Smoke out of heat exchanger after reinstalling engine

[Christien]

I just had the engine out to replace the rear main seal and oil cooler seals because of copious oil leaks. Back in and started, after running for maybe 60 seconds I noticed a lot of smoke coming out of the passenger side heat exchanger (only, not driver's side). None of the heating hoses are connected, so it was coming out of here:



Should I be concerned, or is it likely just oil that's seeped places it shouldn't go while sitting? (2 weeks) It's more smoke that I would usually see on startup.

[Jim Richards]

I'm thinking seepage. After it sits for a while, long enough to completely cool down, try starting again and look for smoke.

[CCM911]

DOn't give it a second thought. Just run the engine for a bit and it will stop. Who knows what could have taken residence down there. Every time I put my engine back in there is some funny smelling smoke for the first few minutes of running.

Now if the smoke keeps up, it will be a different story.

[theiceman]

i dont have any pipe like that running underneath my timing box like that is that particular to your year ?
anyway who cares ..who needs heat at 29C today ..is it really September ?

[iceracer83]

Oil can seep between the exhaust tubes and heat exchanger shroud and collect inside the shrouding. Once the accumulated oil burns off, no more smoke.

I had a loose cross over pipe on my '74 that dripped a lot of oil into the driver's side exchanger. Oil poured out of it when it was removed for cleaning.

Jay

[Christien]

I ran it a few more minutes - still a bit of smoke, but a lot less. I'll take her out for a good rip and see if that gets rid of it. The good news - no oil drips under the car!

[JOHN21BLACK]

Those are early style SSI headers. Mine run the same way under timing housing.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Christien

I ran it a few more minutes - still a bit of smoke, but a lot less. I'll take her out for a good rip and see if that gets rid of it. The good news - no oil drips under the car!

Dimes to doughnuts it goes away.

[DRACO A5OG]

Originally Posted by CCM911

DOn't give it a second thought. Just run the engine for a bit and it will stop. Who knows what could have taken residence down there. Every time I put my engine back in there is some funny smelling smoke for the first few minutes of running.

Now if the smoke keeps up, it will be a different story.

+1, When I reinstalled my exchanger after replacing my return tube seals, it smoked then disappeared quickly.