I have a 2000 XLT with a five speed and a 4.6. It has 11500. miles and in the morning on the first start I get a big cloud of blue smoke. Anyone else with this problem? thart

 

I put my truck on the patch and it cleared up.
Honestly, I get a little bit if the truck sits for a few days. Clears up right away though. If it didn't I be alarmed too.

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97 F-150 4.6 4x4
K&N Fipk
Dual Flowmaster 50
Superchip
32" BFG's
Toyota stuck to bumper

 

For "Thart",

Blue smoke is caused by crankcase oil seeping into the cylinder(s). In the old days, this was most likely caused by oil seeping from the cylinder head into the cylinder through either worn or mis-fitted valve guides. That would be one place to look.

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2001 F-150 SuperCrew Lariat
Black w/gray leather
4x2
5.4L
Towing package (with the 1.02" radiator . . . hmmmm?)

Modifications:
Gibson SideSwept Performance Exhaust
K&N filtercharger w/modified cold air box
******* fiberglass bed lid
Ventvisors
Hood deflector

Wish List:
Flipchip
Bed X-Tender
Billet grill
Clear corner lenses
Oil filter relocation
Factory air dam w/fog lamps and replacement headlight switch.
1.42" Radiator to complete the Towing Package!

 

Thart,
My '97 does the same thing every once in a while. A little puff of blue smoke after a cold start-up. I mean, the thing is almost brand new-only 120,000 miles,LOL; Seriuosly though, I haven't had any problems, and it only does it now and then, and if it sits for a few days like I Tow Chevy's says. But it only uses about a pint between oil changes. So I wouldn't be majorly concerned if I were you- but hey, it is under waranty, so it might would be a good idea to take it in if you have the time.


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1997 F-150 Lariat SuperCab 4x4, 2-tone: white w/tan bottom, 4.6L, aoutmatic, Towing package, K&N Filter, Custom Cat-back true dual exhaust with 2 FLOWMASTER Series 40 Delta Flows and 4" x 22" chrome tips(out the back of course), Bridgestone Dueller A/T's 265/75/16, Ventshade Bug and Window Deflectors.

[This message has been edited by Pat Dantzler (edited 03-16-2001).]

 

I would definitely go to Ford to get this fixed. You likely have bad valve guides which are allowing oil to seep down past the valve stem from the heads into the combustion chamber. That's why you get the blue smoke on start-up. I've seen Chevy V-6s that have this problem real bad; to the point where they foul the plugs. I wouldn't put up with this at all on a vehicle this new. Drive it over to the Ford dealership, let it sit for a weekend, and then invite them to start it on Monday morning.

 

Mine has done the same thing since it was new. No pattern to it. Only happens once in a while. On a cold start it puffs a cloud of blue smoke. The thing is, it doesn't smell like oil. It smells like unburnt fuel. I have kept a close check on the oil level between changes and it doesn't use any measurable amount. Strange. I asked my service advisor about it. And they won't even think about looking at it unless it's using some ridiculous amount of oil. Like a quart every 100 miles or something. My gripe is, there always seems to be some Chevy or Dodge freak looking right at my truck whenever it decides to do it.

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98 F-150 XLT 4X4 ORP Super Cab Short Bed, 4.6, Auto, 4.10's, Mag-Hytec diff. cover, Magnacharger supercharger, K&N FIPK, Superchip, Gibson single cat-back, 80/100w German head lamps, 80w amber fog lamps, Warn HS9500i winch with semi hidden mount, Wrangler dual battery kit with red & yellow top Optima batteries, 285/75R16 Goodyear MT/R's, 16x8 Center Line Hell Cats (JUNK WHEELS), Rancho RSX shocks, B&M deep aluminum trans pan, Rhino bedliner. Needs one more door.
http://hometown.aol.com/ninetyeightfword

 

A fuel loading problem is usually black . . an oil problem is blue . . .coolant is white . . .you won't see any measurable oil consumption (usually) from a valve guide problem . . .are you sure the inconsistency doesn't depend on "how long it sits"? if it is the valve guides, the long it sits, the bluer and bigger the smoke . . .

 

I'm aware of what the different colors of smoke are supposed to indicate. It makes absolutely no difference how long it sits, in my case. I have driven it 5 miles down the road and let it sit for an hour. Fire it up and it looks like I'm spraying for bugs. Or, I might do the same exact thing the next day and nothing. Same thing for letting it sit for days. It might smoke, it might not. It may do it once in 100 starts, Or it may do it back to back. When it happens, it's just one good cloud right at start up. Then it clears right up and doesn't smoke at all after that. I've driven behind and sat beside at lights, any number of oil burning Caravans and other clapped out pieces of junk. I know as well as anybody, the smell of burning oil. Mine smells like fuel and I can't detect a hint of oil smell. But, the cloud is blue. It's got me perplexed. Oh, well. I haven't lost any sleep over it so far. And don't think I will tonight either.

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98 F-150 XLT 4X4 ORP Super Cab Short Bed, 4.6, Auto, 4.10's, Mag-Hytec diff. cover, Magnacharger supercharger, K&N FIPK, Superchip, Gibson single cat-back, 80/100w German head lamps, 80w amber fog lamps, Warn HS9500i winch with semi hidden mount, Wrangler dual battery kit with red & yellow top Optima batteries, 285/75R16 Goodyear MT/R's, 16x8 Center Line Hell Cats (JUNK WHEELS), Rancho RSX shocks, B&M deep aluminum trans pan, Rhino bedliner. Needs one more door.
http://hometown.aol.com/ninetyeightfword

 

I bet it is fuel loading . .some inconsistency in the computer's readings . . probably nothing to worry about then as long as she starts and runs fine . . .

 

My '97 5.4 did the same. Wifie would comment as she stood by the front door and I'd fire it up. I 'thought' I noticed a bit of a cloud (white, perhaps -- grey, mebbe -- black, no -- blue, more like gray) -- yet the thing ran flawlessly for 43,000 miles till trade.

It always seemed to use about a quart of oil by the time of oil change (which was somewhere between 3,000 and 4,000 miles).

I always wrote it off as condensation in the muffler or agressive spark advance at fire-up.

The Y2K does not do it (and the Y2K often idles so smoothly that I even hit the starter once while it was running -- what a great-running engine!).

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Y2K™ Jim - N8JG@Hotmail.com

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"