I only have 22,000 miles on my '99 4.6 V8 and have noticed an occasional puff of blue smoke when first starting my engine, especially after it has sat for several days at an angle on a hillside. I switched from a good grade of Valvoline Oil to AMSOIL 5W-30. It doesn't use any oil in 2,000 miles. What does this mean?

1. Normal. Leaking around one or more valve guides?

2. I should have Ford look at it immediately under warranty?

3. It's fairly normal on 4.6 V8 - won't make any difference to
engine life?

4. Look for doing a valve-guide rebuild before long?

5. What?

Any suggestions or help you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

 

Blue smoke(oil burning) at start up is probably valve stem seals. You could troubleshoot which cylinder by the tilt of the vehicle..
Tilt front would be the front cylinders, side tilt would be those ...

Are you over filled on your oil by any chance...

I have seen this on this thread before....

Sounds like could be normal....

You say sometimes, could it be in a consistant side of the tilt??

 

Bill, although it seems a little early. it sounds like valve stem wear. If it is only one pot, a look at your plugs should tell you which one. If it is valve stems, then next time you are off the gas going downhill, and letting the engine do the braking, when you get to the bottom and get back on the gas again, check the mirror. A big blue puff (can I say that?) will confirm.

 

Without even speculating on what might be the problem....YES! Make FORD look at the problem under warranty! Park it at the garage the day before so they can plainly see the smoke upon initial start-up. I suspect they will try to brush you off, but insist on satisfaction. The warranty is why we pay so much! Good Luck!

 

The 4.6L has been known to burn oil. I live here in south Florida, where there are a large number of crown vic's. I see many older 4.6L powered crown vic's burning oil. Especially leaving a stoplight.

Ford chose to use low tension piston rings in these engine to increase fuel economy and HP. There are times where they do not seal well.

The truck engines are a little different, as they use full floating piston pins. This requires a different piston. I can only assume that the truck engines are a little tougher. I would like to know if the part numbers for the piston rings are the same as the crown vic version of the 4.6L.

I have seen some speculation on this board about valve seals causing the smoke problem. However from what I understand it is the rings that are the problem. I hear from the local FHP mechanic often.

Of course your situation may be entirely different as you have this problem when parking on an incline. This could be a sign of valve seal issues.

Good luck

Chris

 

Just as a followup to your post, cujet. Around here you also see the high mileage Vics, mainly in Taxicab service that leave clouds of blue smoke when leaving from a stoplight. We've all seen these. Has anyone seen a truck doing the same thing yet? I haven't seen a 97 and later F150 smoking ever in the same manner.

In any event, make Ford take a loomat it as a warranty issue. An engine with that few miles on it shouldn't be smoking like that.