Bought a project first car for my teen. 2001 Cherokee Sport 6 cyl. He loves the beater and we got it running and registered this week. It had sat for about 4 months before we bought it and then it sat in our driveway for a year. Occasional starting and moving to different parts of the driveway. The last few times we ran it...an now that it is on the road...an issue has popped up.

The engine had a lot of grease and oil on it (in case this helps). There is smoke and a burning smell coming from where the exhaust pipe connects to the manifold. My neighbor, who is a backyard mechanic believes that oil has seeps into the gasket on that connection and it is burning off. I just am trying to be sure it is safe. It looks like original pipe so you can imagine the rust. Really hoping not to have to take it apart as that will turn into a major project.

Am just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on this?

 

The exhaust manifolds are known for cracking in the area you talking about. Also sounds like you need to be resolving oil leaks.

Crusier54:
Valve cover gasket, oil pressure sending unit, oil filter adapter seals and distributor gasket, in that order, have to be eliminated as possibilities first.

 

Sounds like you have a leaky valve cover gasket.

 

Yep. Deal with the oil leaks first, and I'm with EEVEE, that's probably valve cover. That's not a bad job, and the gasket is not expensive. Fel-Pro is highly recommended.