Hey All!

My 88 XJS had what appeared to be a rear main oil leak. Spots on driveway, who cares? But now I noticed it has started to smoke. Seems to be mostly after running at 60ish mph on highway, but not always. If I lift the hood the smoke seems to be coming from top rear of engine just far enough under firewall that I cannot see exactly where it is leaking. Another curious thing was that when it was smoking a lot I looked under the car and smoke seemed to be coming off of the exhaust itself, starting up near exhaust manifold and stopping at cat converter.

Yes, I am ashamed to say that to try to limit the rear seal leak I added some oil stop leak to the oil. Thinking that disturbed things a bit more in terms of seals. I didn't mind a little smoke when I first bought the car, but now people's look go from "nice car" quickly to "is that thing on fire"? I rally don't want to get to "crop duster" status! Any ideas on this?

On a positive note I've put almost 2500 happy miles on since the alternator upgrade. That's 1400 more than the last owner ;-)

Thanks,
Michael

 

There is a very good chnace you are burning leaked engine oil off the exhausts or manifolds. Favourite leaking places are:

• cam covers and rear half moon seals of cam covers
• oil distrubution 'tower' behind the throttle pedestal, cam feeds leading off this tower
• Oil pressure and warning light senders attached to the tower.

If you pull out the thottle;pedestal the tower is easier (!) to get at. The Great Palm's book covers all these points pretty well.



Greg

 

+ heaps to Gregs points.

Its a V12, it will be something silly and simple, and the oil switches (you have 2) are my first call.

 

I'm thinking that Greg is on point here. I'm hoping it is the easier of all the possibilities. It is getting worse recently. It seems way worse if I am driving in excess of 50mph for extended periods. Oil loss is creeping up too. Looks like I know what I'm tackling Saturday ;-)

 

Since we're discussing oil here, I've noticed a couple time with mine with the top down (more visibly noticeable), when I start my '89 XJS from cold, I get a puff of light blue exhaust out the tips. It stops within 10 seconds, and no smell or smoke trail from then. -Possible valve guides/seals?

Thanks.