I recently started smelling a burn smell while driving. Was able to trace it to oil dripping onto my exhaust just beyond the Cat converter. Obviously, this is not too good (considering what this means for Fieros).

Reading up in the manual on valve cover replacement, it looks rather involved with removal of a lot of stuff. Are there any tricks or steps which might simplify the process any? Or am I stuck with removing the intake and all the corresponding stuff on and around it to access the rear valve cover?

Are you sure it isn't the distributor? They are more likely to leak than the valve covers.

When you say "front" do you mean the side closest to the front bumper or the side that is easily visible when you pop the deck lid?

Some other places oil might be coming from are the front and rear main seals, the oil pressure sensor tube, the oil filter, and the camshaft cover above the front main seal. Leaks from the trans including the axle seals can appear to be oil depending on how dirty the fluid is.

Front is forward facing, so the firewall side. Passenger side of the car. Not the distributor.

Did some more investigating, I think it is definitely on the end of the engine where the timing chain is. The front (facing front of car) of the water pump and surrounding area is soaked (approximately where the water outlet is on the timing chain cover, and surrounding area). It is not the valve cover, as that seems reasonably dry. Also, it does not appear to being flung anywhere by the pulleys.

This is starting to point towards the front main seal I think except I think it is coming from significantly higher than the front main...

[This message has been edited by Fformula88 (edited 05-31-2014).]

where is the oil pressure sender, could that be the culprit?

quote Originally posted by Csjag: where is the oil pressure sender, could that be the culprit?

A good thought, but it is pretty dry too.

Have you recently changed to synthetic oil?

quote Originally posted by Csjag: Have you recently changed to synthetic oil?

Nope. Car has been under my care since 2001, no changes to type of oil.

I am stumped, but at the recommendation of another forum member I used a product called auto-rx. I had leaking axle seals and it cleaned and conditioned the seals and within 500 miles they had stopped leaking. Might be worth a try to avoid tearing the engine apart. Go to auto-rx.com and read up about it. I know a lot of these additives are junk but this one worked for me. I have no affiliation with the company, just stating my personal experience.

Spray the (cool) engine off with soapy water in the offending areas.
Get a UV dye kit. Add some UV dye to the oil and runengine. Then use th UV light and glasses to pin point the leak.
I used this method on a couple of my cars.

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-Brian

My 87 GT Poly Suspension Upgrade (all pics) thread
Removing the roof panel
My HUD install thread
Modified stock air canister and base to 3.5 inch for 3800na

Isn't it strange that after a bombing, everyone blames the bomber, his upbringing, his environment, his culture, his mental state but … after a shooting, the problem is the gun?