mystery hole near oil filter, smokes

what goes there IF anything.
it smokes a bit. not sure if some oil got dropped in there or it serves a purpose?
http://images21.fotki.com/v760/photo...1070578-vi.jpg
PLEASE help!

That hole is a tube that runs forward slightly and is connected to the heater tubes. A hose connects between there and the air cleaner to add a little warmer air to prevent carb icing on a cold day's start up. If it's smoking it would sugest to me that there's something wrong with the right hand side exhaust manifold/heat exchanger. I bet the smoke you're seeing is exhaust gas. It's pretty important you get this checked because if it is exhaust gas, it'll be CO2ing you in the cabin too!!! :eek:

Hope this helps,
David

car is not totally running, im still trying to undo what previous owners have done to it and get it all back fairly stock before i start trouble shooting.

It doesnt smoke when running, just after its off and sitting alittle comes out like oil burning off, since its from the exchanger im guessing because its oil soaked from a mystery leak.

man i wish these leaks were easier! no leaks on top at all, new VC gaskets and it still leaks from the pass side at the front edge of the VC area. :( :( :(

Thanks guys, I have been wondering what that tube was also:)

Hi Jim,

I had a similar thing. When running a tiny whisp of smoke would come from the right hand side of the motor. When I looked under, it turned out I had a tiny crack in the oil cooler which dripped onto the exhaust. It would drop one drip of oil about every 5 minutes or so. If you clean the area and then run the motor there should be a witness of where the oil is coming from.

The area you've described in front of the right hand valve cover is where the oil cooler lives. It's very easy to remove it, drop the oil, undo the oil lines, undo the four 13mm nuts and it's out. You can pressure test it in once it's out.

Cool U Boat avatar Fritz!

Cheers
David

Warm Up tube.

Tom