Thread: Smoke!

I have an 01 gtp that I rarely drive. I started it and let it idle after sitting for about 3 weeks. I let it run for about 15 min. It got just above the half way point on the temp gauge then would hover on half the rest of the time (fans would kick in) seems kinda high temp for just idling but idk. Anyway all of a sudden I saw smoke coming from under the hood and smelt burning oil. I shut it off and popped the hood. I couldn't tell where it was coming from but seemed to be a lot from the rear of the engine and also under the engine cover. I took the engine cover off, having to take the oil cap off and smoke was coming from inside the engine wtf??
checked oil, it's full and looks fine
coolant level is fine.
I can't really see much to see what would be leaking. Looks to be oil/grease/grime on most parts. Where the injectors go there seems to be a build up of some kind of fluid or oil in their cavities. The entire bottom of the engine and transmission is covered in oil. And there is a spot on the ground just of center to the passenger side where there is a spot of oil that has leaked on the ground.
Idk what to look for and it pisses me off. I'm trying to fix small things on the car and sell it and this happens...
Please help if you can.
Thanks!

Maybe change your pcv. Could be bad

gunk works well, but stinks bad. ive been using the CRC de greaser, no smell after your done hosing it off. crc also costs a few bucks less then gunk. at least here it is.

i got the last can at pep boys, pretty sure ive seen crc at autozone as well.

gunks name is gunk foamy engine brite.

either one you pick up, get 2 cans, one is never enough, put the car on ramps, or stands, so you can get under it and spray the bottom well, then spray the top. wear old cloths too. its a bit of a dirty job, and do it over dirt or in the street, as if its real dirty the mess will now be in your driveway.

So I can pretty much just spray the entire engine liberally with that stuff and spray it down with a hose and that's it? I was thinking rear valve cover gasket as well. I called the dealership. It apparently had the front gasket changed under that recall in 09. Kinda wonder why the rear one isn't recalled. Do you think head gasket has anything to do with this? The previous owner said one of the coolant elbows exploded on the freeway and it got hot but didn't over heat because they pulled over

as long as you have the stock air box, you can spray everything, wires plugs, you see it, spray it. if you have a open cone, take it off, get a bag and a rubber band, cover the TB opening.

if you look from the pass side tire, you can see the part of the trans that is between the engine and tranny, spray from the wheel well to the tranny, and get from the rear of the tranny and spray the back. when the rear cover leaks, its drips on the tranny.

wait the wait time, then hose it all off, do the bottom first, then the top. as you need to kinda lay down, so if you hose the top first, the ground will be soaked where you need to be.

if you see any thick greasy spots, re spray, wait, then use a stiff paint brush to loosen it up. hose it all off again.

the only thing you dont want to soak down is the alt, it can get wet, but its best not to blast it hard.

if you have a air compressor, they work nice to blow the puddles out of the lim bolt valleys. if not it will dry up, dont worry.

that whole recall seems dumb to me. you can just change both gaskets yourself in a hour.

not needed at all. been hosing alts for over 20 years now. hosed the regal's now 5 times or more.

you can start it up soaking wet if you want, then drive it around to warm it up and dry up some.

ive had my last truck a 03 gmc, running through a flood where the water hit my windshield, was over the hood, and the door window bottoms. truck still ran. the whole engine was under water air box and all, i still dont know how it stayed running. air intake wise.

the back end was starting to float, good thing i wnet through in 4wd, the front diff did fill with water, i had to change the rear diff fluid.

Originally Posted by barnettimpala

I rarely drive.
I started it and let it idle after sitting for about 3 weeks. I let it run for about 15 min.
all of a sudden I saw smoke coming from under the hood and smelt burning oil.

Running for only 15 minutes doesn't let the oil get hot enough to burn off all the moisture, so there might be a part of the issue. That may be why you see "smoke" when you open the oil fill.

Originally Posted by barnettimpala

seemed to be a lot from the rear of the engine

The rear valve cover is a common oil leak. Grab a mirror and look at it.

I have been too busy to deal with this any. Gonna go buy some degreaser and clean it up tomorrow. I am wondering, is the rear valve cover and possibly intake gaskets the ONLY thing that could cause this? Again, burning oil smell smoke from rear of engine (I assume hitting exhaust). Just trying to figure out if it could be anything more serious. I need money for school so I need to get it fixed and put up for sale.
Thanks!

rear valve cover is leaking if it smoking off the rear of the engine.

i cant believe you let it go for over 2 months. tisk tisk, lol


de grease it, then do the both valve covers. get felpro with the grommits. cleaning it makes working on it a bit nicer. nothing sucks more then working a pig dirty engine.

lol in my defense I was gone on vacation for a month. And it doesnt get driven. Ok I'll have to order gaskets. And clean it. I bought the gunk engine bright degreaser. Gonna have to wait till after I get this sunroof thing figured out tho

Quick and simple test. Without cleaning. Run your finger under the lip of the rear valve cover along the head.

Came back oily and greasy, didn't it? Valve cover gaskets with grommets.

Because LIM gaskets can't really leak onto the exhaust. Once you look at where things are located and how they leak/fail....it's almost always the VC's in this case.