blue smoke on start up only

Heads, valves, pistons, rods, crankshaft, etc...

Moderators: Helpinators, Moderators

Post Reply
RJ93SS
Third Gear
Posts: 853
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:55 am
Location: Vancouver, Canada

blue smoke on start up only

Post by RJ93SS »

just started happening this morning on my dads 92 tw. ecu was reset on friday after the knock sensor was fixed. leak around turbo return line recently developed as well.

turned the car off for 5 minutes and upon start up it happened again. the blue smoke is heavy for 2-3 seconds and then it clears up.

any ideas.
93SS 04 wrx brakes/slotted w/ hawks--TD05 -- 06 I/C -- 20mm n/a fsb -- Stage 2 -- 550's -- Perrin DIV DP -- 2-3/4 Tit Exhaust -- K&N -- C/C -- A/C Delete -- Grounded -- GT Leather Interior -- WRX/STI Strut Setup -- 17" 225's -- 2 Kids Seats ;)
Airgne
Second Gear
Posts: 480
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:35 pm
Location: 横須賀  さいたま 日本

Post by Airgne »

its from not letting the car properly warm up. let the car warmup for 10 min and you will be good.
1997 Nissan Laurel ClubS25t
2001 Legacy Gt Ltd(167awhp&165.7awtq)Best 00-04 Legacy at WCSS11(West Coast Subaru Show)
1992 Legacy SS(Sold)
1991 Legacy L Wagon(Sold)(400,000+miles and running strong!!)
SLODRIVE
Third Gear
Posts: 662
Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2008 1:27 am
Location: Colorado, north of Highway 52
Contact:

Post by SLODRIVE »

It has nothing to do with warmup. An engine in good shape should never have blue smoke on startup, or anytime.

My guess would be bad valve seals/guides.
http://www.slodriveracing.com
-92 SS 5MT- EJ20H swap, Haltech standalone ECU, TD04, FXT TMIC, 3" exhaust, STi/AGX struts, JDM 5-speed, 4.111 LSD rear, Blitz EBC, etc.
-'93 L Wagon - Pink Roll Cage - "Dirty Leg"
-And more!
ericem
Fifth Gear
Posts: 3242
Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:44 pm
Location: Toronto,ON Canada

Post by ericem »

My guess is a bad PCV valve. Clean the PCV system to if possible.
1993 Subaru Legacy L AWD Wagon R.I.P
1994 Subaru Legacy SS R.I.P :(
2004 Nissan Titan LE 4X4
2007 Subaru Legacy GT :)
Airgne
Second Gear
Posts: 480
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:35 pm
Location: 横須賀  さいたま 日本

Post by Airgne »

go start a car move it and turn it off with in 30-45sec than wait 20min. start up and see smoke come out.
1997 Nissan Laurel ClubS25t
2001 Legacy Gt Ltd(167awhp&165.7awtq)Best 00-04 Legacy at WCSS11(West Coast Subaru Show)
1992 Legacy SS(Sold)
1991 Legacy L Wagon(Sold)(400,000+miles and running strong!!)
SubaruNation
Fifth Gear
Posts: 3526
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:07 pm
Location: Whammy!

Post by SubaruNation »

go actually use the turbo and that might help.
Zach - Legacy Frankenstin
93forestpearl wrote:Keep up the good work. You'll never know what you are capable of unless you push yourself.
RJ93SS
Third Gear
Posts: 853
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:55 am
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Post by RJ93SS »

SLODRIVE wrote:It has nothing to do with warmup. An engine in good shape should never have blue smoke on startup, or anytime.

My guess would be bad valve seals/guides.

that was my dads first thought because it has low k's and it's a 92.

what should he do first, pressure check?

some details on his car:
92 tw
td05
06i/c
k&n
120,000 km
new plugs/ wires
stock tune, waste gate boost 8#
93SS 04 wrx brakes/slotted w/ hawks--TD05 -- 06 I/C -- 20mm n/a fsb -- Stage 2 -- 550's -- Perrin DIV DP -- 2-3/4 Tit Exhaust -- K&N -- C/C -- A/C Delete -- Grounded -- GT Leather Interior -- WRX/STI Strut Setup -- 17" 225's -- 2 Kids Seats ;)
RJ93SS
Third Gear
Posts: 853
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:55 am
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Post by RJ93SS »

pcv valve is fine, car still smokes upon start up
93SS 04 wrx brakes/slotted w/ hawks--TD05 -- 06 I/C -- 20mm n/a fsb -- Stage 2 -- 550's -- Perrin DIV DP -- 2-3/4 Tit Exhaust -- K&N -- C/C -- A/C Delete -- Grounded -- GT Leather Interior -- WRX/STI Strut Setup -- 17" 225's -- 2 Kids Seats ;)
ericem
Fifth Gear
Posts: 3242
Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:44 pm
Location: Toronto,ON Canada

