I have a 1982 GLT 244 Volvo. Lately I have seen smoke coming from under the engine just after I start the car. When I checked more closely, it looks like oil is dripping onto the exhaust pipes which is causing the black smoke. Could this be the valve cover gasket or something else? If it's the valve cover gasket, is that expensive or difficult to repair?

 

Watch the car while it is running to see exactly where the oil is leaking from. Sometimes this can be the camshaft seal, and/or the valve cover gasket. I had a leaky valve cover gasket, replaced it, and it still leaked. Turned out my oil separator and flame trap were so clogged up it was creating enough pressure to cause this gasket to leak no matter what. I have heard of this with other peoples cars as well. Could be worth looking into.

 

spray the cold engine down with Gunk, especially anywhere its oily... give it a few minutes to soak in, maybe even use a brush to help knock stuff loose, then hose it off. put some UV dye in your oil (any better autoparts store will have this behind the counter, its a tiny vial or tube, you squirt the whole thing in your oil filler cap) and top off your oil (if its not already near the top of the dipstick), start the engine, drive a few miles, park somewhere as dark as possible, and use a UV flashlight to inspect the engine for telltale fluorescence, thats where your oil is seeping from. if you don't see any, drive some more, repeat the UV light...

candidates for top end oil leaks are the camshaft seal (which is behind the timing belt cover) and the valve cover gasket, also the oil cap gasket.

 

Thanks very much

The valve cover gasket was replaced yesterday and it has unfortunately made no difference

I looked again today where the smoke is coming from and I actually think it might be from the screw on the pipes (exhaust pipes?). I have attached a photo (area in red circle). Any feedback

 

Things look pretty gunky above the circle in your photo but it's hard to tell in the photo. Get some engine degreaser and clean off all the gunk. Once it has dried off, run the car and trace any fresh oil streaks upwards to their source. Or use the dye that Pierce suggested. My bet would be your transmission cooling lines as they run just above the exhaust pipe there.