A question for you mechanics...

[wooshkie90]

Im driving a 1999 Toyota Solara SE V6 with 170,000 miles on it sofar. I havent had any problems with the engine up until a couple days ago. im driving my daily routine but when i stop at a light, I notice smoke coming up near where the windshield meets the firewall on the passenders side. As soon as I made it home, i checked under the hood and noticed it was coming from somewhere under the air intake manifold. if there are any more details you needto hlp me with any advice, plz ask me. Thanks for any info or advice.

[Chinky420]

first off, if you recently changed/added oil to the car, and spilt some, it may be burning off as the engine heated up.


can't think of much other than that...but i'm also pretty brain-dead tired right now.

[aenties]

Valve cover leak, very common for the 1mz. Mine started leaking around 80k miles.

[crispone]

Can you confirm that it is SMOKE and not STEAM?


(Is there a BURNT odor... such as burnt oil?)




-crisp

[wooshkie90]

Im pretty sure its oil because I cn smell it. I just find it wierd that it only happens when im at a stop. And it doesnt happen immediately when I stop. Id have to be sitting for about 15 seconds, then itll start. Yea my initial guess was the valve cover gaskets/seals are just old. Man I wish I had a camera so I can throw some pics up with it. But thx 4 the info.

[Gibson99]

well its a slow leak so it takes a while to get down to the exhaust, then build up enough smoke to escape out the hood gap. when you're moving, there's tons of air to prevent that smoke from collecting.

i also vote for valve cover gaskets. do the spark plug tube seals at the same time.

[JamesT]

My guess is the rear valve cover leaking and dripping on the rear headers.