headgakset, valve cover, or exhaust manifold????

[webshell]

Hey guys when i rev the car i can see smoke coming from right above the exhuast mani, but its only in the bottom left corner. Im not smoknig at all, but my idle is surging up and down from time to time, and the car studders from time to time a lil. I dont know if the idle is realted or not but help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ddavisaf]

Well... you should do a compression test. Also, if your exhaust manny gasket is bad you'd know because you'd hear a loud "lifter tick" kind of sound that would go away when the car warmed up.
Are you losing any fluids? Also, reset the ECU (Take the negative terminal off) for abotu 5 minutes. Start it up and see if you still have an idle surge. If so check your ISC and TPS.

Post back with results.

 

[webshell]

Now that you mention it my lifter are ticking pretty loud even after i changed the oil . I guess I should change it. Ill post about the reset in an hour.