smoke from valve cover when i remove oil cap

[John DeCampli]

my turbo seals r leaking but is this another problem on top of me needing a new turbo? i do have a check engine light for the fuel relay

 

[CrawlinZX14]

Most engines are going to see smoke when you pull the oil fill cap. Thats exhaust gas blow by, and your PCV system is supposed to help eliminate that. Unless you have a fire in your head, i dont see any other reason for that. You likely either have a bad PCV system, or excessive blow by that your PCV cannot compensate for.

 

[hereitcomes]

Most engines are going to see smoke when you pull the oil fill cap. Thats exhaust gas blow by, and your PCV system is supposed to help eliminate that. Unless you have a fire in your head, i dont see any other reason for that. You likely either have a bad PCV system, or excessive blow by that your PCV cannot compensate for.

So he means that you should get a new PCV valve. They are about $3.00

 

[CrawlinZX14]

So he means that you should get a new PCV valve. They are about $3.00

Actually I mean to check things in your PCV system. Not go buy things you dont know you need. waste of money and time chasing ghosts.

 

[NEpilot]

Most times it isn't smoke but oil vapor which can be verified with a couple steps. Just open the oil cap up and hold a small mirror or piece of glass near it; chances are the mirror will be colder than the oil mist so it will condense the vapor into larger drops on contact. You can rub the mirror with your finger and see that it is oil.

If it was "smoke" meaning combusted hydrocarbon it would condense into a more sooty residue.

-Chris

 

[John DeCampli]

so if its oil it wont hurt anything>?

 

[LOLVTEC]

just picture heating up oil, like cooking oil if you leave it on a pan for to long doesn't it smoke and turn on your fire detector at home . you should be fine with that, but like what everyone said change the PCV, any auto parts should sell them for less than 5 bucks

 

[technodsm]

There should not be much visible vapor present at idle when you pull the oil cap on a healthy engine.
Definetly check the PCV valve (super cheap to replace).
After you replace the PCV you may want to rev the engine a bit with the cap removed to see if you get a lot more smoke coming out which would be an indicator of excess blow by. If you are concerned you have excess blow by you can easily prerform a compression check to determine ring health.

 

[DSM1G90]

Smoke...dang valve seals and guides worn - dead giveaway. Head needs rebuilt.

 

[John DeCampli]

My pcv valve I still very good with suction but would my valve seals be bad or head gasket ? Would these make my exhaust smoke
really bad and lose oil I beloved my turbo seals r leaking