| Shiftless |
I've been having this problem with my MO. Since February 05, i've noticed bluish-white smoke coming from my MO when I would start it up, but not all the time. So I complained to the Dealership and they kept telling me it was 'steam', but they found black goo inside the motor too. They said I wasn't changing the oil regularly! I also changed my oil on my own and didn't have 'proof' except for the sales receipts. So I was told to change my oil every 1000 miles for 6 months. At that point, 1000 miles for me was every week and a half. I did this. Still smoking. I would take pictures of it with my cell phone. So I called in December 05 and the dealership said the next oil change I do to bring it to them. Well I've now done that, took them all oil change receipts, and the pictures of my poor MO smoking. The service guy took one look and the pictures, asked me to have a seat and he'd look at the car. 15 minutes later he comes back to me and tells me that he's put in a call to Nissan and the only fix for it was to replace the engine! So they didn't change the oil, that was 2 days ago and since then my MO starts to knock at times, the service engine soon lite has come on and the oil lite flashes when I stop or take off.
I just have to know if this is happening to anyone else?
TIA |
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| njjoe |
Shiftless-
A few questions for you...
How many miles on your MO? What year is your MO? Where/how did they find the black goo?
First things first. Check the oil level. If the oil light is flashing under the situations you describe then the oil level is low. Maintain the oil level to prevent further damage.
-njjoe |
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| Eric L. |
It sounds to me that the engine ran low on oil at some point, causing damage to the piston rings, and now oil is getting into the combustion chamber, causing the smoke you describe. There really is no way to fix it, since engine damage has already occured. If it cannot be repaired under warranty, then you'll have to foot the bill. :(
This goes to show the importance of monitoring your engine oil level. You should NEVER drive when the oil pressure light is lit, ever.
I think frequency of oil changes now are unlikely the cause of this problem, since a healthy engine can probably go 7500 miles on conventional oil without an issue (oil is much better nowadays). I suspect a leak somewhere and as the oil level got lower and lower, eventually it got low enough to cause engine damage. The oil pressure light need not come on in such a case, since it is only an indicator for catastrophic oil loss, not a gradual decline. |
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| senza |
| Bluish smoke on start up usually indicates worn valve guides.....not terribly serious ... .oil leaks down the worn valve guides into the combustion chamber and burns on startup....oil level low enough that when under full power, a loss of oil pressure occurs, will cause bearing failure (crank/rod) rather than piston ring wear... engine goo ??knocking?? Replace entire engine?? something strange here...if under warranty ...no problem...if you are paying, get a second opinion from a 3rd party mechanic.....I don't trust dealer service departments! |
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| zebelkhan |
| I agree with senza. Worn valve guides will cause smoke on startup. Infrequent oil changes may however build sluge that hardens on the valve rods and contribute to this but that is easily detectable if valve covers are removed. So to repeat what senza has suggested, probably nothing you have done to cause this problem so if under warranty, it should be covered by Nissan, and if you are paying, take it to someone other than the dealer... |
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| Shiftless |
| Thank-you all for your imput. I'm taking it to the dealership where I bought it and they are paying for it. Hopefully this week I'll know when the new engine will be in. I've had a few problems with my MO, but would never give it up. It's way too fun to drive on long trips. I'll keep you updated on the replacement. |
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| LadyDay |
| Shiftless, I just started having that problems like you I was told to get a oil change. Still having the bluish smoke on startup. I will take it to the dael has there been a recall for this problem. |
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| Gonzo |
| No recall.... the VQ is pretty much bullet proof. Unfortunately like anything man made, the manufacturing process is not bullet proof. |
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| LadyDay |
| Thinks so much for the information, it help I did take it in for a check, had keep it over night:( |
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| GripperDon |
| Sounds like something I did back in the fifties. |
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| LadyDay |
| Okay LOL for the 50th:D |
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| mgthe3 |
My wife said yesterday that in the past few weeks she has seen 2 different Mos smoking at the traffic light and make a nice puff on launch.
Now I may have my hunch wrong but....
The Mo lends itself to very low RPMs in city driving if babied, sub 2k constantly for many miles I am sure is not a good thing. In my experiance, all engines need to be reved up at least daily for good health. Not red line but at least 3.5 to 4k.
On that tac:
(yes I will mention the 92 crown vic once more)
My Dad gave my son his CV. It has 72k miles. It is horrible about shifting into 3rd at 25mph, OD at 45mph. I know it was owned by the provebial little old lady and driven to the local store and Dr., same as my Dad. I bet it hasn't seen 4k rpm until the day I drove it. On a 4k pull, it does smoke, the more the merrier. On normal baby, let-it-shift-stupidly driving it doesn't smoke a bit.
I'm thinking folks baby Mo's to much.
There could be a manufacturing defect, but, I think the Mo does lend itself to easily be driven at a very low rpm, and the VQ needs wringing out every once in a while; actually, all engines do.
I could be wrong, but it sounds good :2: |
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| dismayed maid |
Dear Shiftless:
Be Careful! I had the same problem and they did grant me a new engine but it did NOT solve the problem! I was beebopping around with my new engine feeling as though I had a new lease on life with this problematic car and by the second oil change (and I change it every 2000 mi) the engine was sludged up again. Now they are getting nasty and accusatory at the dealership and saying it's something I did to the engine. If you do get e new engine check the oil every week, and if it's down at all take it back right away. |
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| dismayed maid |
Dear Eric L;
I bought my MO with 18000 mi on it and I NEVER ever saw the oil light come on, but my engine was sludged from it burning oil,
and the only warning I got was occasional blue smoke, which the salesman told me was condensation.
I did change my oil regularly. Have you ever heard of the warning lights being faulty? A car with that many miles shouldn't burn oil!
I owned 2 volvos before this lemon and never needed to add oil between service visits until 175,000. |
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| LadyDay |
Thanks God my MO still under warranty, had to have a new engine.
Before they would do the work free I had to show my oil change receipts.:mad: |
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