Loud Engine Noise and Smoke VG30DE.

[The Saint]

Hello.
Symptoms: VG30de.
1. Smoke from the rear of the engine aria at start and after. Smells like exhaust.
2. Audible sound of exhaust eminating from the engine bay.

Engine condition:
1. 210K miles.
2. Oil full. I haven't starved the engine ever.
3. Coolant full. not over heating.
4. Exhaust manifold gaskets NEW. Changed yesterday.
5. Header collector gaskets NEW. Changed yesterday.
6. After market herders inspected - no cracks in flange or other welds.
7. No Idle problmes.
8. No missing cylinders. all are firing.
9. No blue or white smoke from the exhaust pipes.

Please let me know what you think.
Thank you in advance.

[NolimitZ32]

Have you checked your EGR tubes, there may be rust issues, what aftermarket headers do you have, believe it or not the cheap ebay ones (this includes cxracing, megan, etc.) have issues with warpage at the head flange due to the use of low quality alloys. This is what I would put my money on.

[DCaff300ZX]

+1 to EGR tubes.

[The Saint]

Thank you. I will look into this.
Would it be better to delete the EGR system? My 1990 is 25 years old, so it is not required.

[DCaff300ZX]

I myself if doing the work would probably delete it, and intended to have that done when mine also had a leak but my Z guy just fixed the leak I had among all of the other work I had done so it wasn't an issue, and stays emissions inspection-safe...something I had to go through once with the NA. In some states you MUST have all emissions equipment hooked up if inspected (admittedly rare) or you get flagged so if that's the case, probably best to keep it and fix it.