Are these intake manifold gasket failure symptoms?

Hello all.

I have a '98 Intrigue 3.8 with 61k miles. (well maintained)

The car has recently developed 2 issues that I don't quite know what to make of.

1) An oil burning smell coming from under the hood. I popped the hood today after I got home from work just in time to see a poof of smoke coming off the area near the front left spark plug when facing the car from the front. The engine looks kind of oily in general on the left side. It kind of looks to me like the valve cover is loose or the gasket is no good. I haven't had time to put a wrench on the valve cover bolts yet.

2) When I take the oil filler cap off there is a small puddle of water in the extension between the cap and valve cover. I say it's water because I can't smell it and I don't see any color when using a white paper towel to soak it up.

I have been driving just 2-3 miles to work this winter and it has been pretty darn cold.

The car runs fine. No anti-freeze leaks or smells.

Thank you for any advice.

JStin

Puffing out any sweet smelling, white smoke?

You might check and/or replace that valve cover gasket first, they do fail from time to time.

Keep an eye on your coolant level, if it starts disappearing you have a problem. If you get a chance you should go ahead and do the upper and lower manifold gaskets, as well as the upper manifold itself as preventive maintenance. Then do a coolant flush and refill with something besides Dex-Cool.

check the PCV valve + snug up the valve covers.

http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1e/bl958e.htm