White Smoke Upon Startup.

[joshm35]

When I start my engine after it beem sitting for a few hrs it has a puff of white smoke after the engine turns over. Its only for a second. Any ideas

[Commsman]

AFAIK white smoke = burnt oil. Maybe rings worn a little? If it's happening every time you start the car when cold, it might be worth getting an opinion from a mechanic. There could even be some products you could add to the oil to reduce wear & perhaps stop the smoke. There a Nulon one that I swear by; an 80,000km treatment which I use on all my cars,

Are you running really thin oil Josh? If so, you could experiment next oil change by using the next one up.

[joshm35]

Im not sure the oil it has as its what the dealership put in it. Well its due for a service so ill see what thet use

[Commsman]

Just ask them what it is. A lot of guys are running 0W-30 (or something similar) which is pretty thin. Just changing to a 5W or 10W could make a lot of difference & it's still what I'd consider thin.

I had a crap V8 clunker as a teenager which I ran straight 50 in to stop it smoking .

[scotty nm35]

10w40 feels the best in my engine and offers much more bearing protection.

My car used to smoke a little at startup, then I realised it was the pcv valve sucking all the oil mist up and dumping it into the middle plenum runners. Once I fitted a catch can in line it all stopped.

[iamhe77]

I thought that blue smoke = burnt oil?

Had it at startup for 2 days, but cured itself somehow

I am currently running 0w40 Mobil 1, but you can't go wrong with a 5w40 or 10w40

[PN-Mad]

and White smoke = water vapor

just to cover the basics, we're not talking about condensation here are we? just a white smoke and a bit of water?

[joshm35]

No water from what I can see. Hmm I know with my aristo I replaced my stem seals and that fixed the issue

[Daleo]

No water from what I can see. Hmm I know with my aristo I replaced my stem seals and that fixed the issue

I'd be leaning towards stem seals for this, stems seals will also do this after an extended period of idling, then put under load.

Or as Scotty said, PCV issues.

[M I K E]

oil smoke is blue

[PN-Mad]

Yeah, I had a car once, that if a particular valve was left open when the motor stopped, it would lead to more oil going into the chamber. But then again... it was a Datsun

[Daleo]

oil smoke is blue

Not if you have enough of it. A fine mist; yes. Large amounts; no. Turbo shaft seal failure dropping oil into a 600-800deg exhaust billows massive clouds of white smoke.

Hell; a big capacity turbo diesel, running very lean blows white smoke!

I know exactly what you mean; not trying to split hairs, but anyway.

Edited April 14, 2011 by Daleo

[M I K E]

^^^ that's another story though, and reminds me of when the oil return line on my mates turbo had a kink in it

[Old Gregg]

AFAIK white smoke = burnt oil. Maybe rings worn a little? If it's happening every time you start the car when cold, it might be worth getting an opinion from a mechanic. There could even be some products you could add to the oil to reduce wear & perhaps stop the smoke. There a Nulon one that I swear by; an 80,000km treatment which I use on all my cars,

Are you running really thin oil Josh? If so, you could experiment next oil change by using the next one up.

Have been told that the 80K nulon treatment results in hot spots as it builds up in low spots?

Just ask them what it is. A lot of guys are running 0W-30 (or something similar) which is pretty thin. Just changing to a 5W or 10W could make a lot of difference & it's still what I'd consider thin.

I had a crap V8 clunker as a teenager which I ran straight 50 in to stop it smoking .

That V8 clunker would have worn out even quicker as it had less protection at start up and until fully warmed up.

IMO "stop smoke" type additives and thicker oil are a bad idea. They might mask the symptoms but will also accelerate the wear that is causing the smoking. Keep topping up until sorted.

Is it using oil?

Edited April 14, 2011 by Old Gregg

[Commsman]

Have been told that the 80K nulon treatment results in hot spots as it builds up in low spots?

That V8 clunker would have worn out even quicker as it had less protection at start up and until fully warmed up.

No, haven't heard of that. Will ask around..

No protection at startup? Not if it had an 80K treatment in it

Actually, I ran Slick 50 in those days. I could run the engine without oil if I wanted. Then it wouldn't blow smoke, but was too noisy