Smoke coming from engine (not valve cover gasket)

[hatchback_wes]

Hello my fellow 3gers!

I noticed there is white smoke coming from my engine and smells like oil burning after running the engine for about 20 min. I have an 86 lx-i hatch. I recently changed the valve cover gasket too. I was hoping that it was leftover oil burning from the old leaky valve cover, but I've ran it for a whole week and the engine keeps smoking after a short drive around my neighborhood.

The smoke looks like its coming from behind the heat shield and I don't see any oil leaking from the spark plugs or around exhaust manifold. What can it be? An extra detail would be that I see the smoke coming around the left side of the exhaust manifold (like behind/under it) and there is no oil leaking on my driveway. :ugh:

What do you guys think?

[Oldblueaccord]

Power steering hose.. give it a grab. If it's wet it's leaking. Drips on the exhaust.

[hatchback_wes]

Nope, not the steering hose.

But I grabbed a flashlight and loosened the heat shield and tried peaking behind the exhaust manifold pipes and I may have seen something shiny (oily?) when I was pointing the light around there. Sorry, kind of hard to explain lol

[Dr_Snooz]

Usually if you smell it burning, it's because it's dripping onto the exhaust pipe from the back of the engine. Most often it will be coming from the oil filter area.

[hatchback_wes]

I will check again to be sure and will report back. But I'm sure its none of those. I'll see if I can get some pics...thanks guys :)

[hatchback_wes]

Alright guys so I brake cleaned a leak area and looked like the oil is dripping onto this tab thing, idk what its called...I dont think its coming from the distributor as I see no leak from under that either...thoughts?

[conozo]

The tab thing is your head gasket.

[hatchback_wes]

so could the oil be leaking out of the head?

[Dr_Snooz]

More likely coming from all that blue goo under the valve cover. Start by replacing the valve cover gasket and sealing it properly.

[hatchback_wes]

definitely not from the blue goo(gasket maker)...made sure I checked all around that

[ShiRen]

I really hope you used an actual valve cover gasket... but man thats a lot of silicone, just tack the gasket down in the corners and stick it on the engine, don't make it hell for yourself to replace it a second time.
It is highly unlikely that the head gasket is seeping oil there, but there is an oil drain port right there. I guess you can try retorquing your head bolts, 90ftlbs, don't loosen them.

[hatchback_wes]

I really hope you used an actual valve cover gasket... but man thats a lot of silicone, just tack the gasket down in the corners and stick it on the engine, don't make it hell for yourself to replace it a second time.
It is highly unlikely that the head gasket is seeping oil there, but there is an oil drain port right there. I guess you can try retorquing your head bolts, 90ftlbs, don't loosen them.

Oh yeah, thats definitely rtv gasket maker silicone, and I most definitely used a valve cover gasket (fel-pro). When I changed it the first time, I started up the car and oil started spewing out toward the front of the car all over the exhaust manifold and heat shield. I had the corners and the half moon things blotched with rtv as well. So thats why the blue is sticking out of the valve cover, I had to put enough so that didn't happen again. Torqued the head bolts to spec too and oil still came out so that's why it looks like that lol

[Dr_Snooz]

Why doesn't your valve cover seal properly? Don't be surprised when you pull it and find that the goo wasn't actually adhering to anything.

[hatchback_wes]

Why doesn't your valve cover seal properly? Don't be surprised when you pull it and find that the goo wasn't actually adhering to anything.

Not sure, I was flipping the valve cover gasket all around where the tab was at each corner and the oil still kept seeping out so I gave up and put enough gasket maker to help the gasket seal the cover up

Also, the blue goo is only along the front part of the valve cover closest toward the bumper...its not all around lol

[ShiRen]

Thats not normal... the valve cover gasket should go into the slot on the valve cover and seal very tightly against the lip around the head without any silicone. It is either torn or the valve cover isnt seated all the way. Its probably still leaking.

[hatchback_wes]

Thats not normal... the valve cover gasket should go into the slot on the valve cover and seal very tightly against the lip around the head without any silicone. It is either torn or the valve cover isnt seated all the way. Its probably still leaking.

Idk...I bought 1 valve cover gasket (forgot the name) same issue...bought another one (felpro) same issue again! So maybe seating became warped or something changed? No clue, but I for sure know that oil is not coming out of there since that took care of most of the original oil leak 🤷🏽♂️

[Dana02]

Usually if you smell it burning, it's because it's dripping onto the exhaust pipe from the back of the engine. Most often it will be coming from the oil filter area.Do you even own a 3gee?

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[Dana02]

Nobody helped in this post huh? I'm having the same issue. Started smoking randomly and it's coming from the exhaust ports.

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[ShiRen]

Did you just come in here to talk shit lol? The oil filter housing is directly above the exhaust.

If it's coming out of the ports it's either dripping on the manifold or the gasket is leaking and your valve seals are cooked