smoke from crank case
 

After checking transmission fluid in the HHR, which is a PITA w/o a dipstick, I checked the oil. The 2.2L engine was warmed up for it. I noticed a burning oil smell when I removed the dipstick. It was low a half quart to a quart(5 is its rated cap.). There was smoke coming up from the fill spout when I added the oil.

Is this normal? I usually check when the engine is cold and all the oil is down in the pan. Is it just because I let the oil get low or something else?

I have a grill block and disconnected the the air box intake tube to get engine bay air.

Did you notice any white sludge forming around the oil fill cap? If so you may be looking at a failing head gasket.

Just checked, just brown crud.

Oil level is at max on the stick with a cold engine. On a warmed up, just turned off engine, the level was at min after top off. When should the oil level be checked; hot or cold?

The previous oil fill was 5w20, because some prepper really needed the 5w30 from Walmart. Burned off, maybe, 2 quarts of it over 7500 to 8000 miles. So went back to the 5w30. Of course, the 5w20 was all I had at hand to top off yesterday. At 25% oil life left, I'm not going to lose sleep over it though.

Coolant may break 200F at times during the summer, but it mostly stays at 190F.

Oh, the oil is supertech brand. The folks over at bitog find it to be a good oil for the price, but perhaps this engine just runs a little too hot for it.

Your lower grill block will make the oil run hotter and oil will break down faster at higher temperatures so keep that in mind.

Never check oil right after shutting down allow a few minutes fir the oil to flow back to the pan. White sludge can also indicate lots of short trip driving. Not getting to temp and burning out the natural accumulation of moisture.