Ive got a problem where there is smoke or something burning coming from around the manifold, under the air filter, near the carby. Its a clubman. Ive changed the oil, oil filter, petrol filter and air filter element. There was no smoke (or if something is burning) before i changed what i said above. Also whats the breather on the block? thanks. I have also changed the spark plugs.

My guess would be that you've moved something while you were working on the car.
Check that the speedo cable isn't now resting on the exhaust/manifold.

_________________
Too many cars, and too little time.

Ok. Where does the speedo cable go to?

speed cable runs down behind the exhaust to the back of the gear box.

My guess is that you have spilled oil or fuel on the exhuast and and now it is just burning off. However, to be sure it's not something else, check that nothing is touching the exhaust.

_________________
Ryan Filippi
Minis In The Gong
[email protected]
www.minisinthegong.com.au

Ive just had a look. I cant see anything touching the exhaust. It seems to be coming from the radiator side of the engine behind and down from the oil filler cap. I dont think any oil went down there when i changed it, unless ive broken a fuel line to the carby when changing the fuel filter.

At a guess, I'd say you accidentally spilt a bit of oil on the exhaust manifold. If that is what you've done, it'll burn off, no worries. It doesn't take much to do it.

Yeh thats what i thought it could be. The smoke starts about after a minute or so of the engine running. I just turn the engine off thinking its something serious. Its probably just oil burning once the exhaust it hot, a minute or so after the engine is started. Can you think of anything else it could be thats to do with the parts ive changed.

Maybe fuel, but you'd smell the petrol when it's not running.

yeh. Thanks for the help.

Perhaps a little oil weeping from the back of the rocker cover onto the manifold?

They can start to leak for no reason, or because you leant on it while you were working on the other stuff!

_________________
Too many cars, and too little time.

I'd be going with the oil on the manifold theory, it can take a drive to burn it all off, nothing much to worry about

If it was petrol it won't be smoke, it will be a vapour cloud that smells very strong and scarey, it is explosive, thats why its scarey. Petrol on an exhaust manifold will boil on contact too.

_________________
Dean Hutton's first car was a Mini.