Smell of Oil after Driving

I usually smell burnt oil after driving my 2002 tacoma v6 4x4 with 163000 miles. Been a while since last oil change so no recent oil spill.

Valve covers are a bit wet, been that way for awhile and didnt smell....no smoke out of exhaust.

Thoughts? Anybody with similar issues??

 

the oil filter is in a bad place sometimes the oil will spill out on the engine block when you take it off during an oil change, take it to a spray wash hose the engine bay and skid plate areas

 

Valve Cover Gaskets

 

Is your oil level low? If your oil level is low, it's obviously going somewhere.

Also, there doesn't have to be a huge plume of visual smoke out the exhaust to be able to smell burnt oil. It doesn't take much.

If it's "been a while" since your last oil change, it's probably time for one. Clean everything off real good with degreaser and check for leaks.

 

mine same thing, turns out valve cover bolts loose some nearly a full turn. all set now

 

My 3.4 equipped 95 is having the exact same problem: valve cover leaks at the back corners drip right onto the exhaust. Smokes in engine compartment until it burns off and it smells all the time. Tightening did not help. Going to replace them soon.

 

Same story with my 3.4. Leaking oil from somewhere. Going to investigate on my next off period.

 

Usually valve cover gaskets leaking onto the exhaust manifold. Try torquing the bolts to 53 in-lb. At best they are loose, at worst you need to replace the gaskets.

 

you can really only access half of the bolts without removing the intake plenum. It helps but only for a short while.

 

my old goat 5VZFE is running frickin awesome, but the valve covers have minor weep and I can smell a puff of oil now and again after idling a while.
no issues, not burning oil, too lazy cheap to have proper valve cover gasket replacement.

not a fire hazard yet not that much gunk on engine, just small strips around valve cover

 

Mine gives a smell after driving now. I went with Mobil 1 Syn. just to clean the insides, another 1k and I'll go back to Regular oil. Oil level never changes so I'm not worried.