What could be smoking?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
From: Kiersteadville New Brunswick
What could be smoking?
When the '87 project Vette warms up, I start to get "smoke" raising from the rear of the passenger side engine bay. I have new valve cover gaskets on and there is no sign of oil leaking at all. It appears to be originating lower down by the exhaust manifold but with the shield on I can't see. It doesn't have a burning smell like coolant either, nor a smell like burning oil. I saw a Youtube video someone posted that looked like the same scenario but there was no explanation. I also held a piece of paper down to see if the oil pressure sending unit was sending out a fine mist, but nothing either. I can post a video of it if no one has an idea. I just don't want it to burst into flames on me but if it is some liquid just "burning off" it doesn't seem to want to end. Maybe something got in there over the 14 years it sat?
Thanks
Thanks
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
From: Kiersteadville New Brunswick
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
From: Kiersteadville New Brunswick
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 34,988
Likes: 515
From: Riverside County Southern California
Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '20
Oil leak on exhaust manifold is the number one possibility. Ogf that is the case, replace the valve covers' gasket.
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Team Owner
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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just because you replaced the valve cover gasket doesn't mean you don't have a leak. re-torque to bolts. or make sure when you put them on the gasket did not double up
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 919
Likes: 0
From: Kiersteadville New Brunswick
I'll re-torque the bolts tomorrow. I did use new Fel-Pro and a gasket sealer as well. I really don't want to have to disconnect the line overtop of the cover again... PITA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 6,314
Likes: 508
From: South-central Missouri
I never saw a SBC that didn't leak sooner or later somewhere along that rear gasket between the block and the intake manifold (among other favorite locations).
A mechanic's mirror on a telescoping stick and a bright light will show you if you have a problem there.
Good hunting!
P.
A mechanic's mirror on a telescoping stick and a bright light will show you if you have a problem there.
Good hunting!
P.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
I never saw a SBC that didn't leak sooner or later somewhere along that rear gasket between the block and the intake manifold (among other favorite locations).
A mechanic's mirror on a telescoping stick and a bright light will show you if you have a problem there.
Good hunting!
P.
A mechanic's mirror on a telescoping stick and a bright light will show you if you have a problem there.
Good hunting!
P.
That's the first place to look.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 17,551
Likes: 26
From: El Paso Texas
One of these days, I'm gonna spring for one of those mechanic's cameras that you can snake down into oddball places and see the image on the screen. It would be VERY nice for solving problems like this one. The flashlight and mirror work, but are cumbersome. This gadget would save so many headaches....
http://www.harborfreight.com/digital...era-67979.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/digital...era-67979.html