Ka24de - Odd smoke problem

[DjTravisSW]

Ka24de engine - 5sp manual

This probably happens off and on, more off then on. This is the first time it's done it in about a month or more.

Story:I was at my local Taco Bell getting some grub, as I was waiting for my order, I noticed that from the passenger side of the engine that smoke was coming out. -EDIT- White smoke.

It's ONLY this side of the engine where it does this and I don't have that much of a clue on what's going on. My car isn't over heating, oil levels are fine (what would this have to do with smoke? no clue, probably nothing), I have a lil oil leak, maybe that's burning, don't know, coolant, clutch, transmission, manifolds?

I'm starting to think it could be a radiator situation, just a guess, but I could be wrong. It isn't affecting car performance, as much as I can tell.

And usually when this happens, I pull to the side, pop the hood, try to find the source, but I let it rest for a minute or two and drive off and it's fine.

Do you guys and gals have any clue what might be going on?


Modified by DjTravisSW at 8:18 AM 9/12/2006

[scotttak]

black/gray smoke or white smoke?black = oils of some sortwhite = water or radiator fluid of some sort. green = radioactive fluids from beyond

[rsmithdrift]

lots of cars do this.......it's your oil leak......apparently some of the oil is on the head...or too close to it near the hottest part of the engine (especially if it's on the intake runners or header) and when the car gets heated up to your normal high opperating temp from needing a coolant flush or running it hard, whatever (still not overheating) it'll get hot enough to burn the oil off of the head causing smoke.

Most cars with oil leaks do this, unfortunately.

[DjTravisSW]

Just fix the leak, clean up the engine and I should be fine?

I had it checked out, guy claimed it to be rear main shield and gasket. I have gasket sealer and that should just be fine. He wanted 180 for a gasket when I can get them for 10 bucks off a Nissan dealership, so yeah. (he wanted 500 total for gasket, rear main shield and labor)

I'd try to do it myself, but my buddy who helps me is up in Riverside and I dont have anything to jack up my car. Until I can take care of it, think I should just try to keep the oil leak area clean?

I mean, it isn't that much of a hassle, once in a while it burns, but that's it. Oil levels are only slowly going down. I check it constantly.