Smoke from left engine area.

[Salvador Alasco]

I have a 1993, 3.5L, V6 Dodge INTREPID. I have this trouble with a smoke which I thought I already solved. Apparently, I did not.
When I start the car in the morning, everything is fine, After about fifteen (15) minute of driving I see faint smoke which gradually builds up as I contnue driving, and it comes from the driver side of the engine area. The color of trhe smoke is between white and a bit grayish and smells like rubber. I mean I could be wrong. But in the absence of any familiar smell close to it, I thought it smells a bit like rubber. Still, I could be wrong with the smell.
Where could this smoke be coming from ?

Thank you in advance,

Sal

Topic

[Salvador Alasco]

I forgot to mention, all my fluids/oil are okay (i.e., transmission, engine, brake, power steering).

[Gary]

So you have looked for leaks under the hood? 1 drop of oil on a hot exhaust will make some good smoke. Also, transmission fluid will do the same. Have you checked the belt?

[Mike]

You’re describing an aggressive valve cover gasket leak, which like Chevyman insinuated, is probably leaking onto the exhaust manifold. It may also be a sensor close by that has a leaking gasket, you should throw the engine covers in the trash and clean the thing up with a pressure washer at the self-serve car wash (don’t spray the top of the valve covers where the spark plugs are). Based on what you’re saying, you should be able to see some fresh oil leakage by the time you get it home. You probably need to have an inspection mirror to see everything because of the lack of visibility around the exhaust manifold area. It’s pretty tucked away on those things when you’re looking from the top.

[KZ 259]

smells like rubber? pretty clear sign to check the drive belts. one of the pulleys could be seized up, causing friction upon the belts

[C]

I have a 1995 Nissan Maxima, and having the same issue as Sal described. However, mine happens without the AC on. Smoke comes from all around under the hood, not just one side. I can’t tell if the burnt smell is rubber or some fluid. My mechanic can’t look at it until next week, and I have to drive 30 miles each way to work. Sigh. I appreciate the answers y’all have given Sal, as they finally have given me some clue as to what is going on with my car! Just have to decide whether or not to get a rental car until I can take it in. Thanks again.

[C]

I had a couple of other people smell it and the consensus is that it’s not burnt rubber, it’s burning oil (smell). But all of my fluids are registering at the proper levels 2x a day. I have also noticed that the engine does not want to turn over as fast at the end of the day (5:00) and acts a bit sluggish on the ride home versus the quick firing up in the morning and no hesitations on the drive to work. I started putting the car in Park at stop lights and that seems to lessen the smoke output.

[Andrew Button]

Put some dye in the oil and get a black light and hunt for a leak.

[Mason]

[quote=”Fopeano” post=127792]You’re describing an aggressive valve cover gasket leak, which like Chevyman insinuated, is probably leaking onto the exhaust manifold.[/quote] +1 on the valve cover gasket leak. We just fixed the exact same problem today on my friend’s TT 300ZX. Had the same symptoms as yours and immediately after we put it all back together the problem was gone. Hopefully your car doesn’t have an intake manifold covering the valve cover though lol. Good luck

[Lorrin Barth]

A year and a half ago my wife’s Subaru started smelling of burning oil. I waited for the appearance of dripping oil or or any loss of oil in the crankcase. It never happened. The smell seemed more evident on the passenger side where the turbo lives. Replaced the valve cover gasket. No change. Replaced the valve cover gasket again and fixed. The difference the second time was liberal use of RTV.

All this from an occasional drop of oil falling onto the exhaust.

[Bill]

If I remember right the transmission cooler lines run down the drivers side of the engine. If they are rusted one could have a small pin hole in it that will drip fluid on the exhaust system but not enough to make the fluid level drop.

You really need to get under it safely (that means blocked wheels and safety stands) and inspect for oily wet areas. My guess is that a car that age will have small leaks everywhere but you should be able to see a smudge of black on the exhaust system below where the leak causing the smoke is.

[Author]

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