Oil leaking from the valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, or oil filter can drip onto the exhaust manifold or engine block and burn Over time, crankshaft or camshaft oil seals can harden and leak When that happens, oil may drip near moving components or hot surfaces, producing smoke and a strong burning smell Leaks from these seals are a little trickier to spot since they’re located deeper in the engine, but a small oil stain under your car can give them away. Looking for answers to why is my car smoking under the hood and leaking oil Our expert mechanics diagnose issues by examining oil seals, gaskets, and smoke interaction
Advanced tools interpret smoke colors and patterns for precise solutions In general, notice your car smoking under hood but not overheating is easy but to diagnose it, you need more time and evidence Pay attention to the smoke’s color, smell, and location or other symptoms such as coolant leak, oil spillage, or air filter cap at fault. The head gasket seals the engine block and cylinder heads If it blows, it can cause coolant or oil to leak into the combustion chamber This will cause your car to smoke, but it may not necessarily cause it to overheat right away
