My partner started our TJ Magna today for the 1st time in 2 days here in Hobart.
It's done 110K, and was serviced @ 107K with Shell Helix Ultra.
Was a little cold the last 2 days (down to 2ish), but car is garaged.
Noticed blueish smoke (along with cold weather vapour) as she drove off, but when I went back into the garage, there was quite a bit of blue smoke + that 'orrible oily smell.
From the log books, car was always serviced at the appointed times, apart from once, which was a few k over.

Should I be worried?

Thanks in advance ;-)

ok, to start of with im not a mechanic so i could be wrong, but it could be because ur car is running rich, or it could be one of ur seals are worn away, someone more mechanically minded may be able to be more specific.

mike

Short answer - yes you should be worried.

That is either valve stem seals, head gasket or piston rings. Generally valve stems will only produce smoke when you just start moving, head gasket will be intermittent usually, although sometimes similar to symptoms failed piston rings make, which is constant blue smoke.

Has the car been using up lots of oil and/or coolant?

Thanks for the replies.

As she was driving off, I wasn't able to stop her to check things - besides, she was late for work..
She had only just started moving off when I noticed a blue tinge in the vapours (it's cold again today), but it was more the smoke & smell in the garage that got me worried.
As for oil/coolant, both changed @ service 3mnths/3K ago, and haven't checked yet.

Thanks again.

Edit:

Just got off phone with DJ Motors. As it's under warranty, I'm (reluctantly due to **** service) taking it in on Wednesday.
The guy also suggested it could be valve stem seals.. ;-)
Any idea how long this should take?
Just asking as the last, and only service done since we got it, took nearly 6 hours, and the service was appalling.

Cheers!

Shell Helix Ultra is 1 of your problems the magna and pajero motors dont seam to like it

i would replace the oil first been caught with it before

had a pajero few weeks ago blowing blue smoke and had a servive at a mitsu dealer i rang them and asked then what oil they used and it was Shell Helix Ultra, the car only had its servicing at that dealer and it had 90000km on it

i replaced the oil with a valvoline type problem fixed

Definetley try changing the oil as stated above. Dont tear into it yet.
Your engine still has low kays. Dont stress over it till youve done the oil change first.


Regards

blue smoke - car is burning oil

white smoke - water vapor - if the car is warmed up then head gasket

black smoke - car is running rich

blue smoke - car is burning oil

white smoke - water vapor - if the car is warmed up then head gasket

black smoke - car is running rich

kmakaz is spot on with these.

Blue smoke, hmmm, could be the vavle stem seals, or try some different oil and see if it goes away. If it doesnt fix it, they're further gone already and would need replacing.

White can also be piston rings, as well as head gasket.

Black means that you engine is plainly just burning too much fuel.

White Smoke Can Also Be Brake Fluid

brake fluid where?

in the engine?:confused:

brake fluid where?

in the engine?:confused:

In the combustion chamber... somehow..... :confused:

wtf :bowrofl:

If its bright green and in the cylinders you have coolant seaping through the water jacket, not brake fluid :badgrin:

Valve stem seals is easy to notice, when you press the accelerator does a 'burst' or 'puff' of smoke come out? means water is getting through.

I think (& Mitsu as well) it may well indeed be the valve stem seals.
As mentioned, I will be taking it in to get looked @ under warranty, re-scheduled to Monday now.
Fingers crossed!
Also, can anyone give me a rough idea as to how long this should take?
Will also change to HPR10 @ next service as suggested.. Wanted to try Helix Ultra to "clean" as the previous oil was crud, and we get cold temps where I am in the country.

Thanks again guys ;-)

I have a TR 92 and a 2000 Camry. Both have had this problem in some shape or form. I know of a good repair shop in VIC if you need it fixed. I'm afraid if its the valve stems it'll cost you around $1k to get done (my Camry cost that much). Otherwise, get some Nylon Stop Leak and higher viscosity oil and get rid of the car. my 92's seals are shocking but I use worn engine oil and stop leak and that helps a lot, can hardly notice the problem.

