Hi all!
I'm just learning stick on my brand new '08MCS (birthday in Sept'08). I took it out on some uphills today and I stalled a few times (I'm using the e-brake for these starts and trying not to over rev the engine).

After my last stall there seemed to be some steam coming from the hood scoop of the car...I was freaking out...worried that I had ruined the engine.
I opened the hood and there no smoke per se but a little bit of steam and the engine was quite hot. If i turned off the car, it would also quietly hiss consistently for a few minutes before stopping.

None of the engine lights or coolant lights came on and the car continued to drive okay...so I'm maybe just paranoid but I'm worried I'm ruining the engine but stalling) -- I am getting better!

Anybody have any ideas why this happens (the steam and also the quiet hissing)? is this normal for a mini? (my old honda civic used to tick after engine was off) Would appreciate your help!

 

Did you drive through a large puddle? Steam/hiss could be water making contact with something hot under the hood. Could also be coolant, check for a leak somewhere.

By the way, if your car has DSC it will hold the brakes for you on a hill for a few seconds to give you time to get going. No need to use the handbrake.

 

could it just be because its really cold out?... i mean the turbo does get really hot right by the scoop. Did you try and smell it? Only other thing I would assume would be coolant like prox said.. That has a pretty distinct smell.

 

The hissing is normal. It's the sound of the aux. water pump running coolant through the system to cool the turbo down.

The steam is not normal, what did it smell like?

 

Ditto. I get the hiss and the fan running for a while after garaging it. Never any steam.

 

The steam I'm guessing is probably from condensation onto the turbo engine..it is a little cool outside, raining....it didn't steam very long and it's definitely not smoke. It didn't have any distinct smell...I'm pretty sure it's not the clutch as I have driven a car where the clutch burned out before and I know how that would feel...

I'm hopefully it'll be okay but I will keep an eye on it. If it's ever stops raining here in Vancouver, I'll see if it keeps steaming

 

just a quick update. I'm relieved that I took the mini out today to work and it did not steam at all (i'm guessing it was from the rain yesterday, condensation onto the hot turbo engine).
Hissing again from the fan which is normal but no steam! I'd be pretty scared if the engine had conked out so soon, it's birthday is Sept 29/08! so hopefully it'd be convered under warranty. But I'm working on the clutch on uphills, so far, I've tried without e-brake on slight inclines with no problems but will see if it works on steeper hills soon.

thanks again! (relieved and happy Mini owner! )

 

Cool! Happy to hear that everything smoothed itself out.
That would have scared me too!