In the past few days I've noticed a distinct ticking noise coming from the passenger side of the engine. My rockers have always made a slight ticking noise, but this is louder. Also, my exhaust from my car smells kinda bad. You know that smell that comes from a lawnmower or leaf blower or some little 2 cycle engine? Mine smells like that now. Granted, I don't have cats, but still shouldn't smell like that I wouldn't think.

I took off my oil cap while the engine was running, and a bit of gray smoke comes out, and I can smell that smell. That's not normal for any smoke to come out from the valve cover right?

What could be causing this?

 

might be an exhaust leak causing a rich condition

 

I've searched around and can't find any exhaust leak.

The smell doesn't smell like a car running rich, it just smells bad. Hard to explain I guess...

 

anyone?

 

if you have smoke coming out of your oil filler cap that could be a casue of blow-by. You might have a cylinder going dead. Is there any water in the oil to indicate a bad head gasket? There are a lot of variables.

 

This wouldn't explain the smoke in the valve cover but I had a ticking sound and it turned out that one of the roller lifters and the lobe on the cam were chipped. I suspect a lifter hung up or the metal just fatigued. Try putting a stethoscope on the rocker stud. You will hear it if this is the problem. You can run the engine with the valve cover off but watch your fingers.

It's an idea....

 

My car has loud ticking too, but I think it's just the valves.. although I have an exhaust leak as well. Header gasket is probably my problem, so make sure yours aren't blown.