Mustang Smoking... Please help... :(

[rhapsodie]

Ok, Im not a car guy, so I don't know any of the technical terms, but I will do my best to describe what is happening. I am really at a loss, so any help or ideas would be GREATLY appreciated it...

When I drive my mustang, after I've been driving it for awhile, (20 mins,) and I stop somewhere, it starts to produce white smoke from underneath the center of the car. It is NOT coming out the tail pipe, (otherwise I heard that could be the gaskets,) but instead the smoke is coming directly from the center of the car.

I looked under the car and I noticed that the outside of the tail pipe was smoking white, but I couldnt tell from what. The top of the tail pipe appears to be wet, (I looked at it tonight and it touched it and it looks and feels like oil.) The drive train, (I think that is what the spinning metal rod is that drives the wheels,) is right above this area of the tail pipe, and it is also wet, (which makes sense too me because it needs to be oiled I would think.) In fact, the whole area around this tail pipe appears to be wet.

Anyway, thats where the oil appears to be dripping from, but I checked the oil after each trip and there is no real significant oil loss...

It worries me because the smoke comes inside the cab, and there is quite a bit of smoke....

Does anyone have any idea what this could be? Any and all response would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Sincerely,
Andrew

 

[16vstang]

Have you checked the the atifrease. Pure white smoke is usaly atifrease/water if it has a blue tint to it its oil. Does your car run different, have less power idle funky....

 

[rhapsodie]

Thanks for the response. No, it still runs fine...

The smoke is being made underneath the center of the car right where the exhaust pipe is directly under the drivetrain. The drivetrain seems to have oil around it, but there appears to be a lot of oil on the surrounding parts as well, and I believe this is what is burning when it comes in contact with the exhaust pipe.

Should there even be oil under there?

 

[TylerDurden]

smokey

Somthing is leaking! I would also say it may be coming from the cooling system, but you never know!

If you think it really is oil why dont you get the car up high as you can and start cleaning all the gunk/old oil off of everything. Once you get it clean you will have a better chance at pin pointing whatever is leaking.

Dont really sound like oil to me.....

 

[rhapsodie]

lol

Get the car up high! haha... I wish i had a way to do that... Im currently trying to squeeze under the car and its a REALLY tight fit...

Anyways, I guess my question is if oil should even be around back there... I wouldnt think so, but then I dont know... Also, do you think it is still safe to drive? I'd hate to have a fire started under there...

Is the drivetrain usually oiled, because maybe there is a leak there....?

Hmmm....

 

[Stinger]

Just for future reference, the "drivetrain" is the engine, transmission, driveshaft, and rear end. What you are talking about is the "driveshaft".

It's still safe to drive, it won't catch on fire. If the smoke is white, it's water. Water can only come from the cooling system. The only way I can think of it coming out of the middle of the car is if you have an exhaust leak there.

There is not supposed to be any external oil on the driveshaft, or any other part of the "drivetrain".

 

[rhapsodie]

hmmmm ok but...

Ok thank you Stinger. I'd hate to park it.

I had an idea though, after doing much research, I am beginning to think there is a leak in the brake hose. from what i read, the brake hose is metal...

To add to this theory, my brakes were working fine for a week, and now my last two drives I hear them squealing very LOUDly... When I did the inspection, the brakes were only at a 10% wear, and since a leaking brake hose could also cause this squeal from what I read, I am beginning to think the brake fluid is leaking onto the hot exhaust pipe, thus burning off white...

I hope its water, but it smells like smoke.

What do you guys think of my theory, is it a possibility?

 

[rhapsodie]

well, since no one i commenting, im guessing its not possible... lol...

 

[RustBucket]

While I concur you have a major leak under the car, I disagree with the water diagnosis. It's oil, plain and simple. The critical part is finding where its coming from.

You've checked engine oil, have you checked the transmission fluid level? Is the bottom of the transmission wet with oil or just the driveshaft?

There are three or four common leaks that dump fluid out the back in a large enough quantity to cause the problem you've described.

1. Oil pan gasket leak
2. Rear main seal leak
3. Transmission front seal leak
4. Transmission tailshaft leak.

Something else that would help is if you would define "significant oil loss" How much oil are you putting in this thing and how often?


FYI, since you appear not to be a do-it-yourself kinda guy, this could get expensive. A couple of the problems I mentioned are relatively easy repairs. The others require separating motor from transmission.

 

[TylerDurden]

re:

It should taste like chicken as well!

 

[rhapsodie]

well i dont get it....

Ok, I played around with my car yesterday trying to determine what it is... I now know for sure that it is not just water because it does spew water when i first start it, but this is definitely something different.

This is the wierd part. I drove it for 20 mins at highway speed, stopped and there was no smoke... After about a minute the smoke started underneath the front/middle of the car around the exhaust pipe...

I drove it another 20 mins... After I stopped for about a minute, (doesnt matter if car is running or turned off,) the smoke again started, but not as much as the first time...

I drove it another 20 mins.... Parked it, got out, waited a minute, no smoke... waited another minute, still no smoke...

I dont understand... Maybe I'm just a paranoid noob at this....

By no significant oil loss, I mean No oil loss of any kind, (motor or transmission or steering,)... The only thing I know is that it *appears* the faster I drive, the more smoke I see when I get out, wait a minute and watch the middle/front exhaust part of the car, (not really an exhaust pipe, but bigger and more flat, perhaps a connector??)..... There is no overheating going on, and no oil pressure loss indicated by the oil gauge....

When the smoke forms after I wait a minute, it forms slowly and is white and slowly gets more and more, until about 5 mins later when it disappears again....

Hmmmm... Anything I'm missing here? Its driving me insane... lol...

~Andrew~

 

[rhapsodie]

Ok, I now know for sure what is happening...

Oil is dripping from the driveshaft in the center of the car, onto the exhaust pipe... It is then burning there....

Someone told me it is not possible for oil to be coming from the drive shaft, but I saw it dripping, so if it is not possible, then does anyone have any idea where it could be leaking from?

The car still hasnt lost any oil...

Thanks guys, for all your help.

~Andrew~

 

[RustBucket]

Rear transmission seal.

 

[ninety2.3]

I wanna say the transmission is leaking too. Check to see if any fluid is coming from the rear of the tranny.

 

[rhapsodie]

Thanks guys...

Im pretty sure its just regular motor oil though... I got under there and dabbed it up, and then compared it against the motor oil and trans. oil, and it felt, smelt, and looked like motor oil for sure.....

If the rear trans. seal is leaking such as RustBucket suggested, would it be leaking motor oil or trans oil?

 

[Keasbey]

I would say trans.Oil, 'cause motor oil won't go that far.. and the only way to repair this problem, is:

1.To remove the driveshaft
2.remove the rear trans. seal
3.buy another one
4.install it
5.Reinstall the driveshaft
6.Enjoy

Or go find a mecanic as soon as possible.. if you can do it by yourself..

 

[T3AL]

I got one of them heatercore drains cause its going out and my coolent leaks out sometimes.

 

[rhapsodie]

well i got beat by a chrysler 300 today....

Boy did that not feel good, but when I caught up to the guy I tipped my hat because he made me realize I have a lot of work ahead of me... lol

The good news is, NO leaks at all today!!! ahhhhh... this is driving me insane.... how could it leak like hell one day, and not at all the next... if it is the transmission leaking, then after the workout it got today, it should be gushing in streams ....

I dont get it... :S

 

[Keasbey]

weird......