White smoke from engine bay after hard driving

[mfbmike]

Did an oil change yesterday, no issues or hiccups whatsoever. Installed a K&N drop in as well - again, no sweat.

After the oil change and cleaning up, making sure I was topped off, etc. take the car around the block for a quick drive to make sure all is well. Car is running great. Begin to smell smoke, assume it's the car next to me.

Pull back into driveway, pop hood for a last visual inspection, white smoke.

Sweet.

Smoke is coming from underneath engine block and on top of exhaust manifold.

Check cam plate, no leaks there. Check drain plug, no leaks there.

I took off the silver belly pan underneath the car and there is signs of oil leaking. I remove the shield, assuming maybe all the oil that was smoking was sitting on that. MAYBE, just MAYBE I spilled oil during the change.

Go for a drive without the belly pan to see if it was just oil on that pan smoking. Nope. White smoke returns after a spirited drive, again coming from the area in between the exhaust manifold and bottom of engine.

I've reached up and in between the manifold and the engine to feel for any leaks and feel nothing. I've taken a flashlight and shined everywhere I think I possibly could. No signs of leaks - except for the oil that was present on the belly pan (and what I'm guessing is oil on the manifold which is smoking).

I'm stumped. Cars are fucking stupid. I was really dreading having to take this car to the dealership but it looks like I might have to. Hence the reason I've skipped the free maintenance up to this point.

I may monitor the car for the next week or so and see if whatever oil might've accumulated there smokes off before doing so. I don't mind if the car happens to be leaking oil. The fact I can't see or feel any of it drives me insane. lol.

Any ideas or other places I need to check?

[mfbmike]

Also, oil levels on dipstick have remained the same. No changes there.

[Sportsguy83]

Originally Posted by mfbmike

Did an oil change yesterday, no issues or hiccups whatsoever. Installed a K&N drop in as well - again, no sweat.

After the oil change and cleaning up, making sure I was topped off, etc. take the car around the block for a quick drive to make sure all is well. Car is running great. Begin to smell smoke, assume it's the car next to me.

Pull back into driveway, pop hood for a last visual inspection, white smoke.

Some oil fell into the pan as you were filling it up, and is burning now. Also the oil that might have run down the side of the block/heads might be burning off.

It has to be that, there's no other reason to have oil and smoke now other than the change.

[mfbmike]

Originally Posted by Sportsguy83

Some oil fell into the pan as you were filling it up, and is burning now. Also the oil that might have run down the side of the block/heads might be burning off.

It has to be that, there's no other reason to have oil and smoke now other than the change.

I know, it does seem oddly coincidental for it to happen right after an oil change. Had I spilled oil, part me of thinks I definitely would've caught it.

This is a major annoyance but really, if it's just that, so be it.

With that being said, not sure considering the oil accumulation on the pan was in passenger side by the back of the engine bay, whereas the filler neck for our oil is on driver's side closer to the front.

Smoke is coming from the passenger side, on top of manifold.

[strat61caster]

My first guess would have been coolant, maybe a hose developed a leak, keep an eye on all fluid levels.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

My first guess would have been coolant, maybe a hose developed a leak, keep an eye on all fluid levels.

Me too. Doesn't coolant have a white smoke when burned?

Motor oil burns blue...

[mfbmike]

Originally Posted by N1rve

Me too. Doesn't coolant have a white smoke when burned?

Motor oil burns blue...

Hm.

I'll keep that in mind.

Would coolant be able to ignite to a flame if it sat on top of a hot enough exhaust manifold heat shield?

That wouldn't possibly explain the oil on the metal belly pan though. I'll keep an eye out.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by mfbmike

Hm.

I'll keep that in mind.

Would coolant be able to ignite to a flame if it sat on top of a hot enough exhaust manifold heat shield?

That wouldn't possibly explain the oil on the metal belly pan though. I'll keep an eye out.

Yes...it's flammable.

[extrashaky]

Coolant and oil do not smell anything alike when they burn. Coolant has a sickly sweet smell. It doesn't smell like smoke. Besides that, spilled coolant would evaporate away and stop steaming pretty quickly.

Based on your description, I vote not coolant.

[mfbmike]

Originally Posted by extrashaky

Coolant and oil do not smell anything alike when they burn. Coolant has a sickly sweet smell. It doesn't smell like smoke. Besides that, spilled coolant would evaporate away and stop steaming pretty quickly.

Based on your description, I vote not coolant.

The smoke didn't smell particularly sweet which is why I ruled out coolant pretty quickly. I've smelled coolant before, it's very distinct. lol.

I also checked coolant levels and they were fine. I agree it's not coolant but I will continue to monitor.

Not my engine bay...






Smoke is coming directly underneath dipstick in the crevice between engine block and the heat shield towards the back of the engine over the exhaust manifolds (as if whatever is smoking is sitting directly on them).

[Accurate Race Shop]

Some people are developing oil leaks from the cam plate on the passenger side of the engine. Also my car is going to the dealer saturday as I may have a leaking head gasket. Subarus are known to have head gaskets that will leak externally I have replaced a lot of subaru head gaskets over the years. If it's under warranty have the dealer handle it because if you tear the engine apart and then ask for warranty work later they are most likely going to deny you.

Edit: sorry I missed where you said it was not the cam plate. Given it only happens when the engine is hot I would check the valve covers and have the dealership do a pressure test.


Sent from my Q10

[mfbmike]

Originally Posted by Accurate Race Shop

Some people are developing oil leaks from the cam plate on the passenger side of the engine. Also my car is going to the dealer saturday as I may have a leaking head gasket. Subarus are known to have head gaskets that will leak externally I have replaced a lot of subaru head gaskets over the years. If it's under warranty have the dealer handle it because if you tear the engine apart and then ask for warranty work later they are most likely going to deny you.

Edit: sorry I missed where you said it was not the cam plate. Given it only happens when the engine is hot I would check the valve covers and have the dealership do a pressure test.


Sent from my Q10

Thanks. Unfortunately, going to the dealership may be necessary. Wasn't going to tear into it with it under warranty but figured I might be able to find the source before taking it in. Just an annoyance that turns me off. lol.

What are the symptoms of your leaking head gasket?

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by mfbmike

What are the symptoms of your leaking head gasket?

You might see coolant in the oil and/or see oil in the coolant or oil or coolant on the outside of the block/heads.

A loss of compression may be noticed (if measured).


humfrz

[extrashaky]

Originally Posted by humfrz

You might see coolant in the oil and/or see oil in the coolant or oil or coolant on the outside of the block/heads.

After suffering a cracked head on my Jeep that presented with weird symptoms that kept me confused for tens of thousands of miles, I am now sending oil samples off to Blackstone at every oil change for both my vehicles. The Blackstone analysis will show coolant in the oil if that's happening, long before it becomes visible to the naked eye. I'll probably never do another oil change that doesn't include an oil analysis.

It's also pretty easy to test for exhaust gases in the coolant system with a [ame="http://www.amazon.com/UVIEW-560000-Combustion-Leak-Tester/dp/B000NPDL76/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1402635269"]combustion leak tester[/ame]. I have this on my Amazon wish list for purchase when more important purchases are taken care of. Seems like a handy thing to have in the garage.