Blue smoke on cold start

[tbone]

(First off, I KNOW this has been covered before, did a quick search, but search function is not very good.)

To this point, my car only very occasionally blew out the smoke on cold start. But today, it was pretty bad. I revved it up gently for about 20 seconds and it continued to blow the smoke. Then finally stopped. This is excessive. So, I came in to review my extended warranty, and realized to my horror, that it expires THIS MONDAY!

Do you guys think this would be covered? I can't see why it wouldn't.
This is caused by worn seals in the head? What exactly is the issue?

[CBT]

There is no issue.

[CBT]

I should add, on warm days mine does not do it. On days around 45 degrees and below, always a blue smokey start up. Sometimes hardly a haze, sometimes a WTF?! haze.

[SpartaPerformance]

If it's as you describe I agree there is no issue. Ford design philosophy is to run oil through the intake manifold, you're just burning a little bit of that oil.

[tbone]

It's never been a big deal before today. It was pretty smokey. I thought there was an issue with some seals?

[CBT]

It's never been a big deal before today. It was pretty smokey. I thought there was an issue with some seals?
Dunno. Mine has done it since 2004 when I bought it. It has never gotten worse, it has never gone away in cold weather. If it ever STOPS doing it, then I might get worried, cause it's probably low on oil :D

[musclemerc]

Get yourself a baffled catch can to keep the oil out of the intake track

[Bradley G]

That's from drivin' it like a blue hair :geezer:

[yjmud]

mine smokes worst when I beat it like a goverment mule

[SamF]

Ford refers to it as a "characteristic" of the 4.6 4V...likely not going to be covered by warranty, it does suk when it happens in front of a crowd of onlookers tho ;)

[tbone]

Ok I guess.:shake:

[justbob]

It's a caracter builder, thats all.

[kernie]

Did you see this thread?

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=66931&highlight=smoke

Not saying it's THE awnser but it mifgt be worth a try.

:beer:

[ImpalaSlayer]

mine only does it when i start the car from dead cold, move it 10 feet then shut it off. the next time i start it ill sometimes get a pretty good poof and i have zero oil entering my intake as i run 2 breathers on the car and no pcv or catch can

[B.C. Bake]

Overall answer, there should be no smoke ...but it cost money to fix it and that sucks....:bigcry:End of this story......:sleepy:

[babbage]

(First off, I KNOW this has been covered before, did a quick search, but search function is not very good.)

To this point, my car only very occasionally blew out the smoke on cold start. But today, it was pretty bad. I revved it up gently for about 20 seconds and it continued to blow the smoke. Then finally stopped. This is excessive. So, I came in to review my extended warranty, and realized to my horror, that it expires THIS MONDAY!

Do you guys think this would be covered? I can't see why it wouldn't.
This is caused by worn seals in the head? What exactly is the issue?

Its the valve seals, to clean and recondition them use Auto-Rx. Then it will not smoke on startup. Mine never smokes on start, hot or cold.

[tbone]

What is auto rx?

[Zack]

http://www.auto-rx.com/

[tbone]

Opinions???

[babbage]

Read post #16 - or you could take the heads off and replace the seals, which you may have to do if auto-rx doesn't work. Follow the directions when you try it.

[tbone]

So you say the seals are bad, and others say the smoke is normal. I am confused.....

[tbone]

And my extended warranty expires in 3 hours 27 minutes.

[scruff]

http://www.auto-rx.com/

Um Doctor in a bottle? does this stuff really work

[J.bo]

What about the old school motor flush in a can? Is this stuff safe to use on the newer engines? I think it was or is made by Gunk.

[babbage]

What about the old school motor flush in a can? Is this stuff safe to use on the newer engines? I think it was or is made by Gunk.

No, do not pour that "paint thinner" in your engine! Use Auto-Rx the safe way to clean the seals over the course of 1500+ miles.

[RacerX]

No, do not pour that "paint thinner" in your engine! Use Auto-Rx the safe way to clean the seals over the course of 1500+ miles.
+1 You don't want to knock all the crap loose all at once, that plugs oil galleys, etc. The Auto-RX loosens it up over time and conditions seals to get their "elasticity" back. Theoretically, the valve stem seals should make for a tighter tolerance around the valve stems which in turn allows less oil seepage into the cylinders.

[Zack]

You can pull the cam covers....pressurize the cylinders, obtain the valve spring compressor tool and change the seals.
I just did this on my 2v Town Car and it took me a little over 6 hours.

With double the valves and a little less space to work with, set aside a day or 2 to do the Marauder.
03mmmonroe recently swapped his out.
FYI the dealer will do nothing for you, as they consider it to be 'acceptable'

[RacerX]

This is what it looks like with bad seals (look behind the valve stem, you can see the trail):

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/579/DSC04863.jpg

[RacerX]

Hey Zack! What else should be moved for that PS valve cover? AC looks like it won't let you pull it over the exhaust cam. Hints? :beer:

[Zack]

Hey Zack! What else should be moved for that PS valve cover? AC looks like it won't let you pull it over the exhaust cam. Hints? :beer:

Yank real hard and modify the inside of the cover b4 re-installing.
There are some good threads from years ago floating around.

[RacerX]

Cool, thanks! Those gaskets are a bish if you bump anything and they come off the cover!:mad2:

[Zack]

Cool, thanks! Those gaskets are a bish if you bump anything and they come off the cover!:mad2:

You can super glue them to the cover to avoid that.

[RacerX]

:2thumbs:I really love you man! :hug:

[Chevyguy]

EXCELLENT TIP which I knew that 3 weeks ago

I just re-used some 1 year old valve cover gaskets on my 2V and we literally had to install the cover with the engine upside down (Stand FTMFW) The other half of the pair was still unused so that was ok. Hardly went more that 2K miles over 1 year but the oil does swell those bastiges. I was determined not to buy anymore crap at that point, and we had just found out that the existing grommets would not fit the 04 covers!!

[MERCMAN]

And my extended warranty expires in 3 hours 27 minutes.

Get another extended warranty for peace of mind!