MY 2000, 4.6 has aprox. 19000 miles and sometimes it smokes blue on start up. Im using 5w-30 dino right now but am thinking of switching to synthetic. Would this help? Somebody told me that synthetic reaches the valve seals better. Also, is it to late for the valve seals? My dealer told to wait until the engine is fully broken in ??? and the smoking will stop after everything seats itself in. Thanks.

 

Broke in? At 19,000 shouldnt it be WAY broken in?

I dont think synthetic will SOLVE the problem, but it might make it less noticable. Its one of those things that gives different results for different people. At any rate, it shouldnt HURT anything, try it for 3 or 4,000 miles and see if your problem goes away. Just keep an eye on your levels.

 

Well Spellbound, I had an 01 4.6 150 and it smoked, at start up, from the day it left the showroom until I traded it at 40,000 miles. Sometimes at cold start in the morning it would smoke so bad it would just about fill the garage with smoke. I had it in to the dealer many times for this issue but the dealer was 'stumped'. I test drove an 04 E-150 cargo van about a month ago with the 4.6 and I started it up and a cloud of blue smoke blew by the window. I believe the 4.6 to be a solid engine but with some ongoing issues. Good luck. R81

 

I've got a crown vic with a 4.6 and it blew blue like there was no tomorrow. I moved to 10W30 (from 5W30) and she stopped burning oil (3-4Q/3000 miles--now <1Q/3000 mi). Just used regular dino oil (this is my beater, so no synthetic).

 

Thanks for your replies. If this blue smoke on start up is an issue with some of the 4.6, then why is it that the dealers look at you with that dumb look. If it really is a common problem, wouldnt they know exactly what it is? Shouldnt they quit giving me the run around and just fix the problem?

 

Your truck shouldn't be visibly smoking.

 

Its not SUPPOSED to smoke, but it looks like its not uncommon. It might just be a design flaw that hasnt been addressed. The only thing that would cause bad smoking like that i think would be rings. But that requires a tear down. A lot of work for a POSSIBLE solution. It might just be one of those 'things' it does. The 5.4's burn oil, not all, but most ive seen do. Nothing wrong with them, they just do it. Is it possible for it to have a bad intake gasket allowing oil to leak by and burn?