2011 Tahoe...Clear fluid leak behind passenger side front tire

[Glancing43]

Newb here. Have a 2011 Tahoe LT with 135,000 miles. Noticed white smoke coming from under the hood the other day with a bit of a smell after turning it off. No engine overheating.

Popped the hood, couldn’t see anything from the top down. Found a leak seemingly coming from a hose behind the passenger side tire. It’s clear fluid. Water? Wiper fluid? I put some cardboard under it to see and snapped a few pictures.

This all started after a recent oil change and 2 tire replacement. Just a coincidence? I have no clue. I’m not a mechanic and not someone who would try to fix anything myself. Just wondering what I’m looking at here. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[swathdiver]

Newb here. Have a 2011 Tahoe LT with 135,000 miles. Noticed white smoke coming from under the hood the other day with a bit of a smell after turning it off. No engine overheating. View attachment 260795 View attachment 260796 View attachment 260797 View attachment 260798 Popped the hood, couldn’t see anything from the top down. Found a leak seemingly coming from a hose behind the passenger side tire. It’s clear fluid. Water? Wiper fluid? I put some cardboard under it to see and snapped a few pictures.

This all started after a recent oil change and 2 tire replacement. Just a coincidence? I have no clue. I’m not a mechanic and not someone who would try to fix anything myself. Just wondering what I’m looking at here. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Condensation from the AC Accumulator? Washer fluid is on the other side.

 

[Big Mama]

As James stated the likely suspect is the accumulator but it won’t usually drip on anything or have an odor. If you keep the AC off for a bit before parking does it still show up overnight?

 

[adventurenali92]

If your tahoe has a skid plate it’s likely just condensation from the A/C compressor. My 2006 6.0 Denali has a skid plate and the condensation catches in the skid plate. It drains down below the starter and comes out right behind my front passenger side tire. I usually see the puddle right near the cap of the running board where it meets the fender.

 

[Glancing43]

As James stated the likely suspect is the accumulator but it won’t usually drip on anything or have an odor. If you keep the AC off for a bit before parking does it still show up overnight?

Appreciate the feedback. It definitely smells like something is burning when I turn it off. I was at a red light the other day and there was so much smoke, I thought it was on fire. I reversed into a grocery store parking lot. Really strange. I know that’s not normal.

 

[Glancing43]

If your tahoe has a skid plate it’s likely just condensation from the A/C compressor. My 2006 6.0 Denali has a skid plate and the condensation catches in the skid plate. It drains down below the starter and comes out right behind my front passenger side tire. I usually see the puddle right near the cap of the running board where it meets the fender.

Yeah I definitely see puddles from the A/C, but the smoke and smell are new. Like I said in another post, there was so much smoke I thought it was on fire. Maybe something is blocking or redirecting the condensation?

 

[Glancing43]

As James stated the likely suspect is the accumulator but it won’t usually drip on anything or have an odor. If you keep the AC off for a bit before parking does it still show up overnight?

I’ll test it out and see. Sometimes it creates so much smoke you’d think I’m burning the tires out. It’s pretty weird.

 

[PG01]

Newb here. Have a 2011 Tahoe LT with 135,000 miles. Noticed white smoke coming from under the hood the other day with a bit of a smell after turning it off. No engine overheating. View attachment 260795 View attachment 260796 View attachment 260797 View attachment 260798 Popped the hood, couldn’t see anything from the top down. Found a leak seemingly coming from a hose behind the passenger side tire. It’s clear fluid. Water? Wiper fluid? I put some cardboard under it to see and snapped a few pictures.

This all started after a recent oil change and 2 tire replacement. Just a coincidence? I have no clue. I’m not a mechanic and not someone who would try to fix anything myself. Just wondering what I’m looking at here. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

welcome.
The clear fluid is condensation from your a/c, that’s where the drain is, you just haven’t noticed it before. The smoke is from the oil change place getting oil all over the exhaust manifold as the fill is on that same side. It will stop, the smoke, as soon as all the oil is burned off, to be sure make sure the yellow dipstick is pushed all the way in and the oil fill cap is installed and tightened.

The condensate from the a/c drain will not stop until you stop using the a/c.
the a/c drain is right there front tire inbetween frame and fender liner.

