I have a 05 F-150 with 30k on it and occasionally on start ups it will blow a small cloud of blue smoke out the exhaust. It's really random as to when it does it.

Any ideas on what's up?

 

Blue smoke would indicate it's burning oil. If it's only when you start it then there would be oil leaking into the cylinder past the valve seals.

 

That's what I was thinking too but it only does it once in a while. The truck can sit for days and it won't do it and then it can sit for a few minutes and do it so what gives ? Maybe the position of the valve when I turn it off ?

Now that my warrantee is almost up I'd like to figure out if there's a problem or not.

 

There's definitely a problem so you should get it checked out. When the seals first start to fail the smoke will only happen once in awhile. As time goes on it will get worse until you see it every time you start the engine. It can get bad enough to start fouling the plugs.

 

I'll bring it in.

Thanks

 

It is only one or two of your valve guides/seals. The engine stops in one of 3 postions being a V-8.. if I remember correctly. So only one of those positions puts it where the bad valve seals is leaking to notice. I don't know if I would even worry about it. At least it is getting lube!! Just an anoyance

 

Might as well while it's under warranty and you can get Uncle Henry to pay for it.

Read my above post, the problem will only get worse. It will leak more and more oil into the cylinder until it starts to foul the plugs. On the plus side though that oil may prevent the dang things from breaking when they're removed.

 

Are you using any oil. Keep a eye on the oil. If it is using oil then bring it in and have them do a oil comsumption reading. They will mark the dipstick and then you keep checking it. when it gets down to around qaurter or lower bring it in and they will check it and start to keep a record.
Ford considers 1 quart in 1500 miles normal.
I would get in right away, so that if they start a oil comsuption test now and down the road they find somthing, they will cover it.

I just went thew all of this. It took a while, but finally they replace my engine.
The rings were put in wrong at the factory.

Good luck.

 

I'm not sure how much it's going through but I'll start keeping a eye on it.