I was driving home tonight and as I approached a stop light I started to smell something burning. Then as I stopped there was smoke coming up from between the fender and the hood on the driver's side. It was enough to make me nervous but not enough to make me jump out of the car.

I pulled into a parking lot and opened the hood and there was no smoke but the smell was strong. I looked close and I saw what looked like oil pooled on whatever is the round black piece on the left-hand side of the cam cover. Also the cam cover and the shock tower were covered in soot. Just then another puff of smoke came up, this time a small one. My guess is that oil is leaking from somewhere on or near the cam cover and then dripping onto the headers.

I checked the oil level and it looked normal although the dipstick didn't have anything written on it like fill, full, etc. All I saw was a small etched piece about an inch long at the bottom that I assume is the "range". I then started the car and the check engine light came on.

I called the dealer and then dropped it off, they said they haven't heard of anything like this. I have 3K miles and this is the first real problem I have had.

Anyone else have this happen?

 

Headers?

 

Poor word choice...meant and should have said stock exhaust manifold.

Also I noticed, and should have taken a picture, a tag on the cam cover that read something like: RP -4.6. Is that normal, does anyone else have that tag?

 

I assume that tag means Romeo Plant 4.6L ..... that's where it was built. I haven't had that problem, or anything like it. good luck, brutha.

 

I'm guessing the cam covers weren't properly tightened.

 

Romeo Plant...I hadn't thought of that, probably right.

Service dept was packed when I dropped her off last night and they said it might not get looked until Thursday. I'll update when I find out what they come up with.

 

Hopefully it's just a leak in the cam cover gasket, and can be easily fixed. I'm not quite to 3000 yet, just a little over 100 to go I think, and so far no leaks.

 

Finally got the GT back and it was a broken VVT cam sensor which allowed oil to spurt out the top of the cam cover.

The service dept. did a great job and they were very, very nice. They replaced the part and detailed the engine compartment. This was my first service dept. experience with the people at Rod Baker Ford in Plainfield, IL and so far they have really treated me right!

Seems silly but I just feel better having the car back home again.

 

Good to hear it wasnt anything terminal! Good to hear...

 

Amen brutha...amen.