Smoke at cold start (2 Viewers)

[MajesticNerd]

Hello, I have an '03 470 with 189K miles, so just broken in now. Pickup it up in December and it's been a champ. No leaking oil or smoking anything. Today I start the car after it had been sitting for several days and get a big cloud of oil smoke. Still had the door open and the breeze blew it back in the car so enough that it was very visible and it was definitely burning oil smell. Never even a hint of smoke or oil smell before today.

I had an '07 Tundra with the 5.7 before this and that truck would smoke like that maybe once or twice a year. Was told by someone back in the day that the engine just shut off with a valve in a weird spot so some oil was able to get by with the engine off. Not sure that sounds right, but it never got worse or consistent.

So not sure if the Tundra thing is a red herring, but do these things have some known issues that might make it smoke at startup like that? Hoping for something simple and not valve guides / seats or something like that.

Thanks for any feedback!

*** Edit Just found a few threads about power steering air control valve causing smoke out the back. That would not have occurred to me at all and no idea how that plumbing works, but does that sound like it might be related?

 

[MrTorgue]

What color smoke?

 

[MajesticNerd]

White/blue. Definitely oil or something like power steering fluid and not water.

 

[MrTorgue]

White/blue. Definitely oil or something like power steering fluid and not water.

Leaky valve covers? Rings, seals? Does it only happen on a cold engine start?

Just a few ideas.

 

[MajesticNerd]

Honestly it's just happened the one time on a cold engine. Just freaked me out as it was sort of out of the blue and a fair bit of smoke.

 

[Rednexus]

The PS idle air valve is located on the power steering pump. It has 2 vacuum lines running into it. Pull both off and check for signs of fluid on the inside of the vacuum lines. The lines should be dry on the inside.

Otherwise, oil smoke at startup is usually a symptom of worn valve seals. You might try to switch to a high-mileage motor oil or try a seal conditioner like AT-205. Valve seal replacement is probably a fairly involved job on a 2UZ as the valve covers, cams, and valve springs would likely all have to come out to get at the seals.

 

[MajesticNerd]

OK thanks. Here's to hoping for that PS idle air valve. I've only had this thing a few months and did have to add power steering fluid, so that would jive with this. And now I understand how that would be getting into the engine at least. I was having a hell of a time understanding how that fluid would get in there.

 

[Grabarrett]

OK thanks. Here's to hoping for that PS idle air valve. I've only had this thing a few months and did have to add power steering fluid, so that would jive with this. And now I understand how that would be getting into the engine at least. I was having a hell of a time understanding how that fluid would get in there.

Hi - I found your post after experiencing something identical on my 04’ LX with 82k miles. Hoping you might be able to share your outcome? Thanks!

 

[17heinner]

Hi - I found your post after experiencing something identical on my 04’ LX with 82k miles. Hoping you might be able to share your outcome? Thanks!

I had the same thing happen. I replaced power steering control valve.it was driving fine. Then I started it up and heard my power steering whining. Looked in the reservoir and it was empty. Filled it up, and thr car started to smoke pretty quickly. Went looking under the hood and PS fluid was gone. I am assuming it is that valve. My coolant was a little discolored and overflowing. So question 1. Is the engine fine or do I need to flush the fluid? 2. Can the valve be installed incorrectly? Any suggestions would help!
Thanks