Smoke on startup

TireFryer

The New Kid
Joined
Dec 21, 2001
I’m just guessing that our cars smoke on startup? It’s blue and oil smelling? Only on startup and when idling for a LONG time. No smoke during driving or at wot... New head gaskets and the oil doesn't have water on it and the water doesn't have oil in it.
 
Mine does the same...I was told it has a little bit to do with the E-85 also, plus I need to tune it i little more. It only lasts 2-3 minutes then she settles down.
 
Vacuum is highest at idle. Oil would get sucked down past the guides or seals at idle causing smoke. On startup the oil has slid down past the seals/guides and when you start it up it burns it off.
 
I would replace the seals but on the stock heads you can't replace the seals on the exhaust valves as there aren't any...

bottom end/heads have 64k miles
 
Vacuum is highest at idle. Oil would get sucked down past the guides or seals at idle causing smoke. On startup the oil has slid down past the seals/guides and when you start it up it burns it off.
Agree.
It could also be the turbo smoking. There was a recent thread how to eliminate that possibility.
 
I had a similar problem, the only difference was it also smoked after the engine got hot, replaced the Turbo...and no more smoke
 
i did throw on another stock turbo that i had because the one that came on the car had some play... maybe ill try swapping turbos
 
I had a similar problem, the only difference was it also smoked after the engine got hot, replaced the Turbo...and no more smoke

The oil came out the exhaust side and into the downpipe...the downpipe heated up and the oil started burning. Had the same thing on my GN when I first bought it.
 
Just went for an evening drive. Stopped the car and turned it off for probably 15 mins, then when i started it up it puffed some smoke for a while.. by the time i started driving it was almost gone and then by the time i got home it was gone. I do think it might be this turbo as the car didnt smoke before i tore it apart...?
 
I’m battling the same things. Only does it at start-up and idle and when I come to a stop. I’ve checked it all: check down-pipe, intercooler, maf-pipe all for oil, play in turbo and they all checked out clean and ok. No oil in coolant and oil looks clean. All spark plugs look good except the #5 cylinder plug. Slightly oily. Makes me believe it’s the seals.

Compression for all cylinder were all about 150 (within 10%).So I guess next steps are a Leak Down test.
 
Quick update

The smoke seems to be clearing up? Not blowing so much on startup and isn't smoking at idle anymore... So I don't wonder if there was oil buildup in the downpipe or the turbo and it took lots of driving to clear it up? Anyhow the car runs great not aside from some converter or flexplate ticking...
 
I've got a puff of smoke at startup identical to yours, TireFryer. It doesn't happen when the car's been sitting a long time (overnight), but I noticed it twice today while running errands (startup in a parking lot after a 15-20 minute drive).

It goes away quickly and smells like a mix of burned fuel and oil. No smoke any other time (cruising, idling, WOT). Only briefly at startup.

Engine has 7500 miles on it, turbo has 1500 miles. Just replaced all fluids & filters, and a new PCV and grommet from Kirban.

Anyone ever figure out the cause? Maybe the lack of exhaust valve seals? Would some new Champion heads fix that issue? (Good excuse to get some new heads!)
 
I never really found a reason behind it... It still happens from time to time but I've really just stopped trying to make it stop. I'll probably be building a roller motor sometime in the near future with some champion heads i have...it does smell like oil and fuel strongly... but ONLY after a start from sitting while the engine was hot (like after filling up with gas). If I had to take an unknowing guess I'd say its the lack of exhaust seals and the guides are worn so after idling at high vacuum oil is just seeping past the guides.
 
One way to determine if it's the intake valve stem seals is to remove the upper plenum and see if there's oil puddled/running on top of a closed intake valve. Remove the plenum before the car sits for a long time so you can go check it from time to time. If it's leaking on the exhaust side, remove the drivers side manifold and do the same thing. If you see oil traces on the upper part of the exhaust port, then there's your problem. No money spent for diagnosis.

Also, if the turbine shaft seal is leaking, you usually see oil leaking where the exhaust housing bolts to the center section of the turbo. Look under the turbo to check for crusty/burnt oil on the bottom bolt on the exhaust housing side.
 
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