So I was driving to Walmart to pick up some stuff when I smelled a burning smell, I thought nothing of it because there was an old rusty geo in front of me. Eventually we split up and I continued to smell it and pulled over immediately. I had smoke coming from somewhere behind the rear valve covers and the smell was strong. My car has been leaking oil for XX months and I know how that smells but this smelled like something was actually on fire. I got my cousin to pull me to the house where its been sitting for like 15 minutes. Im super scared to try and start her up . after sitting the smell is not noticable unless you sniff around the rear valve cover area but when it was running you could smell it 3+ feet in front of her. Anyone know what could cause this? Oh and the vacuum splitter thing thats on the throttle body came off and it ran horribly for like 5 minutes until I could put it back on, could that have did something? im thinking of letting her run for like 15 minutes but I need some insight on that decision.

 

some of the oil could have gotten on the manifolds.

 

Im hoping thats what it is. I started it up and drove it around the block a few times and I still smelled it but no smoke this time so maybe that was it.

 

thats what it sounds like, as for the vacuum splitter being disconnected, as long as you didnt drive for a week straight it shouldnt have hurt anything

 

How much are those splitters because mine is split open on the side but I wrapped electrical tape around it? I went to pull a part and on every 3800 (like 6) they all were broken or broke when I tried to remove them...

 

i have no idea man lol. ive never had to replace one