Smoke from driver's side exhaust manifold

[Riwa 125]

Greetings!
I've got a 2003 Ranger Level 2 with the 4.0 SOHC in it. Lately I've been noticing a smell like burning oil when I shut it off and get out after work. I popped the hood and saw a little bit of smoke coming off of the bottom of the exhaust manifold on the driver's side, right where it is bolted to another piece of exhaust. My question is, is this a common issue? What exactly is it that I'm dealing with here? I've never messed with exhaust personally (the guy I got the truck from had some exhaust stuff done at a local Tuffy), but am willing to get my hands dirty and figure it out. I checked the oil 2 weeks ago when I replaced the thermostat housing, and it was full. I haven't looked since, but I only noticed it for the first time yesterday. All help appreciated! Any questions, just ask.

Reuben

 

[MikeG]

Something above it is leaking oil on it. Probably valve/cam covers. If you can't tell where the oil is coming from get some degreaser and wash the engine, then it should be fairly obvious.

 

[Riwa 125]

Hmm. Not disagreeing with you, but it seems like if that were the case, it would be smoking all the way along, and it is only at that joint. Is there a gasket or something in there that could have broken or be worn out?

 

[Uncle Gump]

It's most likely the valve cover leaking... then running down onto the manifold. get in there and have a look.

 

[Curious Hound]

Can you get a photo to show us where it is smoking?

There really isn't much that could cause smoke/burning oil at a joint in the exhaust piping. 99% of the time, smoke coming off the exhaust in the engine area is from an oil leak, usually above the area where the smoke is.

 

[MikeG]

Joints in the exhaust system would not normally be lubricated

If oil was being burned, you'd see it at the tailpipe, too.

 

[Dirtman]

Gaskets rarely spontaneously explode... when they start to leak, they tend to leak in one spot, not around the entire gasket.

 

[Riwa 125]

Sorry for the delay, I stopped getting notifications about this post. The attached picture is not of my truck, as it is parked at a shop that I can work on it at (that way it's cool when I tear into it), but it is the same engine. The smoke comes from the bottom of the driver's side exhaust manifold towards the back of the engine. There's not a lot of smoke, but I would like to keep up on maintainance/repairs, which is why I posted trying to figure out what it was.

Hoping to have parts and be able to dig in tomorrow afternoon.

Reuben

 

[Riwa 125]

My arrow disappeared on the image... Under the wiper motor is where the smoke is coming from, if you lean over the driver's side quarterpanel, you can see down the side of the engine, that's the spot.

 

[Riwa 125]

Update time: We tore into it today, and got the valve cover off. However, there's a hose that comes off the back of the cover, and we just pulled it straight out. Upon closer inspection, the hose was a twist and lock, and we didn't twist. The plastic tabs on the valve cover just ripped off and came out with the hose. Is this under pressure that I need to acquire a new valve cover, or can I just shove it back in and call it good?

 

[Kira]

If you just shove the PCV valve into the stripped-out grommet it'll work its way out real fast.

It would be real nice if the quarter turn grommet into which the PCV valve is installed was replaceable.
1) I'd clean the valve cover and take it to a Ford parts desk and ask 'em. Don't be surprised if they say the grommet is not a supported part. and that you have to buy a "complete" valve cover.

2) They might not even have the valve cover with a new grommet -if that's the way they did it.

3) You have the option of sealing a new PCV valve in there.

4) Check the "L shaped" line which carries the fumes over to the right side of the engine then forward to the intake manifold. It should be clear of blockage and not cracked.

5) Remember, the PCV system is a potential vacuum leak.

 

[Riwa 125]

Cool, thanks for the info. My suspicion was that the pegs were there for a reason, and it wasn't going to work out real well to just shove it back in.

I pulled a valve cover from the junkyard yesterday, and am going to install that this afternoon. $10 isn't so bad for one of those.

I'll check that line and make sure it's clean.

 

[Riwa 125]

It's back together, and I drove it home just now. It smoked off all of the oil that got on the exhaust when we took the valve cover off, so I'll give an update in a couple of days and see what happens.

Tip for the PCV valve for anyone else who is struggling with it: Mine has the water lines going around it, and then the PCV hose itself. There wasn't a hose clamp on it, so to reinstall, I unhooked the other side of that 90 degree elbow from the hose it was attached to. This allowed me to twist it back into the valve cover, at which point I reattached the hose.

It seems to run fine yet, so I didn't screw up anything too major.

Thanks for all the help so far! I'll keep you posted with what happens, if anything.

Reuben