Last weekend we started the our van ('96 3.0 Caravan) and heard a strange loud slapping noise, followed by a poof of smoke coming from the engine. When we turned it off and started again, all was fine.

I looked at the belts as it sounded like a slapping belt but all belts are fine and the van runs fine.

it only seems to happen on a cold engine and I wonder where the smoke can come from at the front.

Any ideas are helpful...

Thanks

 

i have a 99 caravan.. been making that 'slapping' noise since i got it.. it had 135k on it when i got it.. it now has 185k on it and still 'slaps' .. gets smoke out the tailpipe and all... mine is the valves.. they need replaced.. and the smoke is the oil seepage thru the valves and it goes out the exhaust... yours with oil from the front could mean that the exhaust is leaking a bit.. or you could be having back pressure.. (clogged cat or muffler) ..