truck just started puffing blue smoke

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Jul 7, 2008 | 08:17 PM
  #1  
so in the last two weeks my truck has been burning oil at start up.
just a puff of blue at start up but the exhaust smells different then usual even after the blue goes away.

any ideas on what might be causing it to suddenly burn oil like that.

the only thing i had done different is use a wix filter instead of fram when i changed oil a few weeks ago.
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Jul 7, 2008 | 09:33 PM
  #2  
what weight oil did you use?
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Jul 7, 2008 | 10:15 PM
  #3  
5w-30 i was sort of thinking that with the hot weather we have been having here that 5w-30 could be a little thin but ive never had it happen before
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Jul 8, 2008 | 07:27 AM
  #4  
anybody?
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Jul 8, 2008 | 07:33 AM
  #5  
A clogged PCV valve, maybe. Or, maybe a valve stem seal gave way.

Unusual exhaust smell? Does it smell like oil or sulfur???
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Jul 8, 2008 | 09:23 AM
  #6  
at first it smells like oil then it smell acidic after a while
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Jul 8, 2008 | 09:28 AM
  #7  
I have to admit, I'm a little stumped on that one.

How old is your oil?
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Jul 8, 2008 | 09:31 AM
  #8  
Pvc,it sounds like.
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Jul 8, 2008 | 09:39 AM
  #9  
new oil last week
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Jul 8, 2008 | 09:43 AM
  #10  
Quote: Pvc,it sounds like.
That's what I'm thinking, too. I could be wrong...it could be something else, but crankcase gases do acidify oil.
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Jul 8, 2008 | 09:56 AM
  #11  
Dude you need to stop that thing from smoking. Buying gas and cigarettes for it is gonna cost a fortune!
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Jul 8, 2008 | 03:19 PM
  #12  
Quote: 5w-30 i was sort of thinking that with the hot weather we have been having here that 5w-30 could be a little thin but ive never had it happen before
5-30 is WAY too thin for these engines, especially during the summer. They originally called for 20-50 until 1984 for so-called emission reasons. You should be at LEAST be using 10-30.
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Jul 8, 2008 | 04:00 PM
  #13  
if it's not below freezing, there is no real reason to run a 5wXX oil. you can run a 15wXX oil down to freezing temps.

Smoking on startup implies either leaking valve seals or oil puddling in the intake. Thin oil will tend to become aerosolized more easily than thicker oil and could get more easily sucked into the intake through the PCV valve where it could stick to the intake and drip down to the valves when the engine is off.
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Jul 8, 2008 | 07:18 PM
  #14  
cool thanks for the info guess im switching to 10w-30 for the summer
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Jul 9, 2008 | 02:31 PM
  #15  
hey guys i have the same problem blue smoke but im running 10w 30
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Jul 9, 2008 | 02:32 PM
  #16  
go 15w40 or 20w50. if that don't help, go straight 40 or 50
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Jul 9, 2008 | 03:36 PM
  #17  
wow how much can the motor take
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Jul 9, 2008 | 03:38 PM
  #18  
Quote: wow how much can the motor take
meaning what? how thick of an oil can the engine take?
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Jul 9, 2008 | 03:43 PM
  #19  
ya the thickness
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Jul 9, 2008 | 04:39 PM
  #20  
the motor can take a lot. you would typically choose the oil weight based on the temperatures the engine is operating in as well as the how much load the engine will be operating with.
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