Oh boy, can't drive my car hard anymore

[SHOemup]

I was driving my car kinda hard last night, but for only about 30 seconds. I pushed 3rd gear to about 6K before shifting. I smelled something and pulled over. My engine was smoking. Not from over-heating, it was not a coolant smell. I'm pretty sure it was oil leaking onto something hot and burning off. I drove normal the rest of the night and no smoke. I checked everytime I stopped. I decided to push 2nd gear just to see and it did indeed smell and smoke afterward. I have a slight oil leak that looks like it's coming from the oil pan but I dont think this could be the cause of my problem. The smoke looks like it's coming more from the left side of the engine bay. I havn't lost a signifacant amount of oil. Any ideas of where the oil can be coming from? Thanks in advance.

 

[pjtoledo]

Of the many possibilities for a leak, I would check the oil pressure sender first. Back side of engine, where heads meet the block, kinda of below the heater hoses. On an MTX approach from below, very easy.

Perry Toledo,Ohio

 

[ACOK]

Here are some experience from my 93ATX.

It was a lot of smoke coming from the hood and front right tire after 10 minutes / 30 minutes highway.

#1 the valve cover gasket, and plug well were found leaked, fixed but still smoke.

#2 The camshaft has CID found leaked and could be mistreated as P/S leak. Fixed but still smoke.

#3 Open the upper timing cover and found both camshaft seals are leaking. Totally open the timing cover and found Crank seal too. They went down the cover and down to the subframe and move with the wind to Y-pipe and burned there. And when the car is slow or stop, the smoke will just come out from the hood and the tire. I drove my burning car quite some time before I learned to fix it.

I notice that if you get smoke, the more possible is from the timing belt cover down to hot exhaust system; the pan, sensor leak you can smell it but not that much smoke, if any, compared to seal leak mentioned above.

 

[nc89sho]

possibly cam or crank seals. they leak worse when in higher rpms

 

[luigisho]

Most have been mentioned already. The only other places to look are rear main seal and oil pan gaskets.

 

[SolidState]

I had a leaking mail seal that sealed itself...

when revving in neutral, I noticed a puff of blue smoke from the back half of the engine.

 

[SHOfun 93]

My oil pan gasket leaks a bit, and I go through probably a half a quart of oil every 4g miles. Just locate it and see if it is practical to fix right now or if it can hold for a while. Also keep track of your oil levels closely. Good luck.

 

[ThePOWERtoRULE]

Proof that these 2 problems are out there:
Before I owned my car the crankshaft seal and rear main seal both leaked. The rear main seal got oil and grease ALL OVER the back of the engine...while I was changing my oil under there, I got a putty knife and was able to just cut right through it...some degreaser and a couple paper towels later, the back of the engine looked like new.

Still got a small small leak off the pan...not really worried about it right now.

 

[sdpatt]

When you say "left side," you do mean the driver's side, don't you?

Scott

 

[Denny]

When it comes time to replace the clutch, upgrade your clutch kit for not that much more cash to get all the seals and such. And if you ever do your timing belt, get the front main done then. My engine has finally been resealed with the replacement of the front seal during the recent "timing belt/wake up call for Yamaha power" work! thumbs_u

 

[BeatDaSHO]

yo Chris. I could almost guarantee it's the front main seal. Get in your car and start it up. Turn the wheels all the way to the right. Then get out and go look under by the passenger side right under the crank pulley. There will probably be fresh oil there. Mine does the same thing. I lose about a quart every 1000 miles and it can sometimes smell real bad after reving real high.

Greg

 

[DavidT]

Ditto that, Greg. You are describing my leak too thumbs_u
I use Castrol 20w50. On my last oil change, I used the same flavor, but designed for engines with high miles. Seemed to help a bit...slowing down the leak that is. I monitored my leak to be a qt. every 600 miles or so. After the above, it went a 1000 miles to a qt.

 

[Trojan Man]

My car does the exact same thing. Driving around normal, it is fine. But when I really get on it it smokes from the same area. Burns about a quart every 800 miles. I'm going to try some Max Life on the next oil change and see what happens.

 

[johnny boy]

i had a bd leak and it turned out to be my power stearing hoses.