Post by ericem »

Maybe your turbo is leaking. Once it gets somewhat warmed up probably seals.
1993 Subaru Legacy L AWD Wagon R.I.P
1994 Subaru Legacy SS R.I.P :(
2004 Nissan Titan LE 4X4
2007 Subaru Legacy GT :)
RJ93SS
Third Gear
Posts: 853
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:55 am
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Post by RJ93SS »

so, he had it into the mechanic today and we had the turbo taken off to fix the leaky hose.

Almost zero shaftplay and no oil in the exhaust side. The mechanic did notice the whole intake was very oily, the i/c was soaked but all the synthetic oil found was very clean.

He repaired some intake leaks and replaced the intake hoses ect.
when we started it back up it smoked again.

Each startup the smoke seems to get worse. It almost starts out as a cloud of thick white smoke but it quickly turns blue as it disperses in air. It lasts 30 seconds to about a minute now.

The old man was planning on heading to Vegas this weekend for two weeks but may not be able to drive his subie because of this.

Were thinking internal engine problems but not exactley sure what?
93SS 04 wrx brakes/slotted w/ hawks--TD05 -- 06 I/C -- 20mm n/a fsb -- Stage 2 -- 550's -- Perrin DIV DP -- 2-3/4 Tit Exhaust -- K&N -- C/C -- A/C Delete -- Grounded -- GT Leather Interior -- WRX/STI Strut Setup -- 17" 225's -- 2 Kids Seats ;)
ericem
Fifth Gear
Posts: 3242
Joined: Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:44 pm
Location: Toronto,ON Canada

Post by ericem »

No overheating issues or oil mixing with coolant or the other way around? Actually maybe at the same time watch your overflow tank for bubbles.

Was there literally a puddle in the intake? I am assuming you cleaned all the intake parts before assembly. Did you also take apart all off the PCV system as well?
1993 Subaru Legacy L AWD Wagon R.I.P
1994 Subaru Legacy SS R.I.P :(
2004 Nissan Titan LE 4X4
2007 Subaru Legacy GT :)
93forestpearl
Fifth Gear
Posts: 3043
Joined: Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:14 pm
Location: Twin Cities, MN

Post by 93forestpearl »

If it is puking that much oil out the compressor side, I'd be suspect of the turbine side.
→Dan

piddster34 at h0tma1l d0t c0m
RJ93SS
Third Gear
Posts: 853
Joined: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:55 am
Location: Vancouver, Canada

Post by RJ93SS »

all the larger lines on the intake were replaced, bpv, f pipe ect ect.
didnt really clean it up.

zero overheating, no oil, engine seems stronger than mine, though not as powerful :twisted:

exhaust side was dry, no shaft play, couldnt reach the intake side

when i left the mechanics shop and after the first start the car smoked badly and got less and less until it was gone . now, here is the weird thing, after getting off the phone with him an hour ago, after he left the mechanic he stopped at a dealership to possibly buy a car to go to vegas saturday. didnt find nothing, started the subie, no smoke. drove again for a while, off for a while, restart with no smoke.

so now, there's no smoke.

one day it comes, a few days later it goes. wtf

it seems to be similar to my car. makes a noise, something seems wrong, mysteriously fixes itself later.

i dont know.

wish i had a video.
93SS 04 wrx brakes/slotted w/ hawks--TD05 -- 06 I/C -- 20mm n/a fsb -- Stage 2 -- 550's -- Perrin DIV DP -- 2-3/4 Tit Exhaust -- K&N -- C/C -- A/C Delete -- Grounded -- GT Leather Interior -- WRX/STI Strut Setup -- 17" 225's -- 2 Kids Seats ;)
suba
First Gear
Posts: 157
Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 8:27 pm
Location: Moscow, ID

Post by suba »

Out of curiosity, does the car use much/any oil? I know mine uses a bit so we're constantly checking it which means occasionally it gets a little overfilled (stupid dipsticks...on the car that is). I notice when this happens it can potentially push more oil vapor out the pcv system into the intake. not sure if this is more likely to be a problem or less on a turbo.
90 Legacy L AWD 5mt
Formerly of the USMB but moved from an RX to a Legacy
Post Reply