Thin white smoke coming from engine

[newnthused]

As the title says. I noticed it after driving for a bit and was looking under hood listening for vacuum leaks. There was very thin smoke that you had to be looking closely to see. Was coming from this area or under this area of the engine. Not sure if it's lower intake manifold area?

I did a compression test two weeks ago and the compression was great across the board. 89 ranger with original miles. So that leads me to believe it's not a head gasket.

 

[newnthused]

Edit. The title is supposed to say THIN white smoke

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Edit. The title is supposed to say THIN white smoke

Fixed

 

[rusty ol ranger]

As the title says. I noticed it after driving for a bit and was looking under hood listening for vacuum leaks. There was very thin smoke that you had to be looking closely to see. Was coming from this area or under this area of the engine. Not sure if it's lower intake manifold area?

I did a compression test two weeks ago and the compression was great across the board. 89 ranger with original miles. So that leads me to believe it's not a head gasket.

Whats it smell like?

 

[newnthused]

Whats it smell like?

I think it may just be burning oil. The poor girl is leaking like hell from the oil pan and here.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I think it may just be burning oil. The poor girl is leaking like hell from the oil pan and here.

Thats why i asked what it smells like.

Chances are thats exactly what it is

 

[newnthused]

Thats why i asked what it smells like.

Chances are thats exactly what it is

Could you point me in the direction of some oil pan gasket replacement tutorials?

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Check your PCV system. It might be clogged so that the block is overpressurized, which would force oil and vapor out of any available path. If you find the valve or hose(s) are clogged and replace or clean them, it's a slim chance, but possible this might even stop/slow the oil-pan gasket leak.

 

[newnthused]

Check your PCV system. It might be clogged so that the block is overpressurized, which would force oil and vapor out of any available path. If you find the valve or hose(s) are clogged and replace or clean them, it's a slim chance, but possible this might even stop/slow the oil-pan gasket leak.

Okay. I've been meaning to get around to cleaning that. When I got a smog check recently, the PCV came back as "good". Would this be an indication that it's working properly, making the cleaning of it a moot point?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Could you point me in the direction of some oil pan gasket replacement tutorials?

Youtube.

I know on a 2.9 its a bitch. You basically gotta pull the motor. It can be done in truck but you gotta loosen the mounts and lift the motor.

Usually though the pan gasket leaking wont cause the smoke. Its oil pissing from the valve cover gaskets.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

Okay. I've been meaning to get around to cleaning that. When I got a smog check recently, the PCV came back as "good". Would this be an indication that it's working properly, making the cleaning of it a moot point?

Don't know for sure. In California on older vehicles, this might be just a visual check that the PCV system is in place.

 

[newnthused]

I cleaned the PCV. I ordered some valve cover gaskets. Is there anything else I will need besides the gaskets? Rtv sealant?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I cleaned the PCV. I ordered some valve cover gaskets. Is there anything else I will need besides the gaskets? Rtv sealant?

No. As long as you ordered the rubber ones you should be set. Just clean mating points well

 

[newnthused]

No. As long as you ordered the rubber ones you should be set. Just clean mating points well

What do you recommend I use to clean it?

 

[pentode]

I typically use isopropyl alcohol to clean surfaces as I have lots in stock but if you're cleaning bare metal surfaces, brake cleaner should be fine too (spray some on a shop towel so as to not spray it into places you don't want)... painted surfaces, alcohol is almost always fine and brake cleaner normally is too. Isopropyl is normally good on plastics and other materials too, whereas with some other solvents you need to be extra careful.