After a year of not driving my car, I finally took it out today. I took out the old gas, and put new gas in. I did the oil change. I saw that it was low on coolant so I added some (I know I should’ve flushed it out, but I had to go to work). So I was driving it, and I stopped at a red light. I saw that there was smoke around me (outside of the car from the driver’s side wheel). I quickly turned the car off, waited a second, then I quickly made a turn to a gas station.

There, I checked the oil, it was good. I checked the coolant, it was good. I looked under the car, and I saw smoke coming out of it. It LOOKED like it was coming from between the downpipe and the catalytic converter. I’m not sure if it was closer towards the engine or not, but that’s where I could source it from.

So I just drove it to work (just a few miles away). On the way, it was running good again. Except when I stopped at a light, smoke didn’t come out (or didn’t seem like it). I was looking at the temp gauge, and it was a higher than it should be, maybe the tip was 2 mm from where it should be. I looked at the tach, and it was searching for an RPM. I was idiling, and the tach shoul’ve been at around 900~950 rpm, but it dropped to 700~750 rpm.

I check for oil leaks and there aren’t any. I did notice that my oil plug needs to be changed, the rubber ring around it is getting worn out.

But does anyone know what this might be?

I’m hoping its just a crack in the exhaust system, or I need to change the O2 housing, but it MAY be more than just that..

Anyone know?

~Tacoman

Did you notice any other leaks? maybe an oil pan gasket leaking down on the down pipe.



15.9 @ 86.7mph

Smooth idle? We don't need no stinking smooth idle.

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>Did you notice any other leaks? maybe an oil pan gasket
>leaking down on the down pipe.
>

I didn't notice any liquid (oil) leaks. Well, I'm not 100% sure, as I see some drops under the car where the oil plug is at, but I never SEE the drop coming down.

The only thing I see is smoke..

~Tacoman

what color is the smoke? might add a clue to our mystery...

The color of the smoke was white...

~Tacoman

sounds like you are burning coolant somehow.

>sounds like you are burning coolant somehow.

When I opened up the radiator cap, I saw that there wasn't any in there (even though there was some in the reservoir)..

But right now, after driving it for a while, it looks like its gone now... but I can still smell like something is burning..

Or am I paranoid?

Oh BTW, there was no CELs

~Tacoman

I no longer can SEE the smoke, but I CAN smell like something is burning.

There are no CELs..

When I stop at a light, the RPMs drop down to 500 rpms, and its still searching for an RPM.

The coolant guage goes alittle bit up. If the whole guage was split into 4 quarters, it would be in between the middle and upper quarter.

I moved my car from the parking spot, and looked like there were 2 different drops of something. I am not 100% sure if it was oil or not.

Does anyone know what this might be?

Also, when I was changing the plugs, I pulled one out, and alot of old oil came out with it. I might have to change my head gasket, correct?

Thanks

~Tacoman

White smoke sounds like coolant, unless there is a bluish tint to it.

Check the coolant lines to and front the heater core, they could have a leak and be smoking out the backside, by the firewall. If you are loosing coolant, I would look to a leak in the system somewhere.



15.9 @ 86.7mph

Smooth idle? We don't need no stinking smooth idle.

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