I just took my crossfire out of winter storage. When I started it up I noticed white smoke coming from under the hood. I checked my garage floor and there wasn't any indication of any spills. Today (two weeks later) when I took my car to a dealership to get an oil change, I had them inspect it for leaks because even when I pulled in there you could smell burnt oil. The dealership told me that they looked all over for a leak and they couldn't spot anything. They told me they looked on the manifold and there was no sign of any burnt marks. They did the oil change and went home and didn't experience any more smoke. When I got there I parked in the driveway and had a look in the garage floor and there was a very small amount of oil dripped in one spot and then two tiny spots trailing it. After cleaning up the oil, I moved my car into the garage, and placed some white paper under the car where the spots were. It has been about 6 hours now, and after starting the car up a couple times in between checking, there is still no sign of any oil leak. The spot I am questioning is on the drivers side, a little in front and next to the front drivers side wheel. Do you have any idea of what could have caused this odd leak even though the dealer, who had two mechanics look all over for leaks, and couldn't find anything? Any advice?

 

Tom - Sounds like a valve cover gasket leak.

Happened to mine after 1st year. As oil drips down the engine, it hits the plastic splash shield on the bottom of the engine and dispurses, so the drips on the driveway may appear in different locations.

Factory tech that repaired mine said it was common.

Good luck.

 

do you still have the plastic pan under your engine? If you do the leak could be coming from some other location and dripping off the rear of the belly pan...so I would look everywhere, including the transmission which did have a problem with a leak...good hunting...

 

its your transmition thats leaking its a fast easy fix should be covered nder war..... i had the same burnt oil smell until i found there is a dealer service for the problem.....

 

Thanks for the quick reply's. I did run a search before I posted this question and first expected it to be the valve cover gasket. I just cannot seem to be able to find any oil residue on anything. I'm also confident that it isn't the transmission because the few drops that I found in the first place are definitely oil.

 

My SRT-6 is at the dealer this weekend for oil leaks. I wasn't sure if it was oil or some other fluid. The fluid was dripping from between the wheels towards the passenger side. On the floor the oil was forming a spot about 2 feet long and 6 inches wide. On Thursday they told me they did the transmission TSB, which I had printed and left on the passenger seat, and had discovered a leak from a gasket on the driver side valve cover at the front of the engine. The common places these cars leak are the transmission and valve covers. I'd be surprised if it's from some other place.

Les

 

When I had mine in at the Dealers last month for an oil change I handed them the TSB for the transmission leak. They checked it out and told me no leak per TSB however my driver side valve cover did have a small leak and they will order the gasket. While it was on the hoist, I also had them check the steering damper. I was told the damper is OK however the right tie rod is marginal so they have also ordered and will replace when they do the gasket. Service Manger says it's all covered by warranty and he will even do an alignment N/C!

 

Thank you for the replies. After taking it for about a 60 mile drive, the smell of burnt oil is gone. However, I re-checked the valve covers and there is a small seep on the drivers side. It still amazes me that the dealer wasn't able to find this the first time I took it in. I was unable to find any seeps on the passenger side, but I hope they go ahead and replace both of them if need be. I guess I should have known that the dealer was incompetent when they had to ask me how to open the keys...

 

"I guess I should have known that the dealer was incompetent when they had to ask me how to open the keys..."

BigT - Don't know who your dealer is, but if they couldn't find the V/C leak and didn't know how to operate your key, chances are that they don't have a certified, factory trained X-Fire tech, and probably don't have the special tools to properly repair you car.

You may want to avoid the inevitable, upcoming aggravation by finding a new dealer now, up to and including a MB dealer or independent import car service center.

 

blue coupe,which dealer did you use? sounds like it maybe worth while going there. ..gryfan

 

That is exactly what I am doing. I am not planning on going back to that dealer ever again.

 

Well I got a call yesterday from the dealer. Good news is that they replaced the valve cover gaskets. Bad news is the tech broke my engine cover...

 

I had mine repaired last week by five star dealer with experienced Crossfire Tech. Great dealership, around since 1875.

The driver side valve cover gasket was an obvious leak. The tech found a smaller leak on the pasenger side.

He told me this is a common problem.

He replaced both valve covers & the gaskets - It was easier for him to get new valve covers then to scrape off the old glued on gaskets. What the heck, Chrysler was paying for it.

'05 roadster still under warranty. 1600 miles & 11 weeks left on warranty