oil leak, weird sound, smoke under the hood.

WRXrob · Aug 25th, 2004, 10:56 AM

The other day I noticed the smell of burning oil while sitting idle in my 96 200SX SE GA16. The strange sound is only noticeable from idle to maybe 1500rpm. It kinda sorta sounds like a power steering pump whine, or maybe a very subtle supercharger whine (similar in sound, probably not power steering, and the car is definetely not supercharged). The sound tone increases with revs, but seems unnoticeable when revved up. There is constant smoke coming out of the area to the left of the engine, maybe a little toward the front of the car. There is no smoke coming out of the exhaust. Its almost as if oil would be leaking somewhere, and burning externally on the engine.

I don't think this could be the front main seal, as this was replaced 7,000 miles ago. When that was leaking, I didn't get the smoke, or burning oil smell, rather it just leaked out under the car, and covered the rear bumper and trunk with oil. That is not the case this time around.

Where should I be looking? Oil pressure sending unit? PCV valve? anything else?

By the way, it seems to run fine. I drove 40 miles like this, and didn't notice any oil missing on the dipstick. She has 160,250 miles on the clock.

Thanks

WRXrob · Aug 26th, 2004, 12:50 PM

anyone have any ideas?

Just to note, I drove about 200 highway miles yesterday, and the dipstick shows maybe 1/10th or less oil lost. Still smokes at idle though.

SPEEDO · Aug 26th, 2004, 03:49 PM

are you sure you dont have a power steering hose seeping and dripping on your exhaust manifold or pipe?

psuLemon · Aug 26th, 2004, 08:02 PM

i know when my friends transmission started to go in his thunderbird it started to sound like a supercharger..

Catman · Aug 26th, 2004, 10:35 PM

Did you check the oil pressure sending unit? It is above the oil filter on my car. When it was going out there was a lot of oil on the oil filter and middle of the engine, about the same location of the front exhaust pipe. I was noticing oil on the top of the oil filter when it went. It may be good to check it out, and look for other sources of leaks. May need to clean things up, and then monitor them. Fluids can travel in strange ways. It was months before I realized my oil sending unit was leaking. Just thought it was a leaky oil filter.