I've just torn down and rebuilt my engine, and I have yet to do the 30 minute run-in as suggested by Monroe because there is too much smoke for my comfort coming from around the exhaust manifold.

I tightened up the flanges between the manifolds and the pipes and eliminated the leaks around the flanges.

I put two gaskets in between the manifolds and the engine and torqued down the bolts to the point where I'm worried about overtightening.

I also realized that the valve covers were leaking oil on to the exhaust manifolds so I re-sealed the valve covers with Blue RTV and torqued them down.

One continued to leak, so I purchased some Permatex 2 Form A non hardening pliable gasket sealant 2B and re sealed and torqued it down. However, it seems that this stuff is way too pliable as when the valve covers heat up, the stuff softens and gets forced out.


I cant see any more oil drips, and I can't see where the hell the smoke is coming from. It doesn't have the sweet smell that burning oil does or that distinctive exhaust note. Has anyone got any suggestions?

Is Smoke also coming from the exhaust outlet?
Is that "hot oil smell" present?
If the valve covers are stamped steel (stock type) covers "torquing them down" may have deformed the mounting surface, allowing oil to leak by.
I suggest you take them off again and check the the surface around the bolt holes with a straight edge. If they are dimpled bang them back out using a flat hard surface and SMALL hammer.

If you have cast valve covers, never mind.

You didn't spill any transmission fluid on the pipe did you? I did that about a month ago and didn't know it. That thing smoked for days lol.. There was no visible "spots." Just a lot of smoke. Took forever to figure out what it was, but it was no big deal after it just burned off.

Didn't spill any transmission fluid.

Exaust is coming out the tailpipes.

The valve covers are a fairly cheap chrome dress up kit (came with the car).

There is a bit of the hot oil smell (kind of sweet, kind of nutty), but not as much as when I first noticed the leak around the valve covers.

Is it possible for the exhaust to leak out around the bolts that hold the manifold to the engine?

THanks for the replies.