 

[Glancing43]

welcome.
The clear fluid is condensation from your a/c, that’s where the drain is, you just haven’t noticed it before. The smoke is from the oil change place getting oil all over the exhaust manifold as the fill is on that same side. It will stop, the smoke, as soon as all the oil is burned off, to be sure make sure the yellow dipstick is pushed all the way in and the oil fill cap is installed and tightened.

View attachment 260832




The condensate from the a/c drain will not stop until you stop using the a/c.
the a/c drain is right there front tire inbetween frame and fender liner.View attachment 260833

Thanks for the post, I’ll check all that today and fool with the A/c some.

 

[Glancing43]

Just an update, still getting a smell and about 15 seconds of minimal smoke coming out above the drivers side headlight under the hood on occasion.

I understand some oil could’ve been spilled during the change, but shouldn’t it be gone 2 weeks out? Still has a slight smell, not as severe. All caps and dipstick are tight. Don’t see any leaking other than the a/c condensation.

Give it another week or take it to get checked out and quit bothering you all?

 

[Jason in DLH]

Have you checked the heater hoses for a leak? The clear liquid maybe a complete separate issue from the burning smell. A few years back one of my heater hoses burst while I was driving and a plume of smoke billowed out. I thought my engine was going to explode, but it was just a simple hose fix.

 

[Big Mama]

So the smoke is front left and the water is on the right? Can you describe the smell? Oil smell, coolant smell (which can be kind of sweet). You’d notice the coolant issue more so when you turn the truck off.

 

[Glancing43]

Have you checked the heater hoses for a leak? The clear liquid maybe a complete separate issue from the burning smell. A few years back one of my heater hoses burst while I was driving and a plume of smoke billowed out. I thought my engine was going to explode, but it was just a simple hose fix.

That’s kind of what happened to me at a red light. Thought it was on fire. It runs fine, but smells and smokes after about 30 mins of driving. I could really smell it tonight after going up a steep hill with the heater running.
That could be it, I guess.

I suppose I’ll have to take it in and get it looked at.

 

[Jason in DLH]

If I remember correctly (it’s been a couple years) I believe the hose leaked a bit before it exploded causing intermittent smoking like you’re describing. At the time I simply couldn’t figure it out, but as soon as she blew...

 

[Big Mama]

That’s kind of what happened to me at a red light. Thought it was on fire. It runs fine, but smells and smokes after about 30 mins of driving. I could really smell it tonight after going up a steep hill with the heater running.
That could be it, I guess.

I suppose I’ll have to take it in and get it looked at.

You can check it yourself. Start it, open the hood and look on the side the smoke comes from. If you don’t see it right away let it warm up. If you still don’t see it shut it off and look again. It might be a loose clamp. If it’s a busted hose you can replace it in short order.

 

[kbuskill]

@Glancing43

Most likely culprit is the plastic "quick diaconnects" on the heater hoses at the firewall on the passenger side.

This is what they look like...

And this is what I replaced mine with...
https://www.gruvenparts.com/billet-gm-heater-core-coolant-tees/

Kind of hard to get to but worth it to never have to worry about them cracking and leaking or breaking off again...

 

[Glancing43]

Thanks for the info and suggestions. I appreciate it. Now that it’s cold and we’re running the heat instead of A/C, we can smell it inside the Tahoe BUT only after going up our steep driveway.

I’ve popped the hood as soon as I’ve turned it off and the smoke disappeared so fast, it’s hard to tell. Pretty strange.

But I definitely see it before I pop the hood behind the passenger headlight. In fact at one point, I thought it was the headlight.

Would the firewall connection rattle at high speed if failing? I’ve noticed a slight rattle in the interstate a couple of times. Seems to be close to the dash / firewall.

 

[wjburken]

Just an update, still getting a smell and about 15 seconds of minimal smoke coming out above the drivers side headlight under the hood on occasion.

But I definitely see it before I pop the hood behind the passenger headlight. In fact at one point, I thought it was the headlight.

Can you clarify which side you are seeing the smoke/steam?

 

[gooffeyguy]

Can you clarify which side you are seeing the smoke/steam?

The front side, duh!

Lol

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Glancing43]

So the smoke is front left and the water is on the right? Can you describe the smell? Oil smell, coolant smell (which can be kind of sweet). You’d notice the coolant issue more so when you turn the truck off.

Water and smoke are both on the passenger side. The smell isn’t sweet, it smells like something is burning. The smoke comes out above the passenger headlight.

Like earlier in the thread, the gentleman said the A/C drains there behind the passenger side front tire. I think just noticed that because I was looking for it.