Smoke from engine on startup.

[JamieBeeston]

Hi.

Dunno what seems to be causing this.. but it seems, after starting and idleing, fine... but drive about 100-1000m down the road, and stop at a junction... smoke comes out from under the bonnet, almost coolent leaking-esque.. but defo oil smoke (from smell)

Totally clears if i carry on driving, or doesnt appear if i dont slow down after setting off (prolly just blows away)... no leaks on the drive..

I have just had the exhaust manifold Gaskets replaced.. and tbh, aint noticed it since.. but aint driven much since either (only y-day)

I am thiking its some sort of breather pipe, thats kinked / holding some oil... and once i drive, its being spewed out onto the zorst...

Anyone know of anything that might be suspect / inspectable ?

Its not a major issue... am slightly worried about why a breather would be getting full of oil, should it be that... but oil consumption doesnt seem overly bad...

thnx

[wolosp]

You say you've just had the exhaust manifold gaskets replaced - might the smoke/smell be from oil/grease left on the exhaust or manifolds by the grease-monkeys after they replaced the gaskets?
I had the smell of oil which was caused by a slight oil leak from the sump gasket being blown back onto the exhaust main pipe.

[boosted ls1]

What about rocker gaskets leaking oil onto the manifolds overnight? Have a poke around in the morning before you start the car.

[arattray]

You had the problem before the gaskets were replaced - right?

Then it is probably an oil leak onto the exhaust, and the rocker cover gaskets are a sensible first thing to check. You're probably hoping it's as simple as this, but even rocker gaskets are a b*tch on these cars. Air-con really gets in the way, but so does a lot of other stuff.

When the bonnet's closed and engine running, hot air rises up through those vents creating a nice smoke trail. Any motion of the car, or wind, will disperse the smoke so that you can't see it. The exhaust gets much hotter when your engine is under load than it does when idling, so that's why you won't see it when it's just started.

It takes quite a lot of oil to create a noticeable smoke plume. If you can't find any evidence of oil around the rocket gasket, on a calm day (and not on the M4) get your car really hot by accelerating through gears, braking, accelerating again, etc. Stop quickly and open the bonnet. You should be able to see where the smoke is coming from. Look above this and you'll probably find the source of oil leak.

I know this is only loosely related to your problem, but I'll tell you anyway. After replacing exhaust manifold gaskets and using copper exhaust assembly paste on the manifold-cat joints, the claimed heat resistance was not quite 'TVR' heat resistant. Warming up the engine I noticed it starting to smoke, but it got a lot worse when I drove it.

Not wanting to disassemble those joints again, I decided to get it all done with in one go and let it fly along a nearby B-road. They don't last forever those roads and so at the T-junction smoke was pouring through the bonnet vents. A kind young lady stopped her car opposite mine and lowered her window to ask if I was OK. I just kind of sank into the seat and said "yeah, why?".

Good luck

[JamieBeeston]

hmm, i should add, at tickover, nomatter HOW hot the car gets, there is no smoke,, even if i leave it 5 - 10 mins to get 'hot hot'

ONLY only I drive, and then stop does it happen.. hence my feels of breather pipes getting blocked / dribbling... and the increased pressure from driving 'clearing them'

but I am no mechanic by any stretch,

thanks for the ideas so far,

[david beer]

My last Griff would pour smoke out of the bonnet on hard left handers. It was the rocker cover gasket on the right bank, oil would drip onto the manifold. It doesnt take more than a drip to create a lot of smoke!

[2 sheds]

Crank case breathing should feed straight into plenum inlet, the pipe does have a gauze filter but unlikely to be blocked, more likely to be a drop of oil on exhaust, smoke would only occur after a couple of minutes and then stop once oil had burnt off.
Tim

[GarryM]

Do you have PAS? May not be related but I had a very similar problem (smoke out of bonnet after a v. short drive) which went when the steering fluid leak was fixed. It was a very small leak and never noticed it (smoke) whilst driving and nor when I had been driving for some time - just after stopping after a short distance.

[JamieBeeston]

GarryM said: Do you have PAS? May not be related but I had a very similar problem (smoke out of bonnet after a v. short drive) which went when the steering fluid leak was fixed. It was a very small leak and never noticed it (smoke) whilst driving and nor when I had been driving for some time - just after stopping after a short distance.

hmm,

yes I do have pas, and also a slight leak apparently, but on the steering rack, as opposed from the reservoir...

So, cant see how this would be it .. unless its spurting .. and why onyl at startup ?


Tim, anything I can check for easily ?

thnx guys.

TBH, it STILL hasnt done it since the Gasket fix.. but I am smelling a burny smell, but might just be the diesels in front of me :P

[xain]

I saw smoke rising from under the bonnet one morning and it turned out to be leaves sitting on the exhaust manifold!

[JamieBeeston]

ok,

had a good look around the engine today, and noticed 2 things,

a) power steering reservoir was down (only an inch, but down)

b) there is alot of 'grime' around the outflow pipes on the reservoir, and upon further inspection, a small 'puddle' in the middle of the engine, under the plenum, almost dead middle of windscreen, i am assuming the pair are linked, but didnt want to scratch my watch earlier trying to 'feel' the fluid.

New jubiliee clip time on the reservoir i think.

hopefully that will be that, best guess, as it gets cool, some fluid is leaking out, which then burns off as i drive off, once warm,, but quickly dissapears once v.hot..

and for some reason, when hot, its not leaking..

Thanks for help anyway ppls, glad it seems to be a simple fix