Elantra MD (2010-15) :: Massive Smoke Behind Car

Had a very strange thing happen today. The weather in the northeast here was just amazing the past two days. So I took a nice ride in the car up through Granville, NY and over the back roads to Vermont. The whole trip I am kinda hyper-mileing getting about 40 MPG (or better) the whole trip, on one long strait road with a mild declining grade I got over 60 MPG!! The whole trip I did 40 to 50 MPH, just taking my time, once or twice getting to 60 MPH, just so I didn't hold up traffic on a couple main roads.

Ok, so I just get southbound on Rt 30 north of Manchester, VT. I am heading south. The road is posted at 50 MPH. I am doing about 45 MPH and come on a vintage car doing about 40 MPH, no problem, I am really not in a rush, I leave him lots of room. Just enjoying the nice day at a leisurely pace. But the guy in the vintage car pulls over to let me pass. Ok, so I go around him and continue on at about 45 MPG..

I quickly come up on a white Subaru I think it is, looks to be 8 or 10 years old, now this guy is slowing down to 35 to 40 MPH.. there is a big long strait away, and no on coming traffic, and this guy seems to not even be able to hold 40 MPH on this road posted for 50 MPH.. so I decide to pass him. So I step on the gas and pull out into the oncoming lane. Next think I know I see white smoke EVERYWHERE behind the car!!! And it appears to be coming from MY car!!!

Now in full panic mode I am trying to sense any odd noises or vibrations from my car, fully expecting my dash board to light up like a Christmas tree any second!! My car proceeds down the road, I back off the gas as much as I can while still trying to pass the car I was passing, get back in my lane and get ready to find a place I can pull the car off the road.

After several hundred more feet the smoke that appears to be coming from the back of my car, or under it, tapers off, I keep watching my dash board for any engine lights that might come on.. car seems to be running smoothly, but I now VERY nervous about driving it..

No lights came on. No odd engine or car sounds or vibrations. I am stumped where all the smoke came from!! It was NOT just a little, it was like a James Bond car setting off a smoke bomb so the cars behind couldn't see! I mean, I could not see anything behind me, in two lanes, for several seconds. I was like "WOW!!" As I looked in my mirrors!

My 2011 Elantra has about 12,000 miles now. Never had any engine problems at all.

I have four theories of what the cause might have been:

1. When I hit the gas to pass that car high pressure in the engine somewhere forced some oil into the exhaust system somehow, and it had to burn off.

2. Just as I was about to pass that car I think I turned on the AC. Maybe as the AC belt was about to engage the high engine RPM caused the belt to slip and burn, and smoke, until I backed off the gas and it caught on the pulley properly.

3. Maybe the transmission dropped one too many gears, causing the tires to slip on the pavement when I hit the gas and I did a "burn out", "smoking the tires".

4. Maybe the smoke came from the Subaru. But replaying the whole thing in my head I know I saw smoke out MY back window when I was in the oncoming lane. I find it hard to believe the smoke did NOT come from MY car. Especially given it started exactly the time I hit the gas to pass him.

I am tending to think it was theory #1 above. But I just don't know. Still love my Elantra, And the car seemed fine after that for the 60 or so mile ride home. But I would love to know the real source of the smoke I saw!