HELP: Camry Smoking from the hood

[schenkin]

Hello. I am the owner of a 1995 Toyota Camry LE, with 97,000 miles on it. After a longish (1 hour) trip recently I discovered that smoke was coming from my hood. It was almost clear, but certainly smelled like something was burning.

I dismissed it as spilt oil burning, and continued back home. When I returned It was still smoking. It appears to be getting worse, Even short drives now make small amounts of smoke appear.

This is the only symptom. The temperature guage reads right in the middle the whole time the car is smoking, and no error lights come on. I do seem to be leaking oil however onto the ground.

Although the oil is leaking at a substantial rate, it is still well above the minimum level.

PLEASE HELP!

schenkin@freeshell.org

[shuluke]

Take it into a shop to get it checked. If its nothing normal, i would think only an expert might have an idea.

Shuluke

[Rapeacivic]

You could be leaking Anti-Freeze from your Radiator. Check your Engine Coolant and Radiator fluid levels and check for any stress cracks or holes in your radiator.

[karazy]

Find the source of the leak. It's probably falling on to the manifold, which is why it is smoking so badly. It could be just a loose valve cover. They tend to get loose after awhile.

If it's dripping on to the ground allot it could be the oil pan dripping onto the exhaust underneath. That you would not want to let go too long.

[Rapeacivic]

Does it smelll like oil is burning or does it smell like something else?

[schenkin]

It smells like burning oil to my unexperienced nose. I'll get under there tomorrow and see if i can see where the leak is coming from.

[Rapeacivic]

Yeah then it's probably just oil that is burning on your block

[mcelligott]

Check valve cover gasket(s) and oil cap.

[S2B_Blown_3.5]

Check the rear main oil seal, that is my problem right now.

If it is I already got some price quotes for ya:

Part: $17.50
Labor at toyota dealership: about $400

[88 LE]

Originally posted by schenkin
Hello. I am the owner of a 1995 Toyota Camry LE, with 97,000 miles on it. After a longish (1 hour) trip recently I discovered that smoke was coming from my hood. It was almost clear, but certainly smelled like something was burning.

Do you have a I4 (5S-FE) or V6 (1MZ-FE)?

If its a I4 (5S-FE) check the area around the oil filter. Sometimes the gaskets behind the oil cooler go bad and leak.

My buddy had this problem with his 5S-FE. We replaced the gaskets (theres 2 of them) and problem solved.

[nort0188]

Originally posted by Rapeacivic
You could be leaking Anti-Freeze from your Radiator. Check your Engine Coolant and Radiator fluid levels and check for any stress cracks or holes in your radiator.

Coolant would smell like the zoo, not something burning.