burning oil

[jrdpf17]

I get smoke out the driver's side tailpipe. also, i recently had to have my oil changed after less than 3,000 miles when i was informed during an alignment that there was no oil showing up on the dipstick. maybe the last place i went for an oil change didn't do the job?

i've been through the coils before and i know from service records that the previous owner did a valve cover gasket job. however, i'm thinking maybe they only did the passenger's side. would oil getting in this area cause smoke to come out the tailpipe?

 

[gcwimmer]

Would help with more information on vehicle, V6/V8, year and mileage.

Did you get a CEL or oil icon?

Leaking valve cover or any other place?

Did the last place of oil change put in the correct amount?

 

[NYC LS8]

Oil could be seeping past the spark plugs and into the combustion chamber causing smoke to come out of the tails.

 

[jrdpf17]

thanks for responding.

gcwimmer- 2001, v8, 169k, no CEL. i don't know the answers to the other 2 questions. I don't know the difference between a leaking valve cover or anywhere else. aren't the valve covers just the plastic cover to access the coils and plugs? and the valve gaskets are in the plug wells?

nycls8- is this caused by bad valve gaskets?

 

[NYC LS8]

It's actually the rubber o-rings around each plug well that sit between the valve cover and head that seep the oil, so if you're gonna have the cover off, might as well change the gasket to prevent oil leaking onto the exhaust.