Hey guys, Ive read threads on here for a while and now its time I had to post something, unfortunately not good.
I have a 98 XJ8 VDP.. well today I was driving, stopped at a light and all of a sudden smoke started coming out from underneath my hood and my low coolant light came on. I was almost home so I made it back here, popped the hood with a little smoke (smelled like burnt coolant maybe?) coming out, no general spot really, and nothing was wet. No coolant left on the road, driveway, nothing. Theres a few spots here and there that looked like someone sneezed heavily, but definitely no major leaks...
On a side note, a week or so ago, my low coolant light came on and I only had to put in literally a few ounces and it was full and went back off, not sure if it is relevant or not.

Im supposed to drive back home from maine to florida this weekend and need this fixed asap...Someone please help!!!

 

The best way to find any kind of leak is to pressure test the system.

You can always fill the system back up and turn it back on -- but you always risk damaging something.

How muck coolant did you loose? -- since you don't see anything I wonder if one of the smaller plastic hoses or the dreaded house under the intake failed.

It only takes a small leak in the right spot to throw off a lot of steam.

Good Luck

 

What you describe a "smoke" is most likely water vapor probably caused by coolant hitting the hot exhaust.

 

I had problems with my cracked coolant tank dripping onto my LH catalytic converter. I got that baby fixed though A new replacement was $200 so I got a used one for under $50.