Thread: Slight smoking coming off front exhaust manifold

the valve cover gaskets are leaking, change them.

valve cover. both front and back should be changed before you catch fire and burn the car to the ground.

change em now. they are reusable later on, they are rubber like.

and yes you can catch fire. its part of the GM recall.

i will laugh at you if it burns up. dont be that guy

front one is easy.

pull the dog bones, the sc tensioner, the coil pack and dog bone mount, the wires have a small bolt in the harness, 8 mm iirc. then take the v/c bolts out, clean the head where the gasket sits with brake cleaner on a rag. and clean the valve cover as well.

put the new grommets in the v/c and the new gasket, then snug the bolts up nice, dont over tighten them, they only go so far and can break off easy.

also if your not to sure go to a shop and have them change them. but i trust you can use hand tools and do this your self.

you need a deep 13 mm and a 3/8 or 10 mm, a 8 mm, and i believe thats about it. oh and a 15 mm to get the sc belt off and the dog bones.

it would need to leak pretty good to catch fire. the chance is always there tho. sometimes they leak with out hitting the manifolds, but if you see and smell smoke, they should be changed asap.

Originally Posted by Scottydoggs

you need a deep 13 mm and a 3/8 or 10 mm, a 8 mm, and i believe thats about it. oh and a 15 mm to get the sc belt off and the dog bones.

it would need to leak pretty good to catch fire. the chance is always there tho. sometimes they leak with out hitting the manifolds, but if you see and smell smoke, they should be changed asap.

just follow this advise and get it fixed or you will lose your car. the 3.8L catches fire all to often from oil build up and you not changing your valve cover gaskets are just asking for your car to no longer be driving. This problem is very preventable and if you dont FIX IT as of NOW then you will not have your car to drive and you will be on foot. i can keep going on if you like so stop fing around and FIX IT.

dont matter it will start with the exhaust manifold getting over 1000°F and a oil leak that just keeps getting worse then you have a nice fire. hope you have some marshmellows and a few sticks ready!!! all the car fires i have ever seen could have been prevented and you will lose your car over something dumb. hope you have a fire extingusher and your fast on your feet.