Oh, and my reasoning for not looking into the fans yet. They don't kick on until the high temps, and the steaming is at low temps.

What if there were still small amounts of fluid left in the cylinders? Those would be burned up by now correct?

if your thermostat was stuck open you wouldn't be able to get up to 200* when mine was stuck open it hung right around 120* when she should have been at 200*

Steam coming out the exhaust pipe while cold is just condensation created from the hot exhaust hitting the cold air. There is also a small amount of condensation that pools in the exhaust system after you shut off the car and it cools down. Now heavy white smoke with a sweet smell is glycol being burned and the sign of a failure - LIM, head gasket, etc.

The steam under your hood could be pooled water on the motor still burning off, or a small leak in the cooling system. When you have time, start the car with the hood open and look really good. Wait for the temp to run up to the 190+ and keep looking...if there is a leak, you'll find it.

Like Dan said...check the fuses for the fans. If they are good, then we need to look at other things.