So one of the two Crossfires I own I purchased from someone in Tennessee. The former owner died before he could get it running, but today I got the engine started after replacing the SKREEM with one sourced from SOS Diagnostics (thanks guys!). I already had changed the oil and I put a bottle of HEET in the gas tank, since the car had been sitting for a long time.

The engine started right up after the SKREEM replacement, but lots of grey smoke quickly starting pouring out from underneath the area pictured here, which I think is under an exhaust header. What might be causing this? Do y'all have any advice? Should I be worried about this?

 

Oil leak from the valve cover area.

 

YUP. Dave is, of course, right. I had that with my SE. Mine was coming from the seams between valve cover and breather cover but sometimes it's from the valve cover gaskets.

Here is what is almost our biggest "fix it" thread, and it's on this very problem:
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...over-leak.html

 

It appears you are showing the right side of the engine. If you have an Automatic Trans, check for the trans electrical plug leaking on to the exhaust

. James

 

Thanks for the replies, guys. I am going to try to clean the engine bay and fix the oil leak from the valve gasket.

James, It is the left side of the engine if you are standing in front of the car, right if you are sitting in the driver's seat. It is an automatic transmission roadster. How do I check for the trans electrical plug leaking on to the exhaust?

 

Watch this video :
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...-ta-daaaa.html

 

Right and Left are always considered when sitting in the drivers seat.

 

Hi, was this problem solved? I have the exact same problem woth smoke coming from that area. Was it the valve cover problem or the tran electrical plug leak problem?

 

Unfortunately many threads here are old and they never have a response or answer if the problem is solved
This thread is from 2021
The member who created this thread hasn't been online here since..... Sep 1, 2021 08:03 AM

 

Check your breather covers. They are the small covers on top of the valve covers. Usually they develop a leak. See picture below.
Here's a link to my post on how to replace the breather cover seals, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs & plug wires.
LINK to Breather covers, valve covers etc...

 

Thank you for your answers. I will get them checked. I hope it's no too expensive to fix.

 

Remember, the engine is the same as a 2004 Mercedes SLK 320.