Oil leak causing exhaust to smoke?

Asked by Jul 03, 2016 at 10:51 AM about the 2000 Pontiac Firebird

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a 2000 Pontiac Firebird V6 and it has always
burned and leaked oil slowly.  Recently I have been
having to fill it more often. What concerns me is
now at start up the exhaust puts off a white smoke.  
And the oil is dark brown when dip stuck is
checked. What is the most likely cause and repair
for this?

3 Answers
24,785

answered 11 months ago

Head gasket. You appear to be getting coolant into the oil as well (another sign of a bad head gasket). You're getting close to engine rebuild time (or at least the heads).

71,305

answered 11 months ago

It is possible what KenF is saying but also it could be a valve cover gasket leaking onto the exhaust manifold. The brown oil could be just dirty oil from lack of oil changes also.

67,285

answered 11 months ago

A puff of blue smoke out the tailpipe on start up is valve guide seals. Oil runs down the valve stem, past the worn seal, and into the combustion chamber. On start up the oil gets burned off. As the seals continue to wear you'll eventually get blue smoke out the tailpipe at idle only. HTH. -Jim

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