Today was a beautiful day. Figured i would go for a little cruise. I washed the car and hoped in. About 10 minutes into the drive I thought I smelled something funny. I pulled over into a parking lot and noticed smoke was coming out of the bottom of the car. I bend down and it looks like smoke is coming out of the cats. (burnt gasket?, smelled like the day after the headers were installed, headers breaking in smell)

I continue driving and the car is shakier than usual and sounds like some sort of exhaust leak from the headers. Also feels like when I give gas the car is working a little harder in the beggining or maybe the noise is just louder and that is throwing me off. When I throw ity into reverse, car shakes a bit and I have to give some gas to move back when I just usually roll back. Any ideas?

My mechanic is about 100 miles away. Im at my summer home for the weekend. Do I have to be concerened about driving back?

 

all I can think of there is the catalyst is busted up, and maybe plugging up your exhaust.
I have had the catalyst break up before and rattle around but it has never plugged up personally on me. I would disconnect your exhaust and take a look inside the cat, if you hace access to tools. as for it damaging the car not really sure what to tell you sorry.

 

do you have an oil leak? could be oil burning off the exhaust.

 

Ive always had a minor oil leak. But wouldnt the smoking stop after a while? I was driving for about a half hour and the smoke was there everytime i pulled over to take a look.

 

Not if it's continuing to leak. It'll keep smoking as long as more oil drips on it.

 

Well the car has been parked for a couple of hours now. I got under it and I dont see any oil on the floor really. When I was driving the gauges all read fine. The smoke was a light white smoke. Im just worried about the 100 mile drive back to the city. Am I worrying for nothing?

 

I agree with the cat comment. Check that. I had a friend who had a plugged cat. He said it felt like transmission problems too. If the exhaust has nowhere to go, the engine is going to 'work harder' to try and get it out.

 

You didn't happen to smell the smoke did you? Usually there is a pretty distinct smell when oil burns on the hot exhaust. And a light white colored smoke definately looks like oil smoking. I've seen and smelled lots of it from getting oil on my headers. I guess you could turn the car on let it heat up and see if you can pinpoint an oil leak. Other than that, I'd have to agree with the cat theory and just say take a look inside if you have the tools and time. But my first guess would be that your minor oil leak might be getting a little worse... if that's the case check the oil level before you head out and maybe bring some with you just in case.

 

ya I didn't think of that, the oil pressure sensor is on the far back of the motor and that has been a problem in a few lt1's I know of but it has never really hurt how it ran. checking the oil level won't hurt I'd do it often

 

If the problem is a stuffed cat, will driving for 100 miles with a messed up cat do any damage?

 

I also noticed the car shaking a little more when idling. Would that have anything to do with the exhaust leak? The exhaust leak has gotten bigger over the past couple of days.

Just went to the grocery store for a minute, when I came back, the smoke was coming through the shifter, radio, heat vents. Im guessing there was no wind or something and the smoke just rose up? Im not happy!

 

I checked the oil level and its full. So it would seem there is a slight oil leak (showed it to a neighbor).

Is it ok to drive with the smoke and all? You will only see the smoke when Im at a light I suppose.

 

probably the back of your intake is leaking. have you ever taken off the intake manifold?

 

If the cat is clogged, keeping the car running for 100 miles could be a problem. When the cat clogged on my wife's LT1 Camaro, the car began to overheat and ran progressively poorer until it would hardly pull itself. She barely managed to get it off he freeway. One hundred miles would have been an impossibility.

Good luck

 

Never took off the intake. Must be some sort of leak and will have to figure out from where. Is it ok to drive the car with some smoke coming out? Im assuming the smoke is from the oil dripping on the hot pipes.