The way for you to see if its oil is to check your oil level. Normally cars burn about 1 cup or a few mils on the dipper stick every 1000km. If yours loses half its oil in 3 weeks then you know you have a problem.

Btw Russian, who are the ladies in the sig man? you dawg!

I know of a good repair shop in VIC if you need it fixed.

Ignore that, you live in Tas.

I have a TR 92 and a 2000 Camry. Both have had this problem in some shape or form. I know of a good repair shop in VIC if you need it fixed. I'm afraid if its the valve stems it'll cost you around $1k to get done (my Camry cost that much). Otherwise, get some Nylon Stop Leak and higher viscosity oil and get rid of the car. my 92's seals are shocking but I use worn engine oil and stop leak and that helps a lot, can hardly notice the problem.

The way for you to see if its oil is to check your oil level. Normally cars burn about 1 cup or a few mils on the dipper stick every 1000km. If yours loses half its oil in 3 weeks then you know you have a problem.

A cup every 1000km? No they dont.

In the combustion chamber... somehow..... :confused:


WTF? never heard that one before - isnt it a completely separate system? stand alone???

Leaking rear seal in master cylinder/faulty vacumm booster and
fluid can be sucked in through vacumm line to manifold,
very very rare but. I'm with every one that said ditch the shell
oil asap & I agree about DJ motors too!
good luck

WTF? never heard that one before - isnt it a completely separate system? stand alone???

From the brake system?

Well, I have no idea how brake fluid can get through the engine and out the exhaust.. hence my "somehow" comment.

Maybe he meant something else. :P

Btw Russian, who are the ladies in the sig man? you dawg!


One of them is from my uni class, the one on the left, want her myspace page? haha

Dude we should hook up Let's do a road trip haha. Bring the ladies too.

Where do you study? Uni of Melbourne?

Leaking rear seal in master cylinder/faulty vacumm booster and
fluid can be sucked in through vacumm line to manifold,
very very rare but. I'm with every one that said ditch the shell
oil asap & I agree about DJ motors too!
good luck


spot on seen it before on older cars..

it is rare took a while to work out where the fluid was going and what the smoke was from. good head scratcher.

I have a TR 92 and a 2000 Camry. Both have had this problem in some shape or form. I know of a good repair shop in VIC if you need it fixed. I'm afraid if its the valve stems it'll cost you around $1k to get done (my Camry cost that much)

WHAT THE?!!

When we had our business we use to do a full re-ring, pistons, rings, gaskits, valve stem seals, head service etc etc for $750! And we'd give 6 mths warranty...RIP OFF. :doubt:

WHAT THE?!!

When we had our business we use to do a full re-ring, pistons, rings, gaskits, valve stem seals, head service etc etc for $750! And we'd give 6 mths warranty...RIP OFF.

Hmm. I got a $500 rebate from RACV for it. It cost us total $1283, and we changed cambelt, all other belts, installed a new gasket set. The cost included labour of around $700, the rest were parts. Is that a bad price? It ended up costing a net $783 for me. If you're charging $750 for all that including labour, then hot diggity, give me your address I need a good service place.

Regards,

Just curious, how does brake fluid get into the engine to come out the exhaust?
Re the smoke, problem, having sat for two days then blowing blue or white smoke seems like valve stem seals may be a little hard. Try some Nulon engine stop leak. Put it in and give it a week or so for results. It works by softening the seals a bit, restoring their sealing capability. I have used it several times and it has worked every time. Just by the way, do you take your car for a high speed run for around 100k every month or so? Gets rid of acumulated crud in your engine oil (petrol, acids and any small amounts of water condensation) and gets the engine temp right into its operating range so oil gets everywhere it is supposed to.

WTF? never heard that one before - isnt it a completely separate system? stand alone???


lol derr when the engine brakes down :bowrofl: