By Eric Seifert
Automotive Technical Editor

Marty dropped off his 2002 Mustang GT saying there was a burning smell inside the car. He also noticed a wisp of smoke from the passenger side when parked in his garage. After some investigation with leak detection dye and a black light, I called Marty with the bad news.

Some vehicles equipped with the Romeo 4.6L 2V engine or 5.4L 2V Windsor and 5.4L Supercharged engine may exhibit an oil leak or oil weepage from the cylinder head gasket at the right-hand rear or the left-hand front of the engine. Oil weepage is not considered detrimental to engine performance or durability. An oil leak may be caused by metal chip debris lodged between the head gasket and the block, chip debris between the cylinder head and the head gasket, or by damage to the cylinder head sealing surface that occurred during the manufacturing process.

Once an oil leak is verified with a black light test at the he...