Hey guys we've got a '97 towncar with the 4.6. It's got about 80k miles on it and it's started to puff a little blue smoke on startup.. Are these motors prone to bad valve guides? It only gets driven three or four times a month since mom stopped working (she never leaves the house....). Is it just from sitting?? Dad's getting concerned with it and he asked me to ask...

 

sounds like oil is getting into the cylinder might be from not driving it

 

yes most definitely valve seals-not a cause for alarm just annoying. i do not know whether this is a dealer repair or can be done at an independant garage though.
jim

 

I can do it in my garage....... I'm just trying to narrow it down.. This thing sits about 25 days out of the month, maybe more.

 

Sounds like valve seals. I have seen many of the large cars that smoke a bit. Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, and Town Cars.
I would just check the oil usage. It's up to you whether you want to replace the seals or not.

 

Update, the TC still does it a little.. Our '04 E150 has started doing with only 28k on it.. Dad is going to take it in and make them fix in under warranty...

 

the valve seals are done in the old 4.6, most of the early 4.6's will do this when they get a few miles on them.

My vote is just to run a thicker oil and keep an eye on the oil level.

If you keep the oil level up it will run forever. (if your not embarassed to drive around a blue smoking machine)

 

I have a 02 f-150 that only smokes rarely at start ups. I've had the seals replaced and the heads milled, and it still "puffs' at times. The dealer wanted me to wait a few thousand miles and change the oil and see if it is still doing it. What then?

 

I recently sold a '95 T-Bird 4.6 with 82k. It would smoke upon startup, when idling for a few minutes, and would use about a quart of oil between changes. These years of 4.6 are bad for valve seals and startup smoke.

I went to Castrol 5W30 High Mileage and almost completely stopped the smoke and oil useage. I am sure most anyones High Mileage oil would do the same. They are supposed to have additives to soften hardened seals.

It is cheaper and easier than changing valve seals for something as small as startup smoke. The smoke is embassasing and annoying, but really won't hurt anything.

Another thing, the H/M oil pretty well eliminated the cold start knock I had also.

 

Hey all,

What about changing from regular 5w 30 to 10w 30 synthetic oil.
OR High milage oil is a better idea.

 

With the engine design, I wouldn't run 10w anything. You want oil to the top of the heads ASAP when starting which is 5W30 is the thickest oil that I would recommend.

 

Is synthetic oil thinner than regular oil?

 

No, just better lubrication properties.