Hi all! I'm new to CL but hope someone here can answer a few questions I have.
I am having issues with my '98 GS400. It has about 175,000 miles and aside from typical maintenance (timing belt, etc.) and a slight oil leak, I haven't had any issues with my car until this point.

Over the last week, my car has been leaking much more oil than normal (I find the oil on the ground under my car and it's the shape of an open circle with the oil making the outline of a circle?? strange, I know).

Also, when I drive my car for anything longer than 30 minutes, I get slight smoke from under the hood and when I stop my car, it smells like it is burning (from the leaking oil I'm guessing).

And now when I go to accelerate quickly, (darn xmas traffic! ) I hear a rattling, flapping sound and it sounds like it is coming from the passenger side-hood area.

I know this sounds like a lot, but my hubby isn't home and this seems like the next best place to ask questions! LOL

Please help!
Thanks in advance

 

I also had a rattling noise on my GS300, brought it into lexus and it turned out to be the heat shield on the exhaust was loose/rotted away so they just removed it (it's not really neccasary anyways) mine sounded like it was coming from the same area as you too, hope that's all it is for you they got rid of it for free for me!