Smoke coming from spark plug hole

[Dr.Smasher]

For grins, and because I had a day off, I decided to get my GN ready for driving. did an oil change, did some other little cleanup stuff on it.

Started it up, and after about 30 seconds or so it started to smell like smoke. turned it off, popped the hood, whitish smoke is seeping from the rear cylinder on the pass. side (don't know what number it is), from the spark plug hole.

Any ideas what's causing this?

[oehm]

Is the spark plug torqued properly? If smoke/gas is escaping from the hole, then you are losing compression too!

[Dr.Smasher]

Originally posted by oehm
Is the spark plug torqued properly? If smoke/gas is escaping from the hole, then you are losing compression too!

I dunno. I didn't do anything to the plugs from the time I put it in my garage to today. Would it be worth my time to try new plugs?

[oehm]

I would!

[Ormand]

Make sure where the smoke is coming from. If oil ran down onto the head, near the exhaust, it will smoke for a few minutes, then quit. Shouldn't come from a spark plug hole if you didn't have the plugs out/don't have one loose.

[mikem]

Check if your rocker cover is leaking oil. My leaks on to the head and finds its way to the spark plug hole and starts to smoke for a while. If your rocker covers aren't leaking then I have no idea what's going on.

[Dr.Smasher]

Originally posted by Ormand
Make sure where the smoke is coming from. If oil ran down onto the head, near the exhaust, it will smoke for a few minutes, then quit. Shouldn't come from a spark plug hole if you didn't have the plugs out/don't have one loose.

oh, I'm quite sure it isn't oil on the exhaust manifold. the oil fill hole is on the driver's side, the leak is coming from the passenger side. one of my buddies (who has an account here) is gonna come over wednesday and look at it. I'm just hoping it's something really simple.

[6=8]

It might be pretty simple...

It could be just some "Substance" accumulated in or around the #6 spark plug area and is in the process of burning off.

The substance could be water/coolant mixed with a little oil.

Is the #6 plug tight? It is the hardest one to get installed.

Other possibilities: Leaky heater hoses (Heater control valve is on that side along with the related plumbing) could be dripping on the header? If it dripped when cold, could be burning off the bottom of the header pipe or flange, making it look like it is originating from the spark plug hole.

I realize the oil fill is on the other side, however, valve cover gaskets could be leaking. Oil leaks are very possible.

It might be bad however...

Exhaust leak near #6. Bad gasket or cracked header.
Head cracked near the spark-plug hole venting something or a bad head gaket over there?

Hope this helps!