Update: just drove it home from the mechanic’s shop. Sounded good, ran smooth. Wife following behind noticed smoke from my tailpipe. Neighbor came over & we checked the oil. He said it was still good & full.

 

Don’t panic about the smoke, but ask her what colour was that smoke? White or blue?

 

Can you get a photo of the harmonic balancer ?



It’s behind the plastic inner fender Look for oil in that area

 

Wife is at work & just replied—smoke was whitish-gray

 

So coolant or water…. Could be a head gasket problem

 

Ok, in what sense? Thanks for all the info and replies!

 

In the sense the head gasket might be allowing coolant or water past it to the combustion chambers or out to the outside of the engine

A compression will verify that.

 

Ok thanks. I mentioned a compression test to my mechanic and he dismissed that outright. So I found another mechanic who will do it.

 

Good, hopefully the new guy is an honest man!

 

Ok new mechanic says cylinder 2 ignition is weak. Crankcase seal is leaking AGAIN, despite previous mechanic claiming he fixed it.
New guy is gonna do a hydrocarbon test before going further. He said a new head gasket replacement would be extremely expensive. Ugh.
Everything he checked & noted is at this link below. Would love to know what you guys think.

https://smky.app/n3jp5r