Why Is My Engine Smoking
Posted in Internal Engine Parts | Asked on Jan 29, 2012
I recently replaced the battery and thermostat on my 1990 Honda Civic because it overheated and then eventually didn’t start. I let it idle for a couple minutes and it started smoking from where the oil goes. There’s a little bit of oil in it, could that be the reason, or is it something else?
The oil pan is under the exhaust manifold. If that helps at all.
And the smoke was a greyish color and smelled pretty bad, don’t know exactly what the smell is.
There are 5 Answers for "Why Is My Engine Smoking"
Probably something else.
Head gasket? Is the oil a milky color?
There is supposed to be oil where the oil goes
Might have gotten some antifreeze from when you replaced the thermostat on the exhaust manifold, or some other place on the engine that gets hot. It would help if you told us the color and smell of the smoke. If the oil smells sweet at all, then it is probably coolant, if it doesn’t smell sweet, then it is probably oil. From what you said, it sounds like oil. Keep checking your oil and make sure you aren’t losing any. If you are, check for it on the ground, on the exhaust system (before you start the car), and check in the coolant. If it is on the ground or the exhaust, then it could be a cracked block, or a bad oil pan. If it is in the coolant then it is probably a head gasket.
Engine & Mileage? Grayish Somke coming from the Dipstick Tube?? Drain the Engine, Is it Gray(ish), Water in the Oil! Do you Loss Coolant or does it Overheat? What does the Coolant in the Radiator look & Smell like? Possible Bad Engine, Time to get to a Good Engine Shop and let them check it!
Something related to your engine cooling system is not functioning properly.
Your radiator fan typically starts running when your engine begins to reach a high temperature of about 80 degrees celsius. This helps cool down your engine by recycling low temperature liquid coolant back into your engine. This helps prevent it from overheating. If it doesn’t come on when you rev up your accelerator as your engine becomes very hot, make sure
* your relay fan fuse hasn’t been blown.
* your radiator fan is functioning when you put a jumper wire into the relay fan fuse.
* your Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor is functioning.
if your fan is working fine, make sure
* you do not have any coolant leaks in any of the hoses or the radiator.
* you are not losing any coolant in your coolant extension reservoir.
The smoke you’re seeing could be a little bit of sizzling oil or even coolant on the surface of your engine. If it is a coolant leak, the hole or problem could get worse if you don’t repair the leak.
If you can keep your engine from overheating by making sure your Cooling System is working properly, the smoking or steaming may stop.
Good luck!