Blue Smoke
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Florida
Blue Smoke
My 2003 F350 V-10 now has 30k mile on it. I rarely drive it hard and do the speed limit most of the time. Today (THURSDAY) I fired it up after not driving it for the last 3 days. The truck started up rough and I noticed blue smoke coming out of the right tail pipe (truck has true-duals) but it went away after a sec or two. Now I've seen this on vehicles that have 100k+ miles on them so it had me puzzled.
Before I went on a short vacation on MONDAY evening I opened the hood the grab a rag to check the oil on my wife's car before we left. I opened the hood to be eye to eye with a mouse...... I did not locate the critter after it 'ran' but i started the engine and let it run for a few to try and kill/run off the problem.
After the rough start today, I drove it for about 15 miles and looked under the hood... I didn't see any leaks or nest...?
Could the valves already be having a seal problem or do I need to be more concerned on my rotten problem?
Before I went on a short vacation on MONDAY evening I opened the hood the grab a rag to check the oil on my wife's car before we left. I opened the hood to be eye to eye with a mouse...... I did not locate the critter after it 'ran' but i started the engine and let it run for a few to try and kill/run off the problem.
After the rough start today, I drove it for about 15 miles and looked under the hood... I didn't see any leaks or nest...?
Could the valves already be having a seal problem or do I need to be more concerned on my rotten problem?
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,924
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From: Richmond BC
when u say blue smoke was it a short puf then gone or was it actually a length of time of blue smoke exiting the exhaust ???
i work in a bodyshop were we see NEW cars/trucks all day long (FLEET/rental auction company) and almost every vehicle i start, gives a short puff of blue smoke...
i wouldnt worry if thats all ur seeing...
i work in a bodyshop were we see NEW cars/trucks all day long (FLEET/rental auction company) and almost every vehicle i start, gives a short puff of blue smoke...
i wouldnt worry if thats all ur seeing...
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,564
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From: Wayyy NoCal, USA
A puff? One time? Not enough to worry about. A puff would be caused by a single drop of oil. Maybe it wept by a valve seal that was at a funny spot on the valve stem - like at top dead center where the seal is changing it's wiping direction, resulting in an imperfect seal.
Mice chew the strangest things... A rat ate most of the oil cap on our BMW - leaving mostly the metal bits. Yep, the hard plastic oil cap. Actually, didn't eat all of it - there was a big pile of shavings on the floor.
Check rubber hoses and plastic fittings - especially the PCV valve on the right valve cover and its hose running to TB.
Mice chew the strangest things... A rat ate most of the oil cap on our BMW - leaving mostly the metal bits. Yep, the hard plastic oil cap. Actually, didn't eat all of it - there was a big pile of shavings on the floor.
Check rubber hoses and plastic fittings - especially the PCV valve on the right valve cover and its hose running to TB.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
Yup, the V10 is known to do this, and some 5.4's do it too.
You start the truck up, move it, it runs for less than a minute or two and you shut it down.
Next time you start it up, POOF out the tailpipe, it runs rough for a few seconds and it clears up. Usually accompanied by a "WHOOSH" or "WHUMP" sound from the intake.
My V10 does this. However, since I stopped topping up the oil to the FULL mark on the dipstick, and instead do what the owner's/service manuals says to do which is put in 6 qts ONLY, it never does the blue puff anymore. It still does the WHOOMP sound in those conditions, but no blue smoke anymore.
I'd check the PCV to make sure it's working as expected, and not worry about it unless it starts doing it EVERY time you start the truck.
You start the truck up, move it, it runs for less than a minute or two and you shut it down.
Next time you start it up, POOF out the tailpipe, it runs rough for a few seconds and it clears up. Usually accompanied by a "WHOOSH" or "WHUMP" sound from the intake.
My V10 does this. However, since I stopped topping up the oil to the FULL mark on the dipstick, and instead do what the owner's/service manuals says to do which is put in 6 qts ONLY, it never does the blue puff anymore. It still does the WHOOMP sound in those conditions, but no blue smoke anymore.
I'd check the PCV to make sure it's working as expected, and not worry about it unless it starts doing it EVERY time you start the truck.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
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This happened to me the other day on a cold day. I started her up but it didn't crank over completely. The next crank started right up and a puff of blue smoke came out. I also thought it was normal. Thanks for the clarification.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: Florida
Thanks for all the info. I have to change the oil in less then 800 miles so i'll try the 6 qt only rule. Thanks 
As for my critter.... I checked for chew marks and found none... this time haha.... but I'm pretty sure I cook them if they held on for those 15 miles at 60+ mph
As for my critter.... I checked for chew marks and found none... this time haha.... but I'm pretty sure I cook them if they held on for those 15 miles at 60+ mph
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