Ok here's the deal. My girlfriends car has been burning oil out the tailpipe for awhile now. I've diagnosed this as from being bad valve seals. About two weeks ago she got an oil change and since then has complained that she can smell burning oil inside the car while driving, and when she opens the hood smoke is coming from the backside of the engine. I haven't had a chance to look at it yet but I have a couple ideas. Including something to do with the oil pressure sending unit, oil filter, and charcoal canister. I won't have a chance to look at it until Sunday night thanks to my atrocious work schedule but any info you guys could provide would help. I'd like to get this solved before I pull the head and replace the valve seals.

Brian

 

could it be that they simply spilt some of the oil when draining it? causing it to burn when the car is driven? or perhaps your oil pan gasket is gone? maybe the filter isnt on tight enough? could you possibly have a hole in the oil resovoir? have her not drive the car because if that oil starts to flame, your girl will be non-existent!

 

Couple different options as to why this is happening.

Valve cover gasket is bad.
Oil pressure sending unit is leaking.
Tech spilled oil while refilling.
Tech did not clean up the oil mess of the exhaust pipe after removing the filter.
Filter is loose.
Tech did not get the old filter gasket/oring removed from the block.
O-ring that holds the oil cooler (cylinder shaped piece between the oil filter and the block) has gone bad causing a leak.

Since she just noticed it after the oil change, I would guess the oil filter is loose, or the tech spilled oil when refilling, or the oil is just burning off from when the tech removed the filter.

Check to make sure the filter is tight. Jack the car up and run it while laying underneath it to see if there is oil leaking. If there isn't oil leaking, it is just spilled oil. If there is oil leaking, figure out where it is coming from.

 

Don't forget to check the drain plug... if the tech overtightened it and stripped it a bit, the oil (especially that thin, cheap crap they are famous for using) will run onto the pipes and burn. Check that o ring, too, and the oil filter tightness. If the plug is stripped, just replace it with an oversized (about 7 bucks).

Seriously, though, it is always better to change your own oil... especially if you have been using a 5 minute place... the quality of oil/filter is garbage, and their work is based on quantity, not quality. I know time is something we are all looking to save, but I prefer to spend a little more on some good oil and filters and know the job is done right. I'm not saying they are all like that (some actually do excellent work and offer a choice for oil/filter quality), just stating my distaste for them from past experiences.

 

I would first clean the engine bay or place a piece of cardboard under the engine to see if there are any leaks...let the car sit for almost a day and based off where the oil leaks (if any) are you can pinpoint your search for the leak .

Also make sure the oil filter is tightened correctly, so many times I hear this happening

 

The oil filter is directly over the exhaust pipe. When the filter comes off, a good deal of oil spills onto the exhaust pipe. Mine use to smoke like that when I took it to Jiffy Lube, since they don't clean it off. Now I do my own oil changes and make sure I clean off the exhaust pipe -- very little to no smoke now.

From what you describe it sounds like the same thing -- other than an oil leak. It should've burnt off by now.

 

I agree with VRDrvr. CLean everything first. A clean engine is a happy engine. Eventhough oil may have been spilled somewhere, a good mechanic will always wipe it off. my guess is it's either around the filter or you may have a valve cover gasket leak. Either way if the engine is clean, you will be able to tell if you have a leak or not. Good luck

 

Oil filter is leaking, or they didn't clean of the extra oil after the oil change.