smelly engine....
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Joined: Nov 2005
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smelly engine....
Hey folks;
I restoring an 86. I bought it cheap and it seams to have a lot of little problems, wich is OK becasue working on the car is a kind of therapy (gets me away from the wife). Last night I started the next job, replacing the steering rack. I ran the car for a while while I shuffled things in the garage to fit the car in so my wife can also put her car in. I noticed a burning smell coming from the engine. It's always been there, but I can't seem to place it. At first I thought it was leaves and crap. apparently the the car sat for a period of time. So I washed all that out. Then I noticed smoke coming from the rocker cover area on the passsenger side. I went to remove the cover and pur a new gasket in when I noticed the whole cover was loose. I tightened it down and wiped up some oil. No more smoke, but still smelly. It kind of smells like old car, burn oil, burn leaves and crap. I gunked the engine down, but it still smells. Is it going to smell that way forever now? am I missing something? Do I just need to clean the engine more ? any ideas would be great. thanks.
I restoring an 86. I bought it cheap and it seams to have a lot of little problems, wich is OK becasue working on the car is a kind of therapy (gets me away from the wife). Last night I started the next job, replacing the steering rack. I ran the car for a while while I shuffled things in the garage to fit the car in so my wife can also put her car in. I noticed a burning smell coming from the engine. It's always been there, but I can't seem to place it. At first I thought it was leaves and crap. apparently the the car sat for a period of time. So I washed all that out. Then I noticed smoke coming from the rocker cover area on the passsenger side. I went to remove the cover and pur a new gasket in when I noticed the whole cover was loose. I tightened it down and wiped up some oil. No more smoke, but still smelly. It kind of smells like old car, burn oil, burn leaves and crap. I gunked the engine down, but it still smells. Is it going to smell that way forever now? am I missing something? Do I just need to clean the engine more ? any ideas would be great. thanks.
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Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Plano TX
If it's not any wires laying on exhaust or leaves/rodents/trash... etc... then you probably just need to run it or drive it around for a little bit and let it burn out. Probably some oil or something still leaking on the exhaust.
And ah hell, who am I kidding, I have a front seal leak that I need to redo and mine has the burning oil smell. If that's the worse it'll be to me then it's cool.
And ah hell, who am I kidding, I have a front seal leak that I need to redo and mine has the burning oil smell. If that's the worse it'll be to me then it's cool.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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As soon as I can replace the steering rack, I'll take'er for a spin. I think it's been loose for a while. I crawled under the car and noticed oily crud all over the starter moter, oil pan, block etc. and most notably the exhaust manifold. I'm gonna clean the areas that are cruddy with rags and simple green, that I can reach. I'll have to check for leaves though. I may have missed a crevis or two now that I'm thinking of it. Thanks for the responses.
