Light (non-heavy/thick) white burning smelly smoke from engine bay?

K3Ntegra

Member
I successfully (or it seems I did, otherwise there would be blue smoke as well?), performed my first oil change. I used Mobil 1 Advanced Full synthetic 5w-30 oil and a k&n hp-1004 filter, with an amount of 4 quarts. All previous oil changes since I've had this car at 139+ thousand miles has used conventional oil. I haven't noticed any notable leaks under the car overnight, since I did the change 2 days ago.

After driving 30+ miles since performing the oil change, and driving 70mph on the highway briefly, before lifting the hood/bonnet 2 days after the oil change, I noticed a little bit of white smoke, coming out from around the engine bay. Smells similar, to burning rubber.

After googling (researching), it seems the most likely culprit is the coolant. At around 171 thousand miles, I had a full timing belt job done (i.e. replacement of water pump and other hard to reach components as well).

I'm not sure if the mechanic did a "coolant flush", since his hand writing is a bit hard to read: http://i.imgur.com/RZGo6WN.jpg

I didn't supply him with any parts, so I'm good for warranty for at least 1 year, which hasn't gone by yet.

Also when I performed the oil change, only less than 3 quarts of the old oil was drained. The last 4 conventional oil changes were performed by this same mechanic.
Two images of drained old oil: http://i.imgur.com/jU671zy.jpg, http://i.imgur.com/UdQihUc.jpg,
No drain pan was used. Only a miniscule amount of oil was in the old "Prime Guard" model POF4460 oil filter.
An unconventional crush washer was used by the mechanic as well: http://i.imgur.com/TgBYSwM.jpg , http://i.imgur.com/JWd7sdy.jpg . I had to remove it with a pocket knife, before using standard Honda ones.

Before performing the oil change I had to drive to the local Honda dealership to get 14mm crush washers. So the engine was indeed warmed up prior to draining the oil.

I wanted to get some input from fellow forum members before taking the car to him tomorrow (if he isn't fully booked for other customers).

Also when the timing belt job was done, the mechanic coincidentally discovered that the water pump was leaking. I've never seen the thermostat meter (left of the RPM meter/tachometer) on the interior dashboard surpass the 2/3rds level, since owning this car at 139+ thousand miles.
 
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Murphy

Meat Master
White smoke is burning coolant dude. An oil change has nothing to do with that, just coincidence. Hate to even say head gasket.
 

uso_Dc

New Member
I'd say residual oil that burns off, but if persists I would double check the tightness of the plug and filter.
 

K3Ntegra

Member
Make sure you didn't double gasket the oil filter, ive seen that a few times.
Yeah, the rubber rim was still on the old oil filter. I made sure to lubricate the new oil filter.
 


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