Oil drip SAFETY ISSUE?

[lazytik]

Hello, long time no log on.

 

When I parked at school today, I noticed smoke coming from the front of my car . I thought it was my gaskets going, cuz that happens when gaskets go. BUT, fortunately, that is not the case.

 

Thing is, my car leaks oil...and it doesn't leak it on the ground, but onto hot pipes and components. So that has me thinking...it was okay in the winter cuz it was cold and it wouldn't catch fire. Now it is going to be summer...and it's going to be hot, and with the oil already smoking, do you think it would catch fire? Me no want me engine/car burning alive.

 

Thanks...oh, there's a lot more wrong with it...but meh, it still runs. This however, could stop it from running (ashes don't run).

 

Any input = good.

 

 

[NeonKnight]

Check your valve cover gaskets and make sure they are not leaking oil onto your Exhaust Manifolds. that would be the only place i could think of that would be able to reach them. otherwise i am not sure where it could leak from to hit the manifolds.

 

the only other place maybe... would be the Oil pump drive O ring under the rear right head of the engine.

 

More information would help. stuff like, what car, what engine, what year, how many miles, what else is wrong with it, what happens when you start it, weird noises etc.

[lazytik]

Sure, it is a 1994 Grand Prix SE 4 Door. 3.1L...it is a rebuilt engine, and I don't think the previous owner did his stuff properly. I can smell it burning sometimes with the air on, but today was the first time I saw smoke...

 

Hope it is not dangerous.

[1990lumina]

My RX-7 used to leak BAD from the oil cooler O rings onto the exhaust when driving (air forced the oil to drop further back and hit the exhaust).....it used to smell bad, but never caught fire, and I bet my exhaust is hotter then yours lol.....if you're worried fix the problem - I fixed mine because of the sheer amount of oil leaking, no necessaryily that the oil was burning on the exhaust.

[Guest donkeykongrape]

I never knew engine oil was even flammable? I mean yeah it will evaporate at high temperatures but i've never seen engine oil catch fire.....

 

 

Now crude oil on the other hand.....

[NeonKnight]

same i have never seen oil catch on fire. but the hole crude oil thing yea i know about that... lol

[Psych0matt]

my blazer does that if i turn quickly or something. sometimes ill be sitting at a stoplight and see some smoke, and peoples faces are funny when noticing it

[1990lumina]

Oil has a pretty high flash point I think.....I was trying to light a campfire one time with wet wood, it wouldn't catch so I threw some motor oil on it and damn, it just smoked and smoked but wouldn't catch, so I threw a little gasoline on...BOOM, there we go

[lazytik]

Thanks for the input guys...now I can tell my mom to stop worrying.

 

BTW, yesterday I checked my coolant level on a cool engine, it was decent. Today, after a hot engine, it was below the recommended. I think that is the problem...

 

BAH, I feel bad I don't have time to take care of the car. D'OH well.

[1990lumina]

Are you losing coolant externally??? Coolant can burn white when leaking on something hot enough....

[lazytik]

Nope don't think so.

[cutlsp]

check it when its cold. and when its hot be careful checking it if its low when its hot bleed the air out of the system. and fill it up till fluid starts spraying out of the top bleeder screw on the thermostat housing. then close that valve keep filling the radiator till it won't take anymore then fill the over flow bottle to the hot mark.

[lazytik]

Added more coolant today. It still smokes...oh well. My dad an I switched cars. I will drive his 2003 Malibu, and he my 1994 Grand Prix. I felt sort of sad and pissed at the same time when clearing my car out. W/e...I don't have money to have this thing checked out..oil smudges are smoking, both front and rear suspensions are going...my mufflers are rotting...every goddamn thing in this car is going wrong. Stupid VATS too...leaves me stranded.

 

I'm still grateful for the car though...I love it. It's just really annoying.

 

Plus, they are taking away part of my financial aid for school. WOOT

 

If any of you live in NJ, you know the sales tax went up, they are cutting funding to Rutgers by as much as $100 million, and now they take my tuition assistance grant away..

 

I'm sorry...back on topic...no fire = no care. I am not fixing it..