Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

... that after I come home from driving the S4 I smell like fumes.
While I would never admit it to her, I sometimes feel like I get a bit
of a headache after driving. The previous owner says that the header
gasket is new. The vent pipe seems well sealed to the block and air
filter. On start-up after leaving the car sit for a week or so, I get
white smoke drifting out from under the engine and into the footwells,
which seems to go away after a minute or so, but maybe its the white
color that's going away, not the fumes. Any ideas of what I can check?
Thanks. Dan '70 S4 SE

Is the car consuming coolant? Does the white cloud smaell "sweet"?

Roger


While I would never admit it to her, I sometimes feel like I get a bit
of a headache after driving. The previous owner says that the header
gasket is new. The vent pipe seems well sealed to the block and air
filter. On start-up after leaving the car sit for a week or so, I get
white smoke drifting out from under the engine and into the footwells,
which seems to go away after a minute or so, but maybe its the white
color that's going away, not the fumes. Any ideas of what I can check?
Thanks. Dan '70 S4 SE
























**********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the system manager.
This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.

**********************************************************************

Dan,

I would check to see if oil is coming from the rear crank seal, running out
of the bell housing and collecting on the exhaust. Once the exhaust heats up,
it burns the oil, creating the smoke until the oil is burnt off.

Frank Howard
'71 S4 SE
Minnesota

Coolant is not a problem. Car consumes a fair amount of oil, not
coolant, and no oil in coolant. Dan

--- In ***@***.***, "Roger Sieling" <rogsie@t...> wrote:

Well, there you go.


coolant, and no oil in coolant. Dan

--- In ***@***.***, "Roger Sieling" <rogsie@t...> wrote:
























**********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and
intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they
are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify
the system manager.
This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by
MIMEsweeper for the presence of computer viruses.

**********************************************************************

Dan,
I would put park the car in your garage, light off, put a trouble light
inside the engine compartment and close the bonnet lid as much as
possible..then get on your knees and look in each footwell for light
leaks around all the grommets/holes from the engine bay/ firewall into
the interior.
Do the fumes smell like oil or gas (petrol)? If it's petrol, you need to
also check the fuel tank/sending unit connections/vents and any passages
from the trunk (boot) into the interior.

Or say it's the latest cologne from AXE. (Excellent TV commercials here
in the US)
Good luck.
-David
69 S4

collins_dan2000 wrote:

The one place you should look first is inside the "drain or vent tube"
between the head and the block. See if that is plugged (you said it was not
leaking).



White smoke is usually a head gasket problem (antifreeze).but that is
usually in the exhaust..



Due to the lower pressure in the car..you will suck in anything hanging
around the engine compartment.



Tony Vaccaro



_____

From: ***@***.***lto:***@***.*** Behalf
Of David Schwartz
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2005 8:41 PM
To: ***@***.***
Subject: Re: [LotusElan.net] Wife complaining...



Dan,
I would put park the car in your garage, light off, put a trouble light
inside the engine compartment and close the bonnet lid as much as
possible..then get on your knees and look in each footwell for light
leaks around all the grommets/holes from the engine bay/ firewall into
the interior.
Do the fumes smell like oil or gas (petrol)? If it's petrol, you need to
also check the fuel tank/sending unit connections/vents and any passages
from the trunk (boot) into the interior.

Or say it's the latest cologne from AXE. (Excellent TV commercials here
in the US)
Good luck.
-David
69 S4

collins_dan2000 wrote:

--- In ***@***.***, "collins_dan2000" <collins_dan@h...>
wrote:


Dan,
I'd check the condition of the trunk/boot seal. It can let in fumes
due to the shape of the body back there. As a test, you can seal it
all up with some masking tape and go driving.

Greg Z
'72 Sprint