Help locating possible fluid leak

[Guido0136]

Hello: While pulling codes from my 1994 ATX, i noticed that there is a small puff of smoke coming from the front passenger side of the engine once the engine has warmed up. The smell could be oil. It is the same smell that comes into the cabin while idling (engin hot). This drip never hits the ground and I'm guessing is hitting the manifold.
Quite hard to see where this is coming from. Not sure if it's oil or coolant.

Anyone had this and know what it could be?

 

[greengiant]

i would say your right about oil on the exhaust, would explain why i doesnt start until its warm. my winter car and my jeep both do it. oil and antifreeze have a very different smell, if you think it smells like burning oil it prob is. one of the seals is probably bad.

 

[ShadetreeSHOguy]

A leak as you described usually comes from the valve cover gaskets. The valve cover gaskets and plug well seals are made out of rubber. Over time they get dry and cracked and will leak(especially the rear on onto the rear exhaust manifold) and will cause the burning oil smell in the cabin and usually won't make it to the ground.


What's the maintenance history of the car?

 

[Guido0136]

A leak as you described usually comes from the valve cover gaskets. The valve cover gaskets and plug well seals are made out of rubber. Over time they get dry and cracked and will leak(especially the rear on onto the rear exhaust manifold) and will cause the burning oil smell in the cabin and usually won't make it to the ground.


What's the maintenance history of the car?

I purchased the SHO a few months ago, and it had terrible amount of oil in the plug wells. I have the plugs, wires and the seals replaced. I have also done other minor stuff, but that is all that has been done to the engine since I purchased it.
I have noticed that the CV boot (I think that is what it is called) on the passenger side looks good, but oily. (Shinny and the drivers side is dull and dry) but like I said, this car drips very little. And this could be from when the seals were leaking.
When the hood is closed the smoke drifts out from the passenger headlamp assembly.

Hope this is good info.

 

[VortecGT]

i just replaced my front main seal because of this.

 

[Eric VerValin]

If you just did the VC gaskets, it's amost certianly the rear cam seal. Tends to go out the same time the front main goes too. Time to pull a timing belt reguardless.

 

[ShadetreeSHOguy]

If you just did the VC gaskets, it's amost certianly the rear cam seal. Tends to go out the same time the front main goes too. Time to pull a timing belt reguardless.

What he said

 

[rubydist]

The other common leak that has not yet been mentioned is from the power steering pump and/or hose connections. They have a tendency to develop leaks, too, and those leaks tend to end up right on the manifold as well.

 

[greengiant]

mine does that ^^^^ another winter project of fix those stupid connections