems just like physics to me..........