Smoking Engine Bay

[whitedragon551]

Well got my passenger side axle seal fixed because I thought it was the cause for my oil burning smell. Well just got home from a 15 minute drive and noticed the smell again so I popped the hood to check it out. Seems most of the smoke/burning smell comes from the piece where you put in fresh oil, under all the wiring. Appears to be coming off the top.

What would cause this? Im thinking may be a bad valve cover gasket?

Other side (drivers) seems have some residue built up, but definitely not smoking from them. Is this something that should be done together?

Lastly...How easy is the passenger side to do myself?

[Towncivilian]

Oil dripping from the valve cover gasket on to the exhaust can cause a nasty oil burning smell and probably some smoke at times. Start by tightening the valve cover gasket screws with a Phillips screwdriver. Sometimes they back out a bit and can cause seepage.

[whitedragon551]

Oil dripping from the valve cover gasket on to the exhaust can cause a nasty oil burning smell and probably some smoke at times. Start by tightening the valve cover gasket screws with a Phillips screwdriver. Sometimes they back out a bit and can cause seepage.

Thats what I was thinking. Any specific torque or just hand tighten them down?

[whitedragon551]

Checked all of them on the passenger side and they all were more than a handful of turns lose. I tightened them all back up. We will see what happens. My guess is they havent been checked. Car only has 135K on the clock.

[Towncivilian]

Great! Always good to start with the simple things first. I hope tightening them fixed your problem.

[whitedragon551]

Great! Always good to start with the simple things first. I hope tightening them fixed your problem.

It didnt work.

A couple questions.

Is it normally that the bolts that hold the valve cover on be a philips head style bolt?

Secondly how involved is doing the passenger side? I have the ability to get both gaskets, passenger side and driver side, in rubber with grommets for the bolts for $32 through a work discount.

I plan on only doing the passenger side because the driver side appears to be a little involved. How hard is it to do the driver side? Appears the throttle body needs to come off with a few other things.

[Towncivilian]

Yes, the valve cover screws should be Phillips.

I'm afraid I don't know how difficult the job is as I've never been down to the valve covers on either a VG33E or my VQ35DE. Check the EM section of the factory service manual if you haven't yet. You will need a new throttle body gasket and new upper and lower intake manifold gaskets in addition to the valve cover gaskets.

[whitedragon551]

Yes, the valve cover screws should be Phillips.

I'm afraid I don't know how difficult the job is as I've never been down to the valve covers on either a VG33E or my VQ35DE. Check the EM section of the factory service manual if you haven't yet. You will need a new throttle body gasket and new upper and lower intake manifold gaskets in addition to the valve cover gaskets.

New manifold gaskets for doing the passenger side or is that only required for the driver side along with the throttle body gasket?

[Towncivilian]

You will need to remove the upper and lower intake manifolds in order to gain access to either valve cover, so you will need to replace the gaskets along the way too. If you want OEM part numbers for all required gaskets, provide your VIN.

[whitedragon551]

You will need to remove the upper and lower intake manifolds in order to gain access to either valve cover, so you will need to replace the gaskets along the way too. If you want OEM part numbers for all required gaskets, provide your VIN.

Perhaps I am confused on what the valve cover is. I think its the black part where you put the oil in.

[Towncivilian]

The oil filler tube?

[whitedragon551]

The oil filler tube?

Yes. That black metal cover. Has 8 philips head bolts in it each with a rubber grommet around the head.

[Towncivilian]

Oh, my mistake, I should've looked at your picture more carefully, my mistake. I'm not sure how easily the passenger side valve cover comes off on your engine, sorry.

[whitedragon551]

Oh, my mistake, I should've looked at your picture more carefully, my mistake. I'm not sure how easily the passenger side valve cover comes off on your engine, sorry.

Is that the valve cover or do I have the wrong piece? Appears I just need to undo the wiring harnesses and move them aside, clean up, and replace. The driver side is a whole different animal. Most of the top half of the engine needs to come apart for that.

[Towncivilian]

The FSM calls it a rocker cover. If it's really that simple and in plain sight, I'd go for it. Take some pictures with the cover removed so we can see how clean your engine is (or isn't, that'd be bad). Be sure to follow torque specs when bolting everything back up - you should be able to find them in the EM section of the FSM I linked above.

[whitedragon551]

The FSM calls it a rocker cover. If it's really that simple and in plain sight, I'd go for it. Take some pictures with the cover removed so we can see how clean your engine is (or isn't, that'd be bad). Be sure to follow torque specs when bolting everything back up - you should be able to find them in the EM section of the FSM I linked above.

Engine should be clean. Oil looks brand new when it gets changed every 3K.

[Towncivilian]

Out of curiosity, what oil & filter do you run typically?

[whitedragon551]

Out of curiosity, what oil & filter do you run typically?

Not a clue. When I first got it I took it to the Quaker State quick change. Havent had it very long.

[whitedragon551]

Alright changed it out today. Took about 30 minutes. 2 harnesses need unplugged, 2 houses with clamps need removed and the rest is just 8 simple bolts.

The old gasket didnt appear to be bad. There was barely any build up in the valves.

I was planning on taking it long distance to Detroit tomorrow, which is about a 3 hour drive for me. If the oil is still leaking should I be worried about possible fire hazard or will I be safe?