MayTheForestBeWithYou

I've noticed some smoke coming from under my hood after I have been driving for a bit and the vehicle is stopped. It's enough that it comes through my air conditioner if I have the outside air being brought in.

I removed the factory "skid plate" and went for a drive. After coming home I took a look underneath and noticed where the smoke was coming from.

The smoke comes right off the exhaust where both side exhaust meets, right before the catalytic converter, and right underneath the transmission I'm guessing.
[EDIT] I'm not sure if it's the transmission. It's right where the two front axles go into... front diff? I'm a bit of a newb.. hehe

Here are some pictures of what I am talking about...

Looking under front bumper toward the back...


And a closer picture...


The smoke comes from pretty much exactly where all 3 pipes meet. I'm wondering if I might be leaking transmission fluid, or if there might be any other causes...

What do you think?

pleiad7

Maybe a rear main seal leak that's dripping onto the exhaust heat shield?

__________________
-Silke
04 FXT PP PSM ~ "Subed"
98 Forester S ~ "Slynki"

Aaron'z 2.5RS/WRX

Steering rack or oil pan leaking most likely..

Sent from the other side using mind bullets...(YapaTalk)

MayTheForestBeWithYou

Thread Starter

This thread is kind of dead. However, I thought I might as well update it anyways for the sake of completeness.

I noticed that the smell was very pungent and decided it was gear oil. Then I noticed that the manual transmission fluid fill port was just above the area on the exhaust that was giving off the smoke. Probably just some spillage.

It was a bit of a crude method, but I then took a propane torch to the oil-stained areas on my exhaust and burned off all the stains. It only took a few minutes, nothing broke, and all the stains cleaned up nicely.

No more smoke! Success!