Blue Smoke [Merged 7-9]

[WhiteCloud]

After driving from Charlottesville, VA to Gainesville, FL to visit my best friend for his birthday, I got back into stop and go traffic in the city and noticed I was puffing some blue smoke when taking off from a stop. I'd never noticed this before the trip, so I'm inclined to think something during the trip caused it.

Symptoms:
1) Puffs a cloud of blue smoke shortly after revving engine in neutral.
2) Puffs a cloud of blue smoke while taking off in first gear, but not always noticeable.
3) Doesn't trail smoke like it would if it were a head gasket.
4) Turbo doesn't seem to have excessive shaft play, and boosts fine.
5) I'm burning some oil, but not a tremendous amount (I burned maybe 1/4-1/3 of a quart on the 700+ mile trip back to VA from FL.

I'm wondering what you guys think the problem is, judging from these symptoms.

I've been told to check the PCV valve, but I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for (in terms of oil, residue, etc. on or in the valve!?), or if I should just be replacing that to see if it fixes the smoke.

What would your next step be if your car were puffing this blue smoke? Is there a way to tell if it is valve seals?

Thanks for the help,

Joe

 

[4Motion4g63]

I just got my car back on the road again from sitting for a few months.

It has had a FEW quirky, little problem's:
I do have a Little smoke at startup.
Random Idle, It will "ramp" up and down coasting in neutral but at a stop will idle constant, at a stop, just at different idle stays at one level between 800 to 1600 when it sits still.
LOTS of lifter tick, Bad lifter tick but it does clear up and come back mostly when cold though.
Pulls hard sometimes and sometimes Builds boost but falls on its face.
it has been data logged and its pulling timing and fuel trims are 130+
(currently has stock pump and fuel system) New stuff to be installed

NOW my main concern is this, After I drove the LONG way home 20 miles or so of highway, getting up to speeds of 70mph... I didnt beat on it just opened it up to a little 50mph WOT to 70MPH just to kinda blow it out to help the lifter tick. Drove home and parked it after letting it cool down.....

The next morning I let it warm up, Outside temp was probably 50ish, It was smoking blue/grey after warming up! Not wanting to do MORE damage I just parked it back in the driveway and took my wifes car.
I suspected it may be the PCV first but NOT sure if this would be the cause but givin my other random idle problem could be tied to it. Ive seen this before on a Honda causing blue/grey smoke.

Turbo is fairly new to me, big16g and has not seen more than 18lbs of boost but was on a buddies car running 25lbs MAX of boost for some time...I would not suspect it first but its possible

Motor has about 70-80 on it that I know of, I found a reciept from when it was bought from a salvage yard and installed it stated it had 60k on it... Head has been rebuilt about 5000k ago and has stainless valves, new retainers/lifters ect..... I keep the oil clean and the filters fresh... I do Not really beat on my car hard for the most part just the Stop light drag against a Stang or two but try not to abuse it

I am doing a leak/comp test sunday, and will also check the turbo for shaft play, any chance the PCV may be it or anything else I should check?????

 

[4Motion4g63]

I was Just Carbon buildup I guess, First time It was really WOT in almost a year......
Smoking stopped but the Ramping Idol continues....

 

[turboglenn]

Well, that was at least quick : Glad to hear it was nothing major. Sometimes when vehicles sit, things like older valve seals and stuff like that can harden up and let a little oil by until they get heated up and swell from soaking up some fresh warm oil. My car builds carbon in the exhaust when i'm being easy on it to the point that if i get on it only once a day, it will blow a ton of carbon, just a big black cloud of sh#t when i first step on it, but then is clear untill i put around town too much again. But i do let it idle rich so that's probaly where most of it's coming from.

 

[4Motion4g63]

yea Still have plenty of other Problems to keep me busy.

Randomly tonight I lost the pin on my wastgate actuator and the arm fell off
Started to cry cause It wouldnt build boost past 4psi thought the turbo was a goner
found the problem fast and put a piece of wire in it to get home
I wiped the sweet from my brow twice this week...

 

[BOC Jason]

i'm having the exact same problem. I just bought my car a couple weeks ago and the guy before me had it rebuilt (seals and all). But there seems to be some kind of oil leak coming from the left side of my engine. (my timing belt is on the right side, as opposed to my friends gs who's timing belt is on the left).
My guess was that i'm buring oil somehow but i'm not sure what the culprit could be...

 

[lgoss5127]

i would say the valve seals are going bad or worn out.

 

[BOC Jason]

My friend also said that it might be from the oil pan? sound like a possibility?

 

[1997hciv]

I am having the same problem, has anyone figured this out?

 

[dSmgs-T]

sounds like valve seals

 

[Rob10_99]

Sounds like turbo seals to me, pretty much the same thing going on with my car.
Rebuilt head 5k miles ago and plugs are clean, so was the exhaust manifold when i took it apart for a new chinabay turbo(which is now on its last leg in 3 months).
Dont antilag ebay turbos.

 

[1997hciv]

I just put a BW S256 on 200 miles ago. I am going to rplace my catch can filter and see if it was pressure that was causing it. I also thought it was the valve seals but I dont hear any leaks with the oil cap off. I also do not have a reducer for the turbo but it should be here soon. I might be feeding to much oil pressure into the turbo. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks for the responses guys

 

[Mitxubishi]

I already been doin some readin on wot happens when ya have blue smoke, but one thing..... should I be ridin the car at all or should I wait til I get it fixed. My ride is goin into the shop next week so just lookin for some advice rather put it away til then or use it for a bit.... thanxs

 

[DirtyBirdRacing]

Hi,

If it is possible for you not to drive it until you bring it to the shop, then you should not drive it. Have you done any trouble shooting to see why you are getting blue smoke? AKA: compression test, pulling off intercooler pipe and looking for oil residue, etc.

