I have a 2000 Maxima with the V6 3000. There is a little bit of white smoke coming from the back of the engine. I heard it might be the valve cover gasket. I recently changed my power steering high pressure hose too and low pressure hose and it still seems like something's leaking on the floor in the same spot if this could have something to do with it. Does anyone know what can be going on.

 

The oil is probably dripping on the exhaust manifold or the exhaust pipe to cause the smoke. You need to figure out if it is engine oil or power steering oil.

If it drips on the floor, you should be able to tell the difference. Engine oil is dark gray (if you haven't just changed the oil). Power steering oil has a reddish tint to it.

If we assume the leak is engine oil since you recently had both power steering hoses changed, then the rear valve cover is a likely suspect. But the timing chain cover could be leak also, but this is less likely. It will take some diagnosing. Clean the engine ans watch. But it is difficult as the areas are tight.

 

Like Dennis said, check what fluid is leaking first. It is either oil from the rear valve cover or power steering fluid from one of the hoses. You start the car and the fluid drops of the rear exhaust manifold and it starts smoking.

I had 00 Infiniti I30 that smoked bad 5 seconds after I would start it. Replaced the high pressure power steering hose and the smoking went away (after the leftover fluid burned).

Double check you power steering hose install.

 

Is there any coolant hoses or something behind the engine. I filled up my coolant to the max line yesterday and this morning it was a below that. Also when I turned it off yesterday, I looked under the car and a whole bunch of liquid poured out from around the middle of the back of the engine.

 

The middle 2 pics look like water, the other 2 pics are useless. There are the heater core hoses going through the firewall and there are water hoses on the EGR valve and the IACV. While IACV is on the driver's side, the end where the hose begins could be leaking.

 

Probably just power steering fluid that is burning away from the change. After I changed my hose the spilled fluid smoked for a day or two till it burnt away. I got really nervous at first but my mechanic said it was nothing and it was nothing.