Smoke on startup....

[cyled]

Has anyone seen any smoke come out the back after your car sits on a slight grade? I have noticed on a driveway with the car facing up the grade. Also have seen it out of the right side exhaust when it was infront of my house leaning to the right. I have not noticed this when it is under my carport sitting level.

Just need some feedback this maybe normal.... :-)

[jgc61sr2002]

Don't think it is normal. There is another thread dealing with the same condition.

[Agent M79]

That thread may be this one: http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3081

[03MERCMARAUDER]

I havnt noticed it yet on my marauder, i know on some cars that its normal, like on my 02 lightning, it does it after sitting a day or two

[Meteorite]

I have noticed it with my Marauder.

It is a single puff of white smoke, passenger side only, upon startup.

It doesn't happen every time, though.

--Paul

[Constable]

It happened to me twice in the past three months. Small cloud of blue-ish white smoke, passenger side tailpipe. I took it to the dealer and my tech run it through EVERY possible test. He even did compression tests on each cylinder for me (I requested a full check of the motor prior to starting my mods and eventually voiding my warranty). He couldn't find a thing wrong with it. I did notice that both times it happened, I had just ran the car nearly empty and filled it up with 'no-name' gas. Since the last time, I've been sticking to my Amoco (BP) high end stuff.

[Dennis Reinhart]

The first Marauders had issues with the heads along with all 4V's at that time production, including the 03 Cobra I would have this documented at the dealership.

[Rat]

I have seen several threads on the Puff of smoke at startup
but haven't really saw anything to the cause other than a bad valve guide. I know they are numerous things that can cause the problem, Drainback problem, bad seals etc.
Mine has had the problem since new and completely quit so I elected to go ahead with SC install and about 2 or 3k after the install started again. Part of the time it is only a small puff first start of the morning but is starting to do it two or three times a day then it might go a couple of days with no smoke at all. Crazy as hell but I can have the Oil changed and it won't smoke a bit for probably 7 or 8 hundred miles. Local dealer says it is Seals and want's to replace them on both sides. The smoke only comes from drivers side and I don't really want to have anything fixed that is not broke (right side). Any one have any ideas other than bad guides? Don't have any knocks, clicks, etc.
Lidio said to not pay any attention to it that is has been a problem from day one with the 32v engine. The main thing is starting it up in a crowd that has just been bragging on the car and they can't see for smoke. Embarrasing as hell.

Thanks:
Bob

[Rat]

Just graduated from the Left (Driver's side) to both sides. The Driver side is the worst, but with a few more miles I feel that the right side will catch up. If I didn't have so much Ford Stock and Bonds, I would be wishing that the sorry B------- would have to take bankruptcy.

Thanks:

Bob

[PAPAJOHN]

Not responsing with any expertise at all, just repeating what I had heard, and don't know enough to even question the theory ----
That this is a chararistic of the 32 DOHC engine, only occurrs on start up, and is not anything to be concerned about.
I have 18,000 miles on my 04, and have had this happen once and a while from the very beginning, right up to today.
And I have never had anything show up on on the dipstick, to show loss of oil, and the oil has remained clean from change to change.
If there is a problem, it would be nice to know before we are well over the warrenty.

[Matt In Detroit]

My 04 DTR smokes on startup at least twice a month. I plan to take it in for a few other issues and will mention it then.

[ckadiddle]

I have had my 03 since last September, no smoke so far. Bought it with 18K on it, about 21K on it now.

[Ricka11]

I purchased my 04 MM in June 04. In mid October 04 after sitting level for 2 days, at start up a large puff of blue/white smoke came out of the passenger side tailpipe. It happened a second time about a week later. Both times I took her to the dealership and they found nothing wrong. On the second instance, I went straight to the dealership that morning and dropped her off for them to check the following morning at start up. Both times the car checked out with no problems reported by the tech. But since then, no blue smoke (6 months). Anybody have any feedback on this. Should I push to get the seals replaced, or be happy nothing has happened since October? I also went by the book in breaking in my vehicle. Thanks again for any feedback.

[Merc-O-matic]

I purchased my 04 MM in June 04. In mid October 04 after sitting level for 2 days, at start up a large puff of blue/white smoke came out of the passenger side tailpipe. It happened a second time about a week later. Both times I took her to the dealership and they found nothing wrong. On the second instance, I went straight to the dealership that morning and dropped her off for them to check the following morning at start up. Both times the car checked out with no problems reported by the tech. But since then, no blue smoke (6 months). Anybody have any feedback on this. Should I push to get the seals replaced, or be happy nothing has happened since October? I also went by the book in breaking in my vehicle. Thanks again for any feedback.
Much has been written on this problem (read old posts)...etc.
Also, the same has been discussed on the Mach 1 net (same engine)
Most agree that it is the "nature of the DOHC 32 valve engine" to smoke
after a period of non-use. My Marauder will smoke sometime on start up if it hasn't been started for 2-3 weeks, etc. If I drive it daily, there is no smoke!
So somewhere in between is the answer....if you drive it daily-no smoke,
if it doesn't run for awhile you may get some blue smoke on start up.
(normal operation for this engine) Someone has suggested you
let the engine idle for 2-3 minutes before shutting down....seems to work.
GoodLuck

