Engine is smoking

317 Views 19 Replies 6 Participants Last post by mydecember1985, 12 d ago

asapmigue

Discussion Starter · 13 d ago

So I just took my car to get an inspection after changing the radiator hoses and the coolant reservoir, and once I got back the check engine light turned on and I notice smoke coming from the front part of the engine does anyone know what it could be?

The smoke comes from this area.

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asapmigue

Discussion Starter · #2 · 13 d ago

I'm new to the community so anything would be helpful

OhioSpyderman

· #3 · 13 d ago

Are you sure you tightened the radiator hoses?
Smoke could be from water hitting the hot exhaust.
Did you notice if the water temperature gauge was not in the RED?

Why did you change the reservoir ?

Trying to help...

Bob.

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asapmigue

Discussion Starter · #4 · 13 d ago

I tightened them pretty well, but I will double check again just in case.
The temperature gauge is right where it should be. It was overheating before I changed the parts.
The previous owner I believe never flushed the coolant before so the sensor inside the tank was in bad condition and the old radiator hoses also. so I decided to put all of it new.

OhioSpyderman

· #5 · 13 d ago

Overheating could be caused by a failed thermostat.
Another cause could be a failed water pump (unlikely)
What is your mileage and do you know if the previous owner performed a 60K service (timing belt, pulleys and water pump)?

Reactions: 1

asapmigue

Discussion Starter · #6 · 13 d ago

I do not know if he performed any of the services, I took it to the Mitsubishi dealership to see if it needed anything cause I've been changing everything its been needing. They said everything was fine. The overheating was fixed after I changed the hoses and the coolant. The hoses were contracting due to the heat, so it no longer overheats

OhioSpyderman

· #7 · 13 d ago

And it's still smoking?

asapmigue

Discussion Starter · #8 · 13 d ago

That's the thing it was never smoking when it overheated the one time and a couple days after I changed everything is when it started smoking. Which is why im so confused.

I believe that from around here is where the smoke came from

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OhioSpyderman

· #9 · 13 d ago

I'm sorry, but I have to ask (since I can't remember which years offered the single overhead vehicles) is yours SOHC or DOHC?

asapmigue

Discussion Starter · #10 · 13 d ago

DOHC was 91-93 I believe. mine is DOHC

Zephrant

· #11 · 13 d ago

I take it that you’ve run it for a 1/2 hour or more, and the smoke has not stopped?
Its common to drip oil when doing an oil change, which then smokes after the exhaust gets hit.
Any chance of that?

paul93VR4

· #12 · 13 d ago (Edited)

Smoking is bad. Sit down and talk to your car. Discuss the Surgen Generals warning.

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RealMcCoy

· #13 · 13 d ago

asapmigue said:
DOHC was 91-93 I believe. mine is DOHC

Irrelevant to the smoking issue, but all years SL were DOHC, as were 91-96 base. 97-99 base were SOHC.
All years base Stealth were SOHC, all ES and RT Stealth were DOHC.

mydecember1985

· #14 · 12 d ago

You can tell from his first pic that it is DOHC. SOHC dipstick goes THROUGH the exhaust heat shield for some reason. Plus, the SOHC plug wire are between the manifold and valve cover.

My bet is as @Zephrant says. Did you or the shop do an oil change? Does it smell like burning, acrid oil or does it smell like a sweet, metallic, and 'steamy'? Burning oil smells horrible but coolant is less offensive to your nostrils.
If it's a steamy feeling/smell, then it's coolant all the way. If it's a burning oil smell, there's 2 major possibilities in that area.
#1 Someone changed the oil and spilled it.
#2 (Much less likely) While working on the lower hose, perhaps a transmission line got bumped and now has a pinhole in it. Under pressure, it could be spraying a small stream of fluid onto the nearby manifold, but it would also be all over the place.

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asapmigue

Discussion Starter · #15 · 12 d ago

thank you all for the responses. The smoking does seem as if it’s from a small leak somewhere, cause there is not a lot of smoke and I could smell it from inside the car for a bit then it goes away and comes back. it only happened after i drove the car for around an hour.

asapmigue

Discussion Starter · #16 · 12 d ago

Zephrant said:
I take it that you’ve run it for a 1/2 hour or more, and the smoke has not stopped?
Its common to drip oil when doing an oil change, which then smokes after the exhaust gets hit.
Any chance of that?

there is a chance of that but the oil change was done about a month ago and the problem started yesterday

asapmigue

Discussion Starter · #17 · 12 d ago

i’ll be taking a good look all around to see if i can spot any signs of leaks

asapmigue

Discussion Starter · #18 · 12 d ago

looks like an oil leak took off the heat shield and there a bit of oil here

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asapmigue

Discussion Starter · #19 · 12 d ago

now i have to find what’s causing it

mydecember1985

· #20 · 12 d ago

Blast it all away when engine is cold with brake parts cleaner so nothing catches fire.

Then let it idle and see where it comes out.

Could easily be the valve cover gasket. Be careful not to over-tighten those bolts. Specs is lowwww like 4 ft-lbs but just check it's not loose.

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