I have a puff of smoke when the engine is started after it sits and the engine gets cold. It goes away within 5 seconds and doesn't smoke afterwards or if the engine is warm. It will also use up about a quart of oil every 1000-1500 miles. I know it is sucking up oil since I don't have that breather and it runs great and makes no odd noises. Is this normal or are other L owners having the same problems? Trying not to panic......

Thanks

 

normal

 

Yes, mine does the same thing,from what I can gather from other people it is normal. Jim

 

just condensation that forms overnight in the exhaust system.

But, I would not call "using a qt. of oil every 1,000 to 1,500 miles" normal. Mine didn't even do that before I installed my breathers and disabled the PCV system. Loosen the clamp on the intake boot at the th/body and carefully, move it back a 1/2" or so and see just how much oil is draining past the throttle plates. I hope that's all you have to worry about............. Might try looking for oil leaking out the rear of the right cyl. head too--I think there is a TSB out on that problem.

Dan

 

thanks for the replies so far but the smoke is oil and it also will happen if the engine has been sitting for 4 hours and is cold. Imagine getting to work and parking. I come out to go to lunch and it will smoke on start up but won't after it's warm.

There is some oil past the blades but not much. I could not find any oil leaks of any sort around the engine. The quart of oil per 1500 miles has me a bit worried and if I were to let it go to the 3000 mile oil change interval, I bet there would be nothing showing on the dipstick because it's 2 quarts low.

I'm really trying to get a feel to see if there is a problem. There are no SVT dealers within 400 miles of here and to be completely honest, I don't trust them working on my truck. They would probably be out joyriding instead of finding the problem

Other than that, the truck runs great and there is no oil staining on the tips. They clean up very easily of the carbon.

Thanks for the help so far

 

quart of oil every 1,000 miles sounds bad to me. I normally use no oil beteen changes. Filter at 3,000 miles (with one qt. of oil) and replace oil and filter at 6,000 miles.

 

I agree the oil consumptions sounds high. Mine uses no oil in between oil changes.

 

Mine smokes about once every 10 starts. '01 with 8000 miles

 

I have 5200 miles on my 01 and it will on occasion, still blow a puff of smoke after it has sat for any given time frame and cooled off. It use to be really bad when it was brand new. It will also use a quart or so every 1500 miles. A friend of mine also has an 01 that does the same thing. We checked his oil one day after installing a chip just to check the level and it didnt even register on the dipstick!! He had about 2500 miles on that oil change. So I decide to check mine just for the heck of it, Mine didnt register neither!! I had about 2000 miles on that oil! I dont know whats going on, neither of them leak oil anywhere, they both run like scaulded apes, idle very smooth and quiet. No problems what so ever. There is a little trace of oil in the throttle body intake area, but its not a big puddle or anything. I just keep a close check on my oil level and hope it stops eventually.
Any body have any ideas whats going on with these Lightnings using oil? I refuse to take it into the shop because it just runs sooooo good. Sorry so long!

 

Mine doesn't smoke and isn't low between changes (4000 mi). I have 12k on it now. I add 3oz of Lucas fuel treatment to every 10gal of gasoline for upper cylinder lubrication and injector cleaner. If mine was burning oil I would go ahead and try a quart of Lucas engine oil stabilizer. It won't fix a damaged engine but you might be surprised at the results. I have no ties with Lucas whatsoever. I just believe it's a good product.
DW

Check em out at www.LucasOil.com.

 

Mine has 22,000 on it and uses 1/2 to 3/4 Qt. between changes.
3 to 4,000..I also us Mobile 1 syn.. I drive it hard and,Its used every day back and forth to work and some racing..

 

you sir have described EXACTLY what my truck is doing. It runs awesome but it's a bit embarassing having that puff of smoke show up on such a sweet truck especially when the competition is around

 

I wouldn't worry about the smoke at all. That seems to be normal, but the oil consumption doesn't. However, I read on the corvette forums that the Z06's are useing quite a bit of oil between changes. One of the GM service guys said that for some reason that the Z06's that used the most oil were also the ones running much stronger than the rest. I don't understand why, but maybe the lightnings are the same way.

 

I had my engine replaced because of this exact problem. My 01 L would burn a quart of oil every 500 -600 miles and would puff huge clouds of smoke on start up if the truck idled at all before it was shut off.

Check your plugs for oil contamination, mine had 3 cylinders that were oil fouled very badly. Between that and the oil consumption problem the decision was made to replace the engine. I feel that there were a few engines built with a valve seal problem that was later caught and brushed under the rug.

I know of 2 other 01 L owners that have experienced the same problem so don't think you are alone here. Take the truck to a dealer and tell them of the oil consumption, they will refill the oil note your mileage and mark the dipstick. They should instruct you to drive the truck for a few hundred miles and then return to check the oil level. This is what was done in my case and "Greesed" (board handle) case also. In both cases the engines were replaced with new engines although they carry reman part numbers now. My truck had a few problems caused by a tech not used to working on SVT vehicles but now runs better than it ever has. Have someone check it out before you reach 12K miles or 12 months on your warranty!

 

got hp- I couldnt help but notice the build # of your truck! Mine is 4788 and my buddies is 48**. Those #'s are pretty close together May be something there, who knows. At least you know your not alone!