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I have a 95 mx-3 with the 4 cylinder engine. After the car warms up a large cloud of smoke starts to come from under the hood. I know it's oil because it smells like oil. It seems to be coming from the passenger side. I think the leak is somewhere above the exhaust and when the exhaust heats up it's causing the oil on the exhaust to create the smoke. Are there common areas for a leak to occur? What should i do experts? Thanks in advance.

Your valve cover and oil cap would both leak down to the exhaust on the passenger side

so i should replace the valve cover gasket see if the problem persists?

Find where the leak is first, start at those 2 locations

If you dont remember when the last time the valve cover gasket was replaced and or do
not know, it doesnt hurt and isnt a hard thing to do.

my friend has owned the car for almost 8 years and it has never been changed during that time. Is that a common thing to leak on the 4 cylinders? Possibility of the oil pan gasket?

Valve cover gasket is a common leak spot. Think they are around 20 bucks new and
it takes less than an hour to replace it. Get some new spark plugs while your in there
too, those never hurt.

NGK coppers are fine or V series

i checked all of the parts stores and none of them have a valve cover gasket. Is this a dealer only item? Is there a gasket for a 95 mx-3 1.6 liter 4 cylinder?

This is what you need. It is at rockauto.com. Most local parts stores dont carry it on hand and could probably special order it if you asked them to.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=1812152

i replaced the valve cover gasket and it is still leaking. It is coming from the passenger side where i can see the puddle under the car. I looked under the car and the oil is getting on the cat converter which is causing the smoke. Anyone else have any other ideas? Thanks in advance everyone

Maybe a freeze plug?? Or it is probably like my situation. I've replaced the oil pan gasket which was pointless because it is the main bearing support plate that seems to be leaking and it is leaking around the same spots that you mentioned. Only way to really tell is to look at the highest point of where it could be leaking from. Clean it first and then wait. Adding some uv dye and then run the car for however long it says to will help you trace the leak with a uv light.

Its not a freeze plug. Spend money on degreaser and a brush instead of UV items and
clean up the seal areas.

disty o ring?

also, my gf didn't tighten her filter enough once... that was messy.

front and rear crank seals... cam seals....

Just gotta trace it

just look under the engine, you have to be able to see where the oil is coming from...

with that being said, is your oil filter tight?

well today i finally got some time to attempt to locate and fix the oil leak. I got under the car and looked everywhere once i saw a drip start from below the car. I started looking up and noticed it was coming from the oil pressure sending unit i believe is what it is called. I bought a new one for $6 at autozone and replaced it along with changing the oil because it is a lot easier to take it out with the oil filter also out.

Is it common for those to leak? Do you think that was my leak? any input thank you in advance.