Hey guys,

I have a 94 Magna TS that only we your first start there is a heap of dark grey smoke, after that it is fine.

This doesn't always happen but normally after the car has been parked for a few hours. Any1 have an idea to what is causing it?

Would it have anything to do with having low oil?

Thanks

Test the following

http://www.aussiemagna.com/forums/showpost.php?p=191493&postcount=22

and read this thread

once you have a better ide of what sort of smoke it is and where it is comming from or what is causing it then we should be able to help you on your way to fixing it.

ps: that search function found all that

How many km's has the car done?

2nd gen + smoke on startup is usually the valve stem seals, use to be expensive but my mechanic said he only charges about $140 them these days. Could be using the wrong oil, try a thicker oil. But usually its the valve stem seals if its an old car. If it was blowing smoke whilst driving i'd say it'd be the rings.

It has only done 170,000kms

Thanks for your ideas

Anything after 150,000 on AstronII it'll be valve stem seals.

Oil leaks into the cylinder whilst you're parked. Usually one or more plugs
would be fouled black from excess oil.

If you've run very low on oil before, your hydraulic tappet adjusters could be stuffed too.

Yeh, thats exactly right Magnette, i get oil leaks when parked but didn't think it was associated.

So I need to replace my "valve stem seals" any idea on how much this would cost? I will pass this onto my mechanic, thanks

your better off letting the mechanic decide what to do, if u take it in and say "fix the VSS's" then he'll fix that and you may still have the problem, which would suck. its hard to diagnose problems over the internet. it wouldn't be cool if u replace the VSS and pay the bill only to find the smoke was still there :cry:

If you are not able to correctly diagnose your self get it checked.

It could be stem seals, in fact most likely stem seals. To do a double check, warm up the motor, let idle for 10 or so minutes, stand behind the car and get some one to give it a rev, if it smokes then that will be the most likely senario. Leaking valve stem seals will not cause oil to leak on the ground.

The reason stem seals leak is the rubber seal gets hard, at ilde there is a high amount of vacum due to the throttle plate being closed. The oil is drawn past the worn seal and then will eventually end up in the combustion chamber and burn, thus smoke.

The problem could also be the injectors or injector leaking, this will be especially true if there is no smoke at idle. To test this, run the fuel pump with a guage connected, then stop the pump, block the inlet and return and the pressure should hold.

Piston rings will generally cause smoke under load and rarely will there be smoke at start up.

I'm told it is nothing to worry about, just overriched? Apparently blueish smoke is what I have to watch out for.

Thanks for your ideas anyways

I'm told it is nothing to worry about, just overriched? Apparently blueish smoke is what I have to watch out for.
Blue smoke constantly or when the engine is stressed means worn rings - the oil is getting burnt.

Blackish smoke on startup means oil has seeped past the valve stem seals and onto
the tops of your pistons. Some of the oil burns (blue) but most just gets boiled off (black)
and carbons up your cylinder/s & plug/s. The plug/s will also be "wet" with oil.

White smoke means oil is getting into the cylinders & boiled off as steam. Usually means
cracked head or gasket; you'll be losing coolant in the system too.

Blue smoke constantly or when the engine is stressed means worn rings - the oil is getting burnt.

Blackish smoke on startup means oil has seeped past the valve stem seals and onto
the tops of your pistons. Some of the oil burns (blue) but most just gets boiled off (black)
and carbons up your cylinder/s & plug/s. The plug/s will also be "wet" with oil.

White smoke means oil is getting into the cylinders & boiled off as steam. Usually means
cracked head or gasket; you'll be losing coolant in the system too.

Sorry but simply put NO

Blue smoke is oil, if on start up or after idle is stem seals, if under load it is rings

Black is rich, ie too much fuel, common from leaking injectors

Sometimes the oil smoke will look more white, especially of there is not a lot of it.

If you have blown head gasket you will have several other symptoms that you have not mentioned so this avenue is not worth looking at for now.

ya, like bubbling & too much pressure in the coolant system.


Black is rich, ie too much fuel, common from leaking injectors
or dead O2 sensor?

o2 sensor does not work at start up or during cold running/accelleration conditions so this woul dbe ruled out, as would temp sensor and all of the sensors for that matter