First, let's start with this short video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x99pE...ature=youtu.be

I've smelled this from inside my car now (not always) for years...

Today I just put some fluids in and cleaned the throttle body. I started it up with the hood up just to look at things. And I see this smoke. I recognized the smell. The engine was not hot at all, I was able to touch it.

Now, I know there are some sort of leaks in there. I believe the power steering and brake fluid leak. My engine oil levels seem to be good although last time i got an oil change the tech noted that there was an "oil leak".

Also, for what it's worth I seemed to think that the smell was only perceptible when the car had been sitting for a while. In this case, the car wasn't run for at least a week, probably 1.5 - 2 weeks. This makes me, as a total novice, think it might be some oil residue that has built up from whatever fluid(s) is leaking.

What might this be? I hate the thought of breathing harmful chemicals now that I see this!

 

does it look like ur valve cover is leaking maybe?

 

Maybe your exhaust manifold is cracked. Maybe there's oil burning off of your engine. Power wash it. Then see if it goes away or if you can identify a leak. A small amount of oil will make a HUGE amount of smoke. Try dropping a small drop of oil on a hot manifold.

 

Thanks for the tip. Would it hurt at all if i applied some purple power instead of pressure washing it?

 

Purple power is no good for aluminum. Use simple green. Either one has to be washed off. You can't leave it on.

 

If you hear a hiss at the manifold and smell oil in the cabin it's most likely a cracked exhaust manifold... They do get rusty. Mine did and I didn't find out only a year when some mechanic was checking out y engine bay.

 

there is no hiss or anythnig that sounds "weird" but i am no mechanic of course

 

Do fumes burn your eyes when you turn on your A/C/heat? If so exhaust gases are leaking... Pull off that header cover and look around. It can be the slighest of cracks or broken manifold gasket

 

^Agreed

Remove the aluminum heat shield covering the exhaust manifold. Post pictures. What you see under there will likely help to identify the problem.

 

im happy to say nothing burns or ever seems noxious... really it's just a slight smell you notice when the car hasnt been run daily.

 

What I saw in the video is not normal.

 

As little smoke as it is and how you describe it and being you don't have any obnoxious fumes come in the fresh air intake of the heater/blower, I tend to think it's just from your valve cover gasket leak. Once it sits for a couple days the oil seeps onto the cast iron exhaust manifold. Like a how a paper towel soaks up water. Not enough to create lots of smoke like an oil spill will, just trace amounts to smoke a little like in the video. Takes time for the thin layer of oil to seep onto the header (manifold) so if driven daily you don't get the smoke.

It's just like it takes days even weeks for the oil to creep up the dry valve cover when you have a slight leak. Just the manifold burns it off every time it's driven so the "dry" status renews after every decent drive.

 

definitely, so that's why I posted here and maybe my newbie self can figure out how to resolve it. but if its something that costs $500 bucks i will have to live with it!

thank you.

that's what i figured was the case.

so, is my next step to remove that big ol' cover thingamajig?

 

You don't know what you're dealing with until you do this:

 

Your first step would be like other posters mentioned about removing the heat shield on the exhaust manifold. It won't hurt to leave it off for awhile. You really want to rule out any problems with the manifold itself.

At this time I would also clean up the head around the manifold with some simple green like was also mentioned. Then observe it for a week or two of your normal habits and see if you see oil creeping anywhere, in particular down onto the exhaust manifold.

More than likely you just need a new valve cover gasket, the top nuts are torqued to 7 ft-lbs and you need some honda bond, or permatex "The Right Stuff" grey, or if all else fails, Permatex Ultra Grey rtv. You put a little dab in each near 90 degree angle of the gasket on the head then torque the valve cover down on reinstall.

But before just immediately going and replacing the gasket, you want to be sure that's the only issue. A clean up and observe will help you make that determination.

 

Your motor is lookin' pretty groaty..