Smoke and new sound from engine

[Henrico]

Hi,

Sorry, another post from me I'm afraid!

I just got back from getting the wheel bearing sorted and had a lovely cross country journey from Gloucester back to Surrey which took me about 5 hours taking all the back roads etc.

However, when I neared home I stopped off and when idling I noticed smoke coming out of the vents on the bonnet. So when I got home I had a closer look and it appeared to be coming from the oil filter area and got more when revved. It was lowish on oil so I filled it up, earlier in the day it has been running high on the temperature gauge when idling in this hot weather (there was an issue with the fan not kicking in but I've made it so it's on all the time with a quick bodge). Also, I noticed a new whirring sound which rises on rev increase and happens at idle so not a gearbox whir.

Here's a quick video I took (I don't know if you can make out the new whirring sound ..)

Click

What do you guys reckon?

[anonymous-user]

Henrico said:

What do you guys reckon?

I reckon Gloucester is a long way to go from Surrey to swap wheel bearings.
Oil from around the oil filter suggests a very feint chance that it might just be (wild stab in the dark here)...the oil filter not done up tight?

[elan_fan]

Did you check the oil hot and with the engine running? (I assume you have an apollo tank judging by the take off from the cam cover)

If you've got enough oil to smoke it would be sprayed about the place, is their any evidence?

as for the whine, alternator bearing/belt too tight

Edited by elan_fan on Wednesday 25th July 23:15

[Henrico]

Yeah they do good bearings in gloucester they do!

I'll check the filter tightness although have not had any oil patches below car when left standing.

I checked the oil a few minutes after engine off. I do have an Apollo tank and seems to like a half litre or so every few hundred miles. Can't see any excess oil around the starter motor area at all but will have a closer look. I never fill it over max. However when I drive I generally smell burning oil, thought it was normal to be honest...

[elan_fan]

half a litre every few hundred miles sounds quite a bit, check it with the engine running and keep your eye on it over the next few hundred miles. You may find that after an initial loss if you don't top up you won't lose any more and the stuff you are losing is being blown out.

[Henrico]

I've filled it to just below max and each time it's dropped to below min so unless my dipstick is inaccurate I don't really want to leave it that low.

I'm afraid to drive it incase it gets worse, judging by the vid would it be wise to get it checked before any more jaunts into the country?

Cheers

[V7SLR]

Get a torch out and check for oil running down the rear of the timing belt cover and onto the filter housing - this can be the result of a weeping exhaust cam front oil seal. It can also get onto he exhaust on the way down. A small weep can cause a substantial amount to get down to the filter housing then drip from the filter as if it was a filter fault.

[hobnob91]

Hi

Did you diagnose this problem in the end? I've got what seem to be the same symptoms, a whirring sound under load, oily smoke coming out of the exhaust and the smell of burnt oil. The car is a 1.6 Supersport K Series.

[Henrico]

I think it was just excess oil being burnt, never proved to be a problem. I don't own the car anymore, I believe the new owner was on here a while back who may be able to help. Sorry I can't be more help.