Bill

 

[dsm-onster]

It's very possible it's just a bad pcv valve. I'm sure the shop will say you need a rebuild

 

[DirtyBirdRacing]

It's very possible it's just a bad pcv valve. I'm sure the shop will say you need a rebuild

Agreed.

Bill

 

[zcon]

Ok me and some buddies instlled a 20 G on his car. After the installation we started the car and it idles fine but as soon as you giveit gas there is a hint of blue smoke. which we thought was just some oil that might have got in the downpipe, but after driving it down the road it continued to burn. it is blue smoke so it has to be oil. I was thinking maybe the turbo oil inlet needed a fitting that lowered the amount of oil getting into the housing ... mabe there is too much oil pressure going into the housing? Not sure if this is common with these cars....


please help. and also the car was running fine ...no smoke... before the turbo install and also the turbo is new so i doubt it is the seal on the turbo


Thanks
ZCON

 

[wangboy925]

Well, my engine was just finished from a rebuild with a rebuilt head (new valve stem seals, guides, valves, cams, etc.) It also has a new evo3 16g turbo on it. It smokes a blueish/white smoke whenever I go to 13psi. As I look in the rear view mirror after the pull I see the trail of smoke. This also happens whenever I let off the gas while in gear when coming to a stop. When I fully stop I can see some of the smoke go past the car and could be smelt. My friend told me that since the block was only honed and not bored out there is a little clearance between the piston and cylinder which is responsible for the smoke. I am on stock piston size, 85mm I believe. Could the smoke problem be that I didn't go overbore and retained stock piton size?

 

[wangboy925]

300 more miles and still no improvements.

 

[silver bullit]

Well, my engine was just finished from a rebuild with a rebuilt head (new valve stem seals, guides, valves, cams, etc.) It also has a new evo3 16g turbo on it. It smokes a blueish/white smoke whenever I go to 13psi. As I look in the rear view mirror after the pull I see the trail of smoke. This also happens whenever I let off the gas while in gear when coming to a stop. When I fully stop I can see some of the smoke go past the car and could be smelt. My friend told me that since the block was only honed and not bored out there is a little clearance between the piston and cylinder which is responsible for the smoke. I am on stock piston size, 85mm I believe. Could the smoke problem be that I didn't go overbore and retained stock piton size?

You obviously dont know what your doing. Dont drive it no more till you learn what you are doing.

White smoke is coolant, blue is oil, black is fuel.

Did the last motor fail, did you clean any remaining crap of the last motor out of the exhaust?

What mods are done to the car?

There are alot of ways to break in a motor, You need to search does not sound like you are doing it right.

It is probably to late, but you need to change the oil frequently 15 min idle then change 100, 250, 500 or 750 then 1500 then resume normal oil changes. No sinthetic during the first 1500 miles. It would help to coast down in a low gear to draw vacuum on the motor to help seat/seal the rings But its probably to late.

What your friend said sounds dumb.

YOU HAVE TO HONE IT OUT whenever you rebuild the motor. It is not an option. How do you think the rings are gonna seal if the walls of the cylinders are worn?
Depending on the hone and the skills of whoever did it they may not have done it right, took off to much, to little, did not degree the hone correctly etc.

Sounds like you did not clearance anything right ether. If you go over bore you have to use overbore rings. You cant go over bore and stay stock pistons youll get piston slap, only a matter of time before the pistons fail.
If you stay stock it is a good idea to be on the safe side to get ether stock size or Get .1/.2 over size rings file them down to stock clearances So that they are not out of spec.

 

[94cyclone]

Usually oil being burned comes from:

1. valve seals
2. Piston Rings
3. turbo

The only one easy to test is the turbo. It sounds like you'll need to tear your new motor apart again. Sorry man.

 

[silver bullit]

But hes still breaking in the motor.

Used turbo?

 

[1stGenTSi]

Who rebuilt the head? Sounds like the valve seals are still leaking.

 

[wangboy925]

But hes still breaking in the motor.

Used turbo?

Yes it's used

 

[wangboy925]

Who rebuilt the head? Sounds like the valve seals are still leaking.

Head is built by a very reputable shop just 200 miles ago when I put in new cams so the valve seals are not worn (Supertech brand).

 

[LTUDSM]

ok here is the thing.
Last weekend i put my fresh engine in,and fired it up.It started really good,from the first time.After that i was checking the motor for any leaks.NO Leaks were found.I Noticed, that my car is throwing a blue smoke out of the tailpipe.at idle ,You could bearaly see it,but when you press on gas,(2500-3000 rpms) it smokes really bad.I replaced the PVC valve.i got an external oil catch can.One line goes to the Valve cover,the other one has the PVC valve in line,which goes to Intake manifold.

internals that i got:

.20 over bore
wiseco Pistons
eagle rods
Acl racing main and rod bearings
new oil pump/w front cover
new tenssioners and pulleys
BSEK
is that normal to have blue smoke after rebuild?????? ### right now,im afraid to drive...