Gotta LOve It! :D

[SergntMac]

The smoke only comes from drivers side and I don't really want to have anything fixed that is not broke (right side).Thanks Bob

I purchased my 04 MM in June 04. In mid October 04 after sitting level for 2 days, at start up a large puff of blue/white smoke came out of the passenger side tailpipe.
Gentlemen, how can you be so sure it's one side or the other? The OEM exhaust system includes an "H" pipe, which mixes exhaust gas left to right, and most exhaust upgrades include an "X" pipe. IMHO, it's difficult to say either way.

IMHO, this condition is characteristic of the 4V DOHC design, but I have also observed that it frequently does not mature on Marauders that get used hard. Myself and Zack are constantly running our cars "through the gears" into high RPMs on a regular basis, neither of us have any such problem. However, a friend of ours (he can out himself if he wishes) who does not drive his Marauder that hard, does have it.

Perhaps there is a relationship, perhaps not, but how do you two gentlemen drive? Frequently? Daily? Do you run the engine up in RPM? (which does not mean drive fast) Or is it a weekend car with low miles? I think this may be something to consider, I believe a lot of carbon and gunk gets hung up in the exhaust system because it doesn't get hot enough to burn off, or you do not generated enough exhaust gas to blow it all out, and it just collects until it becomes visible. A contaminated PCV system is also suspect IMHO, for the same reasons.

Just my .02c...

[rumble]

Gentlemen, how can you be so sure it's one side or the other? The OEM exhaust system includes an "H" pipe, which mixes exhaust gas left to right, and most exhaust upgrades include an "X" pipe. IMHO, it's difficult to say either way.

IMHO, this condition is characteristic of the 4V DOHC design, but I have also observed that it frequently does not mature on Marauders that get used hard. Myself and Zack are constantly running our cars "through the gears" into high RPMs on a regular basis, neither of us have any such problem. However, a friend of ours (he can out himself if he wishes) who does not drive his Marauder that hard, does have it.

Perhaps there is a relationship, perhaps not, but how do you two gentlemen drive? Frequently? Daily? Do you run the engine up in RPM? (which does not mean drive fast) Or is it a weekend car with low miles? I think this may be something to consider, I believe a lot of carbon and gunk gets hung up in the exhaust system because it doesn't get hot enough to burn off, or you do not generated enough exhaust gas to blow it all out, and it just collects until it becomes visible. A contaminated PCV system is also suspect IMHO, for the same reasons.

Just my .02c...

Sarge, in a previous post you said something about some very knowledgeable people
were looking into this. Any thing further you can pass along?

[SergntMac]

Sarge, in a previous post you said something about some very knowledgeable people were looking into this. Any thing further you can pass along?I had a more severe problem with the PCV system and the way it's hooked up in my car. Whith the new engine and new blower, I was sucking oil out of the engine and into the blower. Talk about blue smoke! It was resolved with a one-way check valve from Earl's.

My advice is to pay attention to your PCV system not matter what your mods. Check your PC valve for proper operation, and possible sticking.

[Ricka11]

I had a more severe problem with the PCV system and the way it's hooked up in my car. Whith the new engine and new blower, I was sucking oil out of the engine and into the blower. Talk about blue smoke! It was resolved with a one-way check valve from Earl's.

My advice is to pay attention to your PCV system not matter what your mods. Check your PC valve for proper operation, and possible sticking.
Sarge:

Thanks for the feedback. I drive her everyday, most of the time on 495 Capital Beltway Wash.DC from VA to MD. Speeds vary from 60 to 75MPH or higher if the weather is good :cool: . Again, this only occurred twice, both times within one week back in Oct.04 and has not happened since. I will take a look PCV valve.

[rumble]

I had a more severe problem with the PCV system and the way it's hooked up in my car. Whith the new engine and new blower, I was sucking oil out of the engine and into the blower. Talk about blue smoke! It was resolved with a one-way check valve from Earl's.

My advice is to pay attention to your PCV system not matter what your mods. Check your PC valve for proper operation, and possible sticking.

Sounds like good advice. I have never heard of anyone on here ever complain
about oil consumption so I would think it's not a serious engine flaw. Unless of
course it is a signal for that Cylinder Head problem Dennis is referring to.
Whatever it is it only seems to happen after the cars set for several days.

Thanks for the 411.

[Lowell]

I know many of us, a minor percentage, have had blue oil fumes on start up, after our cars have sat for fifteen minutes or overnight. My 300A built 7-02 purchased 12-02, finally smoked for the dealer. A couple of conversations and a P.M. later. Diagnosis, valve guide seals. Goes in Tuesday 7-26-05.My point is be persistant be polite, issuses are resolvable. I wiil post after the repair about how things went. I hope that this will help others with this smoky curse, guide their dealer to a diagnosis, and a proper repair.