Smoking Valve Cover - does this matter?

[NickMS]

Mechanics out there.

I have a 1991 Ski Nautique that had some smoke under the engine cover when I first ran it last year, but I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. It stopped smoking after we ran it a couple times and I just assumed it was a drop of oil on the outside of the engine somewhere that burned off. I ran the engine in the garage today to warm it up before changing the oil and I noticed smoke coming from the right side of the engine. I believe it's coming from under the valve cover, but I'm not sure. Here's a link to a YouTube video I made. http://youtu.be/7OGjDCJAcZU (Not the best video. I can make another if needed).

Any clue what's going on? Do I need to worry about this?

Thanks for the help

[surroundsound64]

Does it smell like smoke? It looks like steam to me.

[bhectus]

Check your exhaust manifolds for leakage.

[Zach@n3]

I am guessing it is leaking a little oil and it is running down the valve cover to the back corner then leaking onto the hot part of the exhaust manifold runners. It takes a surprisingly long amount of time for even a little bit of oil to burn completely off. Very common if it has cork gaskets for the valve cover bolts to back out enough to cause a small leak. Tightening the cork gaskets on my boat is a yearly thing.

[jhersey29]

What the heck do you do with all the water coming out the exhaust when you're in the garage?

[NickMS]

Thanks everyone for the help. I think/hope Zach is right. I looked around with a flash light and there is a little oil on the exhaust manifold. I took some pictures. I'm going to make sure the valve cover bolts are tight and crank it up later this week. I'll let ya'll know.

[NickMS]

What the heck do you do with all the water coming out the exhaust when you're in the garage?

Haha, I just let it spill everywhere. My garage is open and there is enough slope in the garage that most of it runs out. The rest dries within 12 hours.

Btw, I use the hose in a bucket method. Definitely the easiest method and my hose supplies more water than my boat needs at idle.

[Zach@n3]

You can get the valve cover off for replacement without taking the exhaust manifold off. Get a 1/4 drive with a swivel and preferably a deep well socket. You can probably pick up a set of rubber gaskets for it down at any local parts store. You can crank the cast valve covers down a little tighter on cork gaskets as opposed to stamped gaskets but be careful not to over tighten and crack the casting. That is if you have to replace it. Probably an hour job for a first timer and 20 bucks for parts store gaskets? The deep well socket puts the swivel at the top of the valve cover, a long screwdriver also helps to get the socket on the bolts behind the exhaust manifolds.

[Mrbigbirdmk]

Looks more like an exhaust leak to me, it sounds like I heard a slight popping that could signify an exhaust leak.


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[NickMS]

**Update


I've run the engine a few more times when I changed the oil and transmission fluid. No more signs of any smoke or leaking oil. I think the problem was just a little oil leaked from the valve cover over the winter. I'm not going to change the valve cover gaskets until this is a bigger deal.

Thanks for the help guys! This is a great resource. I hope i can contribute. I have another electrical issue I'll post in another thread.

Cheers