Got a 2002 7.3 F-350 with 300,000 miles and for the last couple of years I've been getting blue smoke on cold morning start ups and its been gradually getting worse, it clears up after about 30 seconds and all is normal,No loss of performance, Oil consumption is minor, however I hate a vehicle that blue smokes, I'm guessing my issue is valve seals are worn, I was wondering if it is possible to replace the seals while the heads are on the engine? and was also wondering how much time it would take to fix? as i would have to have it professionally done. I know its hard to guess a time frame and everyone is different but just looking for an idea. Sounds like textbook valve seals to me but is there anything else I should check first? Thanks.

 

Check your glow plugs. A little blue/white smoke at start-up is perfectly normal for 300K.

 

[QUOTE=1979 300i6;16095440] is possible to replace the seals while the heads are on the engine? QUOTE]


Unfortunately not.

 

[QUOTE=SMT_FORD;16096384]Well shoot.

 

[QUOTE=SMT_FORD;16096384]Yes, they are. Been there, done that. Here's my write up, with pics. http://1drv.ms/1QNV4Fl At least a half dozen other members had done this, using this method and my version of the Ford Rotunda/OTC valve spring tool.

 

My Bad. I understood it to be the Valve Seat (requires cutting) and not the Seal. I have done the seals as well but never had much luck in that being the issue. I prefer to pull the head and send it out and have it all done.

 

Typo in OP's title. The text in the post stated "valve seals". I see your confusion.

 

woops you are right sorry for the confusion!

 

I've herd that valve seals rarely go bad in a 7.3, but considering my symptoms what else could it be?

 

I changed the seals as part of my valve spring upgrade. My underlying problem was with the oil sealing rings of my turbo. Garrett had some tooling issues at the time my GTP38R was produced and did not rear its head until later. A rebuild of your turbo is most likely in order.

 

If it was the turbo seals wouldn't it smoke all the time not just on start up?

 

They could be worn enough to allow a little oil to pass until they expand from the heat and seal better. They have a gap like a piston ring. My smoke was always on a cold engine and continued until it warmed up. Just a light haze.

 

Interesting mine however is a bit more than a haze and is gone within probably less than 30 seconds the engine really has no time to warm up and it's gone.

 

Most of my older vehicles do/did that. At first it bugged me but I got over it when it didn't cost me a bunch of oil. My old Corolla would really smoke after it sat for a week or more but like yours it didn't last long after starting and it didn't use a lot of oil.

 

I wouldn't worry about it much unless it got worse or continuous. I actually had oil leaking from the turbine housing to outlet connection at times. It was time to do something with it and a new turbo was the only answer. Garrett wouldn't recognize the problem and offer any assistance past their warranty.