It was a sad evening. Planned to go to the movies with the my better half. Started the car and smoke started comming from the engine bay - more under the driver side wheel.

It was running ok, no warning lights. I turned the engine off and poped the hood open, nothing looked out of the ordinery.

Anyone want to take wild guess, what on eart could be burning?

 

Have you drove over something like a polythene bag or suchlike which has got stuck under the engine and is rubbing against the exhaust pipe, especially the catalyst box, because these get really hot and could ignite it.

 

Look under the bonnet with the car running. That's what the mechanic will do. Too many things could cause this without narrowing it down some.

 

Color of the smoke? What did it smell like (antifreeze? oil?) it could very well be a plastic bag or something caught on someplace hot.

 

I'm trying to master the courage to start it again.

Smoke was not completely white, neither very dark. No strong smell either. I'll take a better look inside the engine bay in the next 2-3 days.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I'll keep you updated.

 

Hope it turns out to be something and nothing, and is just perhaps a leaky pipe.

All the best,

 

Before you start it, check the coolant expansion tank and see if the coolant is at all oily/gray. Also look at the oil to see if there is any hint of antifreeze in it. If the answer to either question is yes--that's not great news (head gasket/cracked block).

If not, take a look at the exhaust manifolds and cat converters to see if there is anything stuck to them. It could be the aforementioned plastic bag or similar--obviously good news.

Best of luck.

 

it smells like Tequila and lime....oh wait, thats the empty Margarita glass next to me

 

I got some time to look at it today. Coolant looked pink-orange as usual. Oil was a bit dark, but it's due for change anyway. I looked around the engine bay and there were no signs of smoke, no weird smell.

I started the car - works as new. Go figure.

I'll get it checked at the dealership - just to make sure.

Thanks everyone for the support.

 

Service manager said the driver side valve cover gasket was leaking a little bit and they are going to replace both of them.