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Ive had my ZE for almost a year now and have never had a problem with it ever until 2 days ago. When I drive the car only about 10 blocks or so it starts to smoke alittle bit from the firewall side of the engine by the rear valve cover. Then it starts to smell alot like maple syrup. So what do you guys think? I'm guessing its the rear valve cover gasket is dead since I have all fluids topped off and bled, and my exhaust is not coming out blue so that would rule out head gasket. Any other suggestions or do you all agree its more than likely the valve cover gasket?

yeh it seems to be rear valve cover gasket.

maple syrup means that your heater core is going or gone. I have had to replace one on each of my cars and it started with the maple syrup smell.

YEA! I have the same thing, it is a sweet selling scent, I thought it was the paint on my motor. So it is just the heater under the dash? It works fine for me?

check you oil sensor to make sure its not pushing through it as well

you sure the pcv hose on the rear valve cover is connected..i've driven my car with ghat off and it smoked through the vents and stunk like oil pretty bad...u may wanna take a look

Ill have to check about that PVC hose to see if thats it because the car just all of a sudden started smoking. It wasnt gradual at all just out of nowhere.

Burning oil doesn't smell sweet, but smokey and caustic. (to me at least). I'd check the coolant level and see if you are loosing any. If so I'd bet on the heater core like Rece said. Coolant smells sweet.

totally agree with PATDIESEL, try the coolant first if not well its gotta be the heater core, i doubt it has anything to do with oil, i have a feeling its coolant related.

lil third the coolant leak.....

I'm not losing any coolant at all but I do agree that it seems like something to do with coolant because it only starts to smell right after the cars temp needle starts to move while warming up. Anyone know how I can check for sure if its the heater core? And also does a bad heater core smoke normally?

Are you sure its SMOKE and not steam?

check your upper rad hose and your rad cap.

Also, if you have access to one, do a coolant system leakdown check and see what happens there..coolant is sweet smelling indeed.

yeah i want to add a little to that, if it's the coolant, you know it's not necessarily a big leak, i mean all u need a few drops on a hot engine, and u got alot of steam goin on.. so you wouldn't be able to notice a change a difference in your coolant level, unless you monitor over a long period of time, check where the smoke is coming from, check all around it look for signs of wetness.. the rad cap could be the source, i have the same problem and its my rad cap, im not even worried about replacing it.