little smoke is coming out the the side of the engine,under the hood?

Question

if i drive little while i dont see no smoke, but i drove on highway 10 minute and i can see smoke was coming out the engine,it usally come where the wire plugs are on the engine,wondering what is worng with it,any idea,thanks

Answer 1

put a new valve cover gasket on that side or tighten it down first to see if that helps, it's leaking oil down onto your exhaust causing the smoke.

Answer 2

First off lets hit the basics: Does the smell REPEAT..if it was a one time thing the problem may alredy be gone.. (check the underside for the toasty roadkill). If not, move on...

1) Had you (or anyone) done anything under the hood or had you perhaps driven over anything that might account for the smoke (spilled oil, splashed up road junk, you would be surprised how much smoke a loose plastic bag kicks up...etc.) ?

2) No? ok.. lets try to identify the NATURE of the smoke
a) Electrical smells like fried wires....
b) Hot antifreeze smells just like you expect it too...sort of sickly sweet
c) Hot oil.. the hardest to tell since a lot of the engine gets coated in grease and grime.
d) No antifreeze in your car.. does the smoke disappear quicky and is it white.. might be steam.

Smoke Color: Black and grey is generally oil or grease
Sooty grey is usually burning wiring
white is generally steam.

Gasoline has no smoke.. it is either liquid or it is lost eyebrow time.

3) Identification by absence:
The smoke comes from somewhere - whats missing? Is your water, oil or power steering / transmission fluid level(s) down?
Is it down significantly?

4) Lastly by Location: Ok.. you think it is by the spark plug wires... check the plugs... are they in tight? If not the smoke may be escaping exhaust gasses.

use a light in a dark garage to catch the smoke and try to track it to it source.

If you can not identify the source or if the source comes from unreachable or unfixable element, then it is time to take the car in to a service center.

good luck...

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Answer 3

If it is a LITTLE smoke, you have to look hard to see it, it could be - 1. Some oil spilled on the engine - not to worry, it will go away when the oil dries off. 2. Detached positive crankcase ventilation valve - easy fixed. Anything more than a little, get it looked at by a mechanic. Get it looked at by a mechanic anyway.

Answer 4

Your valve cover gaskets are leaking take a wrench and tighten them down problem solved. If that does not do it open the hood run the engine and see where it is actually coming from or if you can see any leaks could be a coolant leak that is spraying on that area

Answer 5

there could be oil or coolant in the engine chamber. if you smell something sweet, then it's coolant of course. if what you see is brown, then it's oil.

it COULD be that your brake, power steering, coolant system has a tube leakage and is dripping onto the engine (the hottest component of your car). unfortunately, you would have to go to a TRUSTY & EXPERIENCED mechanic and have them look the car over.

Answer 6

Does it smell like oil, or antifreeze? It could be a valve cover gasket if it's oil, Or a head gasket or heater hose if it's antifreeze.

Answer 7

Your wiring must be messed up somehow, you need to get that fixed before your car catches fire

Answer 8

you probably have a bad valve cover gasket they are fairly easy to change

Answer 9

service center territory.