I have smoke/steam coming out the back side of my engine when it's hot. Smells like engine oil.
I can't really tell where it's coming from. Could this be the valve cover gasket?
If not then what else can it be?



ANd here is a close up

 

Sounds like it. Area you have circled is the same spot that my valve cover is leaking.

 

LOL, I saw your post and it reminded me about my problem.

 

check your timing chain cover, valve cover, and oil pump, maximas seem to have problems with these areas leaking. If you have a leaking timing chain cover or oil pump, a shop fix will be expensive, so good luck. Get a flashlight and inspection mirror and check that area you circled by your firewall. If it is from the valve cover, it will be a pretty substantial smear if it is causing it to smoke.

 

If it was oil it would smell too. Check for a smell also.

 

Yeah, I mentioned before that it smells like engine oil.

 

mine smokes from the same place and i was looking and its the valve cover gasket good luck

 

Yeah re-sealing those leaks costs a lot of $ at repair shops. I had to pay around 300$ on my old Altima to get everything around the engine resealed (it had been in a wreck about 4 months before apparently the original seal had worn down and oil was slowly leaking).