Blue Smoke When Shifting
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 342
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville, Georgia
Blue Smoke When Shifting
Here is my senario:
A fresh rebuilt 351W is in my truck. I am breaking it in and taking it easy. Only 50 miles on it so far. I have a four speed on the floor that is in terrible condition and in need of a rebuilt, but it functions fine. On two occasions in the last week, while driving down the road, I noticed a puff of blue smoke (coming out of the exhaust pipes) when I shifted from 2nd gear to 3rd gear. Obviously the smoke is not coming from the tranny.
What is going on with my rebuilt engine??? Too much fuel, not enough fuel??? Any ideas, suggestions???
A fresh rebuilt 351W is in my truck. I am breaking it in and taking it easy. Only 50 miles on it so far. I have a four speed on the floor that is in terrible condition and in need of a rebuilt, but it functions fine. On two occasions in the last week, while driving down the road, I noticed a puff of blue smoke (coming out of the exhaust pipes) when I shifted from 2nd gear to 3rd gear. Obviously the smoke is not coming from the tranny.
What is going on with my rebuilt engine??? Too much fuel, not enough fuel??? Any ideas, suggestions???
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,893
Likes: 12
From: Ohio
Depending on rings and cylinder hone job, they probably are not seated yet with that little time on it. Wait til it gets a couple thousand miles on it before worrying too much. Go put it on the highway and put some miles on it, get a load on the motor, to help seat the rings.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 6
From: UPSTATE NY
yes i would put a load on it. i have heard that taking it easy on a new motor isnt always the best thing for break in....and that you need to stomp on it at least here and there...
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: texas,earth
Don't think i'd be worried at this point. Take the truck out on the highway, run it up to about 75, then back off the throttle & let it coast down to about 50. Do this about 5-6 times. Should be enough vacuum pulled to seat the rings. You don't want to abuse the motor for the first few thousand miles, but babying it the whole break-in period ain't a real good idea either. One of the best wrenches i have ever known told me," break it in like you're gonna drive it"
just my .02
just my .02
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 117
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From: Portland, OR
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 6
From: UPSTATE NY
yeah i'm not so sure about break ins, although the article i posted seems legitimate and makes some sense with the piston rings and whatnot, but what about all the other parts of the motor that need some time to get broken in ya know....and what about the tranny and whatnot......in my opinion just maintaining your vehicle is what determines your performance the most
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Senior User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
From: YORK S.C.
when i rebuilt my 302 i had the same problem..it took about 1,500 2,000 miles for the rings to seat...now i never see any blue smoke. during break-in i used the method that fitzwell mentioned. and drove like i normally do with my leadfoot!
