Smoke at start up

Steve Powell · 6th April 2011, 09:36

Good morning all
Thought id run this one by you....
I have a 2.0V6 and in the mornings when I start her up, I get a cloud of what I would call 'oil smelling smoke' from the exhaust, its literally lasts 2 seconds and then goes...........I then drive the car and no more smoke......

Is it something I should be worried about ?

pab · 6th April 2011, 09:39

Thread moved to the technical help forum,redirection left in the old

BIG LEK · 6th April 2011, 10:21

Could be wrong but sounds like valve stem oil seals to me,

Steve Powell · 13th April 2011, 08:29

Morning All
Quick update on my smoke.............its stopped !!! Im not sure as to the change point, but I will be keeping my eye on it to see if I can see what changes it (if anything)

Any other ideas ?

Steve Powell · 25th February 2012, 17:43

And its started again doohhhh

Ive been reading Valve stem seals etc...........but whats the PCV thingy ?

Cheers

scouseeric · 25th February 2012, 17:54

No pcv to worry about on the petrol engine. Keep an eye on your oil level if it's burning oil.

Eric

Juz · 25th February 2012, 17:56

A quick test to see if it's Valve Stem Seals is:

Get on the motorway, get up to maximum allowed speed, but in 4th. Make sure it is clear behind you, then tap-off until down to say 40ish, then floor it keeping an eye, or better still have a passenger keep an eye behind the car, if you see a plume of smoke that lasts no more than a second or two, it's pretty much Valve Stem Seals.

How this works is that you are closing the Throttle thereby creating a huge vacuum within the Cylinder which, if the Stem Seals are weak will suck in oil via them so when you re-accelerate it burns off quickly resulting in the plume of smoke.

Likewise when the car has been sitting overnight the oil gets past the Stem Seals into the Cylinder which burns off on start-up.

This problem is more of a nuisance than anything else.

HarryM1BYT · 25th February 2012, 17:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Powell

And its started again doohhhh

Ive been reading Valve stem seals etc...........but whats the PCV thingy ?

Cheers

That is a diesel only thing

Steve Powell · 27th February 2012, 19:14

Quick update...............did the motorway test..........no noticable smoke on pulling away.........

Any ideas ?

chrissyboy · 27th February 2012, 22:00

are you doing alot of short trips?if so give the car a good long run and it will have a good clear out .

6th April 2011, 09:36	#1
Steve Powell Avid contributor Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tamworth Posts: 205 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Smoke at start up Good morning all Thought id run this one by you.... I have a 2.0V6 and in the mornings when I start her up, I get a cloud of what I would call 'oil smelling smoke' from the exhaust, its literally lasts 2 seconds and then goes...........I then drive the car and no more smoke...... Is it something I should be worried about ?

27th February 2012, 22:00	#10
chrissyboy This is my second home lovely little ford focus. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: East Dulwich Posts: 7,877 Thanks: 2 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts	are you doing alot of short trips?if so give the car a good long run and it will have a good clear out . __________________ [ I'm really confused. -I keep dreaming I'm an insomniac

6th April 2011, 09:39	#2
pab Banned MG ZT V6 190+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 33,223 Thanks: 41 Thanked 1,614 Times in 1,416 Posts	Thread moved to the technical help forum,redirection left in the old

6th April 2011, 10:21	#3
BIG LEK Banned Rover 75 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: somewhere Posts: 3,833 Thanks: 52 Thanked 59 Times in 52 Posts	Could be wrong but sounds like valve stem oil seals to me,

13th April 2011, 08:29	#4
Steve Powell Avid contributor Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tamworth Posts: 205 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Morning All Quick update on my smoke.............its stopped !!! Im not sure as to the change point, but I will be keeping my eye on it to see if I can see what changes it (if anything) Any other ideas ?

25th February 2012, 17:43	#5
Steve Powell Avid contributor Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tamworth Posts: 205 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	And its started again doohhhh Ive been reading Valve stem seals etc...........but whats the PCV thingy ? Cheers

25th February 2012, 17:54	#6
scouseeric Passed Away 75 contemporary se cdti Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Liverpool Posts: 1,579 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	No pcv to worry about on the petrol engine. Keep an eye on your oil level if it's burning oil. Eric

25th February 2012, 17:56	#7
Juz Regular poster Rover 75 Previous Owner Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: France Posts: 75 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	A quick test to see if it's Valve Stem Seals is: Get on the motorway, get up to maximum allowed speed, but in 4th. Make sure it is clear behind you, then tap-off until down to say 40ish, then floor it keeping an eye, or better still have a passenger keep an eye behind the car, if you see a plume of smoke that lasts no more than a second or two, it's pretty much Valve Stem Seals. How this works is that you are closing the Throttle thereby creating a huge vacuum within the Cylinder which, if the Stem Seals are weak will suck in oil via them so when you re-accelerate it burns off quickly resulting in the plume of smoke. Likewise when the car has been sitting overnight the oil gets past the Stem Seals into the Cylinder which burns off on start-up. This problem is more of a nuisance than anything else.

27th February 2012, 19:14	#9
Steve Powell Avid contributor Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tamworth Posts: 205 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Quick update...............did the motorway test..........no noticable smoke on pulling away......... Any ideas ?