Blue smoke on start up

L

leonfr

Member
Just started doing this but on first start up from cold I get a small puff of blue smoke , never done it before and doesn't do it again that day,oil level spot on and runs normal ,any ideas !
 
Are you sure its blue smoke and not just condensation in the exhaust from the colder weather? If so then its likely one of 3 things.

1- CCV
2- Valve Stem Seals
3- Piston Rings

My money would be on number 1, IF its definitely oil smoke you are seeing.
 
Have you done anything to the car recently? A service, oil top up etc? If not it could be temperature changes (oil now seeping in somewhere as ambient temps drop a bit). How long have you had the car?
 
Maniac said:
Yorkie Z said:
I'd put money on CCV.!!
Click to expand...

Could be.. gobbed up EGR type of thing perhaps...
Click to expand...

EGR and CCV are very different.

Though the blockage would be correct in that the oil is no longer separating and draining back to the oil pan and is being fed back into the engine via the intake manifold. However, it seems odd it would only do this on start up.
 
simonlpearce said:
Maniac said:
Yorkie Z said:
I'd put money on CCV.!!
Click to expand...

Could be.. gobbed up EGR type of thing perhaps...
Click to expand...

EGR and CCV are very different.

Though the blockage would be correct in that the oil is no longer separating and draining back to the oil pan and is being fed back into the engine via the intake manifold. However, it seems odd it would only do this on start up.
Click to expand...

It's from the last of the oil being circulated before you turn your engine off. Once off it drips into the manifold so when you come to start it hours later or the next day it gets burnt off. Happened to my old 330, the car almost disappeared in a cloud of smoke on start up. Thought I was in big trouble but turned out to be the CCV...
 
I was going to suggest valve guides/seals or possibly oil breather, then worked out what CCV means :oops: (Crank Case Ventilation for other mystified readers)

A puff of blue at start-up is classic valve guide/stem oil seals but I'de eliminate the cheaper CCV breather first then get some compression tests to see which cylinders may have a leak. Rings are possible but less likely.
 
Yorkie Z said:
It's from the last of the oil being circulated before you turn your engine off. Once off it drips into the manifold so when you come to start it hours later or the next day it gets burnt off. Happened to my old 330, the car almost disappeared in a cloud of smoke on start up. Thought I was in big trouble but turned out to be the CCV...
Click to expand...

Suppose that makes sense, though it would surely burn oil all the time. Suppose it could be the start of the problem which is why the oil level hasn't really been affected too much.
 
Some very knowledgeable and helpful people on this site. Makes owning a Z much less daunting. Loads to learn though! Thanks all.
 
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