Wispy smoke coming from rear passenger side of engine in '97 Avalon.

[Dennis S]

It has a gasket that leaks oil but I don't see any oil back there. Any ideas?

[Carm]

What does it smell like?
Oil or radiator fluid?

[N-OS X-tasy!]

Carm wrote:
What does it smell like?

[Carm]

Hahaha

[lost in space]

If you don't see any oil, it could be hitting the exhaust manifold or exhaust pipe and burning, making smoke. If that's happening, it's turning into caked carbon on whatever hot spot it's hitting and is no longer liquid. That happened on our Subaru, couldn't figure it out. It was using oil, but not dripping anywhere, but we could smell it sometimes inside the car when the heater was on.

[Dennis S]

I can't smell it. I'll go see if I can get a closer whiff.

It looks like exhaust smoke but I don't know much about cars. The engine is dry so it's not steam.

UPDATE: I couldn't get it to do it. I got the engine warmed up but nothing.

I did notice two big damp areas on the front of the new radiator. That's not good is it?

[mstudio]

Dennis S wrote:
I did notice two big damp areas on the front of the new radiator. That's not good is it?

No, that's not good. I was going to say it might be a coolant leak somewhere. Get it back to whoever installed the radiator. Don't drive it unless you know it has enough coolant, watch your water temp gauge.

[cbelt3]

After experiencing an engine leak, let the engine cool down. Then check ALL fluid levels. And look under the vehicle for evidence of leakage. Run your fingers along surfaces under the vehicle. Smell what you find (*No tasting... some of that stuff is kind of toxic*).

"Smoke" can be almost anything. Engine coolant leaks (most common). Engine oil leaks onto hot bits (Less common but it happens). Hydraulic oil leaks onto hot stuff.

WARNING:
REALLY LET THE RADIATOR COOL DOWN !!!.... I have a nice permanent set of scars from not listening to that. 2nd and 3rd degree burns from superheated steam are painful as heck !

[Dennis S]

mstudio wrote:
[quote=Dennis S]
I did notice two big damp areas on the front of the new radiator. That's not good is it?

No, that's not good. I was going to say it might be a coolant leak somewhere. Get it back to whoever installed the radiator. Don't drive it unless you know it has enough coolant, watch your water temp gauge.
There's a good amount of coolant in the overflow reservoir.

[mstudio]

Perhaps it's more of a seap than a leak. You should still get it checked out, it may only get worse.