Xoutpost.com - Another leaky VCG thread...

I'm 99% certain the VCG is leaking since the smell and visible smoke all originate from the rear of the valve cover. I've replaced it before due to leaking in the same general area, so I'm pretty sure I know the symptoms as they aren't that complicated to figure out. Oil leaks out back of VCG, drips on exhaust manifold and burns, thus causing smoke and odor. You can't see the leak since it is at the back of the engine, but I'm pretty confident in my diagnosis. Oil filler cap is definitely secure and sealing.

As for the "honking" noise, again, I'd bet money it's the CCV freezing up or the oil return by dipstick is plugged with gunk. I know what slipping belts sound like, it's definitely not that. Pretty certain it isn't power steering since the noise isn't related to turning of the steering wheel at all. Isn't there some kind of diaphragm inside the CCV valve? Seems to me either the valve internals being frozen or a plugged oil return could easily cause the very type of noise I'm hearing. I do have a very slight rough idle, but no SES light on dash, so there doesn't appear to be any vacuum leaks. Car runs strong otherwise. It made this noise last winter as well, and again, car ran fine otherwise. Noise disappears entirely as soon as temps warm up outside. I guess you're just a bit more paranoid than me...I'm honestly not all that worried about it. The oil burning smell is the biggest issue, and I can put up with that for a little while. I have no choice but to continue to drive the car each and every day. Heck, the blue book on this thing is barely $2k (I'd be lucky to get $1500 in trade), so if it dies, it dies. It's lived a relatively full life, in my opinion. I'll just be forced to buy a replacement vehicle sooner than I had anticipated. But again, I'm really not THAT concerned.