Hi Everyone,

 

I have just purchased my 1st 300z TT. I is well happy.

 

The only thing is that after a average motorway journey, the car seems to have some smoke coming out from beneath the left wheel arch. It is not much, but is noticible. The car was imported in and was probably stationary for about 8 weeks, has this got anything to do with it??? Could it just be some dirt or dust burning away???? When you lift the bonnet you can see the little bits of smoke coming up through behin the engine???

 

Help...

 

Cheers'

Pali

Hi Pali,

 

Not yours aswell? Now I am impressed! I had a conversation with Pete at SE last night about my car. He was asking me about this smoke problem, I had exactly the same thing on my car not long after I bought it.

 

I first noticed after driving back to de Wales, ayyyyyy, from down South. Turned the engine off, got out of the car, and noticed smoke from the bonnet. Lifted the bonnet up and noticed that it was coming from the back of the engine but mine was on the drivers side. Between the bulkhead and the arse end of the engine.

 

Next time I had it happen it was much worse, I was waiting on a ramp into a Multi-Storey, waiting for a ticket. So the car was holding on the bite(Auto.) nicely but for a while I suppose. Then when I got into the car park and parked up, my god, I shit myself...I thought that the car was on fire there was that much smoke pouring out.

 

I've had it coming from underneath aswell, some people have suggested that it could be an oil leak from somewhere. Possibly the gearbox?

 

If you find out what's causing it let me know, I hope that after my car has been put back together this horrible experience of occasional smoking will bugger off to haunt another Z owner somewhere else!

 

Tim

;-(

 

1991 UK 300ZX TT Auto. Current Status: Prep'd 4 Major Surgery!

1987 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v Cosworth Auto. Current Status: Operational

 

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Pali, probably your rear main-seal is shot.

They tend to go after the car has been overfilled with oil or if the PCV-valves are stuck. (Both cause overpressure in the carter) and the engine leaks oil out of the area between the gearbox and engine..which then leaks onto the cats, causing the smoke.

If it started doing this recently and the oil was also changed recently, you might still have a chance.

Just let some oil out of the engine to around 3/4 on the dipstick.

Just to be sure, you can also replace the 2 PCV-valves.

 

Anyway, if both methods don't solve the problem, the gearbox has to be dropped to replace the seal.

If you have an automatic it's not really that bad to drive with a blown seal..it's just annoying and the smoking will get worse in time

If you have a manual, it can destroy your clutch though..so in this case have it replaced pronto.

 

-Eric

 

PS Tim: that's probably your problem as well, have SE check the rear main seal.

 

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http://300zx-twinturbo.com

 

[This message has been edited by lymon (edited 24-05-2001).]

So how do I go about replacing the PCV valves?

 

 

CheerZ again Eric, top banana as usual. Have notified Pete at SE by mail, will let you know how I get on.

 

Pali,

 

Check on twinturbo.net, I'm sure that in the FAQ's or Tech section there is a procedure that you can follow. It's something that you can do yourself but personally I'd pay someone else as I think it can be quite fiddly...see what you think.

 

Tim

;-)

 

1991 UK 300ZX TT Auto. Current Status: Prep'd 4 Major Surgery!

1987 Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v Cosworth Auto. Current Status: Operational

 

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Pali, here's a link on how to do this yourself, with nissan partnrs. and all.

http://www.ttzd.com/tech/pcvtech.html

 

It's a pretty nasty job and you will probably cut your hands open if you've never done it before..so have some band-aids ready

important tip: when screwing in the new valves DON'T overtighten them or the plenum will crack !

 

-Eric

 

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http://300zx-twinturbo.com

OK without reading all of everyones else post i think they pretty much covered it.

 

If the Smoke is Black the YES chances are it is the seal or another oil leak.

 

If you jack the car up and have a look at the point where the Bell housing of the transmission joins to the engine you might see a big black deposit around that join - then the Main seal it is.

 

If the smoke is white - i.e infact steam you could have a cooling system problem as the overflow is in the wheel well check for signs of coolant overflow in and around that area.

 

Failing the above Check the Sump for craks and check the Oil lines coming from it along with the drain plug and the filter altho all the above are more likely to cause smoke on the drives side ..

 

Z ya

Nico91TT

Thanks for all the tips guys.

 

Actually this morning I moved my car out of the drive and parked it on the road. When I came back I saw that a little engine oil had leaked during the night. Not a lot but some...from the smell of the smoke I can tell it's oil buring.

I noticed a bit of smoke when i pulled onto the pub carpark once. I had been thrashing it a bit and was waiting for the turbos to cool down when it came out of the front drivers side wheel arch. Just like you Pali, i have a few spots of oil on my garage floor. Time to get it on the ramps i think

I have this problem too.

Usually after a hard thrash when letting the turbos cool.

Sometimes I can see it blowing for 10 metres up the road!

Also dripping a bit of oil.

My oil level is pretty high so maybe it just needs some draining?

My Z is an Auto.