I took off the cold air intake, cover my distributer and throttle body, duck taped all electronics and other spots that should get wet. I then sprayed engine degreaser thoroughly over the engine block and engine bay. Waited about 10 minutes and then I washed it off with a hose making sure not to stay over one spot for two long. I let it dry for about 2-3 hours and then I started it up. Right away the alternator, or somthing by the alternator, was making a funny squeaking/ raddling sound. After about a minute, smoke started to come off of the valve covers and especially down below by the headers. Should I be concerned?

 

well you washed the grease off but it didnt all reach the ground. so some got hung up on the headers/manifolds and is burning. even after 3 hours of siitting the cleaner/water mixture got into the grooves on the pulleys and its probably your belt squeaking. if it wasnt smoking before that is the only explanation I have for it.

 

Did you cover the alternator?

 

Could also be a pully squeaking. Spray the pully bearings with a lube if it doesn't go away.

 

I forgot to cover the alternator so it might just be there's some crap that got stuck in there, as for the smoke, it's not super bad, but I've not let the engine run for too long sence. it prob is just gunk that's burning off.

 

yeah thats what I meant by belt squeaking because of the dirty pulleys.

 

It probably is the belt on the alternator. Try spraying belt conditioner on it. You can buy it at your local auto-parts store. Something similar to this happened to me about a couple months ago.

 

I hate belt conditioner. Hate it!

 

Why? May I ask, do you hate belt conditioner? HATE is a very strong word, so I assume that you have had a memerable negitive experiance when using this product.

 

He wants to kill belt conditioner!

 

Kill is a stronger word. Though I'm pretty sure he just extreamly dislikes the product. For reasons unexplained and unknown.

 

Do you remember what the Mom taught you about water and electric??.

 

Well I work on cars for a living. And everyone always uses belt conditioner instead of just changing that squeaky belt. And it gets stuck in all the grooves and pulley's and then I gotta clean it all out and install a new belt and i hate doing it! dammit! HAHA.

 

I see. It's a bit more of a raddling sound now. Like something is just slightly loose somewhere.

 

The idler pulley??

 

Maybe.

 

This is really weird... After I replied to this the same thing happened to my Alternator. I didn't wet it or anything I was just driving and It starting squeaking and it busted up in smoke. It nearly caught fire I bought one at autozone and installed it right there in the parking lot! haha!

 

Probably just some dirt or something that got kicked up... Hopefully haha