Ok,
I have a 99 Dodge Stratus with 140K on it. Lately I noticed a lot of smoke coming from the engine, also my check engine light came on. When I parked, I noticed that the smoke was coming from what I believed to be the head gasket area... smells like burning oil. My thermostat never reads more than half way between cold and hot.
There is oil leaking/burning somewhere in the engine. Upon further review, there is a black hose coming up from the middle of the engine to the top of what i suspect is the head gasket. That hose is bad.
The question is, if replacing the hose doesn't work, what else could be the problem.