I have owned a 2000 TJ Magna for almost 2 years. Great car and it really flies down the highway, good on fuel. Currently 176,000kms. Replaced the radiator last year.

There was a slight oil leak, got that fixed by adding some sealant solution but will probably need to replace some seals. But the engine always smells bad when hot and its annoying, the smell comes from the rear of the engine underneath the top manifold. Maybe I could get rid of this smell by getting the engine cleaned by a detailer? .... I really don't wanna spend hundreds because I am saving up for other things in life.

gaskets/seals need to be replaced, washing the engine just cleans the oil off and you get a drying/burnt smell, other than that replace the gaskets/seaks =[

No doubt I will get the usual insults and what not for these comments but threads like this make me shake my head

You dont want to spend money on your car but you want this smell gone, I have the simple solution for you, sell it and buy a skate board to get around on.......

This just in, cars cost money to buy, cars cost money to maintain and cars cost money to run. If you dont want to spend a few $$ for general maintenance on a car getting on 10 years old you dont need to ahve that car, simple. Sorry for being blunt but this is simply a fact of life. Everything costs money and while I understand you are "saving" up for something else, perhaps priorities need to be re arranged.

As for sealant to stop leaks, there is no such thing. Several companies claim their magic in a can will fix leaks but simply put your gaskets have gone hard, they are not sealing, they need to be replaced.

The rear bank is most likely a rocker cover gasket, you can try nipping up the bolts and that may buy you a few months but in the end you will need to fix. washing will not fix, it will wash away the oil for a few weeks when it will then come back and you will have wasted your $$

Most likely is oil leak from bad rocker cover gasket with oil dripping onto the hot exhaust manifold. The smell is the oil burning on the manifold. Gasket needs to be replaced and engine degreased.

Common problem, my Verada is doing it at the moment...

Getting a detailer to clean it will only be a temporary measure depending on the rate that is it leaking, might lose the smell for a day or a week or two at best. Better off getting some quotes to have the seals replaced, might cost your 3-4 times what a detailer would charge to clean it but then you won't have to put up with it and you'll save oil usage too.

I had my back gasket replaced a week ago by my trusted mechanic. Before the replacement, I would fill the motor with oil in the morning and by evening - driving 20km to work and back - it would be almost empty.

Since getting it changed, the front one was leaking as well so I changed it myself.

It isn't a hard job - though getting the semi-hardened pipes off the rocker cover was a bit of a bitch.

perhaps your car has eaten Beans?

lol but really if you detail the engine and there is a leak it will come back again. If you want to detail it to check for leaks, go to super cheap auto and spend $5 on degreaser (usually 2-3 cans) and then jack the car up, get under with goggles, spray degreaser and then clean. Rinse and repeat till its clean. Take her for a spin and then jack it back up to see if there is a leak. My guess is seals though - the only way a smell will be emitted unless you hit a plastic bag that is melted and hidden up there somehow..

What does it actually smell like? Burning oil? Rotten eggs?
Without knowing exactly, and from the sounds of it having no oil leaks, my bet would bet that when the mechanic did the rear bank, he left the exhaust emissions pipe loose at either the manifold or header side of the pipe and your copping stinky exhaust fumes. Though I could be totally wrong ^_^

Thanks. I think its the rocker gasket cover. Nah, not gonna get it detailed, waste of money of course. Its probably advisable to get the rocker gasket cover replaced next service. Might cost hundreds. The oil leak is very minor and only requires topping up every 3 to 4 weeks or so. I don't wanna sell my car though because I need it since I do lotsa highway driving to get to college and other places. Apart from that nothing else is wrong with my car.

Thanks. I think its the rocker gasket cover. Nah, not gonna get it detailed, waste of money of course. Its probably advisable to get the rocker gasket cover replaced next service. Might cost hundreds. The oil leak is very minor and only requires topping up every 3 to 4 weeks or so. I don't wanna sell my car though because I need it since I do lotsa highway driving to get to college and other places. Apart from that nothing else is wrong with my car.

Geez just swing by my place and I'll do it for free.

Except you're in Tasmania...

But seriously, I think I paid like $90 for all the gaskets from Malcolm and did the job myself. I can change rocker gaskets over in about two hours (and I'm a noob). The only tools needed are a socket set and some screwdrivers.

:yeahthat:

i did mine not too long ago, not too difficult, but it would help to have someone with you that has an idea. i did both banks.
i was recommended to use genuine gaskets when doing it, my brother works for a spare parts place so i of course went against what the professionals told me and got aftermarket ones as they were cheaper, needless to say i had to pull the front one apart again a week later as it wasn't sealing properly.

Luke

Topping up once a month isn't a minor leak IMO when you say you drive 20km a day for work!

Geez just swing by my place and I'll do it for free.

Except you're in Tasmania...

But seriously, I think I paid like $90 for all the gaskets from Malcolm and did the job myself. I can change rocker gaskets over in about two hours (and I'm a noob). The only tools needed are a socket set and some screwdrivers.

I have meaning to get mine done b4 i sell the car but i got quoted 250+ to fix so i did not bother.
Given that i bought a 01 KJ Verada Today and its got the same problem do u know any guides on how to change the gasket? Or would it be in the service manual

I have meaning to get mine done b4 i sell the car but i got quoted 250+ to fix so i did not bother.
Given that i bought a 01 KJ Verada Today and its got the same problem do u know any guides on how to change the gasket? Or would it be in the service manual

Buy the gasket set (rocker seals and spark plug seals) from Malcolm at Mitsfix and I'll be happy to help you fit the new ones. But there are some posts here in the Tech section on how to get the plenum chamber off (for the rear bank). Front bank it basically pull out the spark leads and remove the bolts from the rocker cover. Pull out old seal, put new seal in - job done.

the TE i bought last week had a leak from front and rear rocker gaskets

a example of what im doing is as follows


2x gasket kit from mal,,, 2x $27.00 plus a few dollars postage these come with the spark plug tube seals and are A L O T cheaper than genuine
3x NGK laser iridium spark plugs @ 21.00 each ( local price )

1x geniune plenum gasket 8.00 from stealer




im also doing new rear leads and a full beack end degrease while i have the plenum off

my little moral to this post is if the plenum has to come off you may as well do it all and save yourself drama in the future

im doing alot more but thats because imy car needs it or becuase im unsure of its service history