# Oil burn smell - significance? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [June 23, 2017, 5:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224 "2017-06-23T05:10:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/21 "2017-06-24T19:39:59Z")
you have your opinion and I have mine. Almost 100% of threads have various opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/22 "2017-06-24T20:00:47Z")
My 2003 ford F150 had a manufacturing problem where debris caused the head gasket to leak oil onto the exhaust system. Not a whole lot of oil leaks, but it got bad enough I could not drive without the windows open. There was a TSB about it but no warranty fix. About 4 years ago the mechanic put in a piece of steel to divert the oil away from the manifold, been fine ever since. Just suggesting if it is a head gasket, it does not have to be oem and perfect. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/23 "2017-06-24T20:12:39Z")
> [@kurtwm2010](#): > > If it was the head gasket you would have other problems/symptoms as well Sounds like a statement, not an opinion šŸ˜œ ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 11:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/24 "2017-06-24T23:14:39Z")
Iā€™ve personally experienced an external head gasket oil leak and had no other problems/symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 12:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/25 "2017-06-25T00:07:35Z")
> [@sciconf](#): > > I was told that the oil seepage is from head cover gasket Thereā€™s no such part named ā€œhead cover gasketā€. The gaskets in that area are the ā€œvalve cover gasketā€ and the ā€œhead gasketā€. No way to know via the internet which gasket is causing your problem, but Iā€™ve had to replace the valve cover gasket on my similar vintage to yours Corolla 2 or 3 times over the years b/c of leaks that drop onto something hot and create an odor or drip oil onto the driveway. Iā€™ve never had to replace the head gasket. On the Corolla 4afe engine replacing the valve cover gasket is maybe a 1-1.5 hour job for diyā€™er me, very easy to do since everything is right there within standing up reach. The new gasket set I think costs about $30. Itā€™s often not possible to tell where an oil leak is coming from visually, so it would make more sense in my way of thinking to replace the valve cover gasket first, and see if that stops the leak. On my Corolla I notice the lack of oil drips on the driveway within 2 days. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 12:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/26 "2017-06-25T00:13:08Z")
What is commonly known as a valve cover Honda calls a ā€œhead coverā€. Some manufactures call it a camshaft cover. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/27 "2017-06-25T00:17:07Z")
I guess technically a valve cover is a head cover if you think about it, since it is a cover that covers the head. But that sort of nomenclature is confusing when thereā€™s another gasket called the head gasket. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/28 "2017-06-25T00:40:59Z")
After reading Nevadaā€™s interesting point, I looked mine up. Toyota calls my ā€œvalve coverā€ the COVER, SUB-ASSY, CYLINDER HEAD Nomenclatures vary so much that itā€™s fruitless to be debating them. I wish ā€œscionfā€ (the OP) would tell us what vehicle heā€™s addressing; year, make, & model. If itā€™s a Toyota or Scion I could post an exploded view drawing with part numbers and we could all be on the same page. OP? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/29 "2017-06-25T00:43:34Z")
> [@the\_same\_mountainbik](#): > > I wish ā€œscionfā€ (the OP) would tell us what vehicle heā€™s addressing; year, make, & model I think it is a 1987 Acura Integra that he thinks is worth a lot of money. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/30 "2017-06-25T00:45:41Z")
> [@sciconf](#): > > now at 170k (87 Integra), noticed some leak ā€¦and the cylinder head cover has been leaking for 17 years. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 12:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/31 "2017-06-25T00:46:10Z")
OP? - the %&^&$% 10 mandatory integersā€¦ šŸ‘æ ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 1:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/32 "2017-06-25T01:23:14Z")
> [@VOLVO\_V70](#): > > I think it is a 1987 Acura Integra that he thinks is worth a lot of money. Wow here is the genius who can get into other peopleā€™s mind - then trolls on valuation when everyone is talking about repair! The handle ā€œVOLVO\_V70ā€ might be telling ā€¦! ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/33 "2017-06-25T03:47:49Z")
So, scionf, what pray-tell IS the year, make, and model of the car? ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 3:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/34 "2017-06-25T03:50:07Z")
> [@the\_same\_mountainbik](#): > > So, scionf, what pray-tell IS the year, make, and model of the car? 1987 Acura Integra LS Auto 170k miles ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 4:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/35 "2017-06-25T04:21:31Z")
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I was unable to access an exploded-view drawing, which might have helped to ensure that we were actually all referring to the same part. It might also have served to clearly illustrate to you what weā€™re alluding to. I use drawings offered by OEM parts providers, but because of the age of the vehicle I was unable to get one. The sites that Iā€™m familiar with that offer these drawings offer almost no parts for vehicles that age. Sorry. However, I think weā€™re all really referring to the valvecover gasket as a high-probability primary cause with a possibility (but much lower probability) of a headgasket breech. The age of the vehicle also raises possibilities (with reasonably high probability) of camshaft and crankshaft seals too, but the valvecover gasket is the best first choice. The burning oil may be acrid, but engines do not die because oil is seeping past tired seals. They only die if the level is allowed to get too low, causing seizure of the bearings and/or scarring of the cylinder walls. ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 4:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/36 "2017-06-25T04:34:49Z")
Thanks @the\_same\_mountainbik Correct me if I am wrong but the head gasket looks different from Valve cover from these pictures: 1. Head [http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/shop\_years/acura-integra-cylinder-head-gasket-1987.html](http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/shop_years/acura-integra-cylinder-head-gasket-1987.html) 2. Valve Cover [https://www.acurapartswarehouse.com/oem-acura-valve-cover-gasket.html?Make=Acura&Model=Integra&Year=1987&Submodel=&Filter=(bt=4%2C8;et=1%2C1)](https://www.acurapartswarehouse.com/oem-acura-valve-cover-gasket.html?Make=Acura&Model=Integra&Year=1987&Submodel=&Filter=(bt=4%2c8;et=1%2c1)) I know I was told that the seepage is from Head gasket back in 2000 but it stopped after using high mileage engine oil. I have changed several gasket recently (some are typical to this engine - eg small rubber band like gaskets - a few of them) - engine oil pan gasket; When the timing belt was done, they changed all the related rubber/gasket/ ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/37 "2017-06-25T04:46:44Z")
I agree with Volvo I remember a discussion, where OP was convinced that . . . for some unclear reason, in my opinion . . . his Acura was worth a lot of money. But some of us tried to convince him that it wasnā€™t the case. To no avail ā˜¹ ---
**Author:** ![sciconf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sciconf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sciconf)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 5:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/38 "2017-06-25T05:04:21Z")
> [@db4690](#): > > I agree with Volvo > > I remember a discussion, where OP was convinced that . . . for some unclear reason, in my opinion . . . his Acura was worth a lot of money. But some of us tried to convince him that it wasnā€™t the case. To no avail ā˜¹ Could you help us stay focused on the topic - this would be big a help ( moreover yourā€™s is unsubstantiated) ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 5:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/39 "2017-06-25T05:05:07Z")
Unsubstantiated . . . I think not I remember that previous discussion very well ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2017, 5:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224/40 "2017-06-25T05:10:27Z")
You are correct that the headgasket and the valvecover gasket are different things. The head is the assembly that holds the valves, camshafts, and closes/seals the top of the combustion chambers. Itā€™s a critical part of the combustion chamber as well as a critical assembly of the engine. The valvecover only covers the valvetrain assembly; the camshafts, rockers, and that stuff and retains oil that gets splashed around by the camshafts and rockers. Itā€™s basically a cover and a mounting surface for some parts, nothing more. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-burn-smell-significance/105224.md?page=3)