Smog pump…failing?

Hi, all!
Daniel, ‘84 Caprice, 305:
Although I know the smog pump, pumps air, I if it’s failing, could it cause a rough idle? Also, if the bearings in it are bad, could it produce smoke from the friction?

Although I’m not driving the car except to move it for the street cleaning day, I’m starting the engine once a day to give the battery a little boost. For the first time this morning, I heard a quiet whine that lasted for about 15-seconds, a sound I’ve not heard before, seems like it came from the passenger side of the engine.

When I last drove it for street cleaning, a few days ago, after turning off the engine, I opened the hood and saw smoke coming from the front left (passenger side). I know I need to replace the seeping valve cover gasket on that side, but it sure did look like the smoke might have been coming from the smog pump.
If the smog pump is bad, would it affect the smell of the exhaust?

About the smog pump:
When I got the car about five years ago, it was missing the smog pump. I had the previous owner put it in before I bought the car, but I have no idea if it was a new one or a junk yard find.

Thank you all for the suggestions! I think the first thing I’ll do is to replace the valve cover gasket (left side), that out to resolve some of the burning issues. I’ll also loosen the belt on the air pump, see if it turns fairly easily. As I know no sound a car makes is a singular thing, I’ll listen for the quiet whine next time I start it, maybe narrowing down where it’s coming from.

bracketchev1221 said:

No need to start the engine once a day. Not even once a week. Pumping the gas every day and filling the crankcase with raw gas dilutes the oil, and starting is the hardest part on the parts until they are oiled. My car sits for months without starting it.

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I think I’m better off getting a jump-start battery unit. I’m hoping I can resolve the smoking problem and rough idle…and pass California smog to regularly drive it again soon!