97 sls puffs smoke

[dell1554]

I have a 97 sls with 98000 miles......great condition.....no engine issues whatsoever except normal maintenance........I travel for work, on long interstate runs, I notice if I have to slow down for traffic, or exit, when I push accelerator first time, I get a pretty good puff of blue smoke......absolutely nothing on start up, nothing in town, nothing on decceleration.......uses about 1 quart of oil every 1500 to 2000 miles......no leaks......think oil may be "pooling" in heads.......suggestions please

[BodybyFisher]

I have a 97 sls with 98000 miles......great condition.....no engine issues whatsoever except normal maintenance........I travel for work, on long interstate runs, I notice if I have to slow down for traffic, or exit, when I push accelerator first time, I get a pretty good puff of blue smoke......absolutely nothing on start up, nothing in town, nothing on decceleration.......uses about 1 quart of oil every 1500 to 2000 miles......no leaks......think oil may be "pooling" in heads.......suggestions please

It sounds like you are drawing oil into the intake system on high vacuum situations. Change your PCV valve. I would think you need valve seals, but, I think you would get smoke on start up also. Also check your oil level where is it on the stick?

[Ranger]

Why the EGR valve Mike? What's your theory? I'm not making the connection.

[BodybyFisher]

Why the EGR valve Mike? What's your theory? I'm not making the connection.

OH SORRY, good catch Ranger, I meant PCV valve....

[Bruce Nunnally]

I have a 97 sls with 98000 miles......great condition.....no engine issues whatsoever except normal maintenance........I travel for work, on long interstate runs, I notice if I have to slow down for traffic, or exit, when I push accelerator first time, I get a pretty good puff of blue smoke......absolutely nothing on start up, nothing in town, nothing on decceleration.......uses about 1 quart of oil every 1500 to 2000 miles......no leaks......think oil may be "pooling" in heads.......suggestions please

If you are building up carbon deposits in the engine you will see this also. If you will accelerate harder more often that will tend to blow the carbon out.

[winterset]

Oil level should be checked on a hot engine after it's been shut off (when you are getting gasoline) if you have been overfilling it by reading it on a cold engine, you'll tend to overfill it, and if you do indeed have a faulty PCV, it'll only make matters worse. check your air intake for oil deposits. Are you sure it's blue not black. does it smell like soot, or that sickining smell of raw 10-w30 oil burning w combustion?

[BodybyFisher]

Let me add, that the valve seals are not a known source of problems, if I recall, the guru said they are rarely a probem.

You are not using oil badly at all, a quart every 1500 to 2000 is not bad at all. What is occuring is very subtle and specific. How long has this been happening?

Do you WOT often? If not, as Bruce noted, you could be getting blow by on high vacuum. If you do not WOT often, do this:

This is called the WOT procedure, it improves oil consumption by exercising the rings and by blowing carbon off the top of the pistons. This is a very high compression engine and carbon can become impacted on the top of the piston. An indication of this is a pronounced knocking when cold. When this happens the piston rocks in the cylinder and can allow oil to by pass.

Do this

Find a long stretch of highway, no traffic where you can open it up

Go 30, put the selector in 2

Hit the accelerator about 3/4, when you hit 60 floor it

when you hit 70, take your foot off the gas,

because you are in second gear, the tranny will slow the car down

allow the speed to drop to 40, and repeat, back up to 70,

Do this 10 times.

Do this once or twice a month

The guru used to say FLOOR it at 40 up to 70, but the GURU used to have the benefit of NEW vehicles, I really don't want to abuse my tranny by doing that. That is why I say 3/4 thottle to 60, then floor it. Its a little easier on our older trannies and valve trains (but I wear a belt AND suspenders, and my nick name is Mister Safety).

The deceleration from 70 to 40, causes negative pressure (vacuum) in the combustion chamber and that blows out and dislodges carbon off the walls of the chamber and the high rpms and decelerations exercises the rings. The more you beat her, the more she loves it...keep that in mind.

See if that helps along with the other suggestions we gave above

[dell1554]

Thank you all for your input........I will change the pcv valve.......I have only had the car about 10000 miles......but I know this was not happening until last week.......I check oil regularly......and it is possible I maybe over filling by a cup or two, but that would be all.....as far as the WOT theory....no problem there, I have added a ram air intake system.....and to date......a mustang GT....a stock GTO, a HEMI durango, and a worn out camaro have all seen my tailights after offering to make "acquaintances" on the interstate...I am certainly not concerned about oil usage....just don't like seeing that blue smoke occasionally......did have to change an O2 sensor, will see if that helps also......

[BodybyFisher]

It sounds like you are beating her good...

You know earlier in my previous post, I was going to ask you if you checked for codes. Have you checked? Because as you say, anything that will cause you to run rich, like a bad O2 sensor, will cause smoke also. This could be a rich condition also

Check the vacuum hose attached to your FPR (fuel pressure regulator) for fuel, first with the engine off, pull it off and smell it, then leave it off and start the engine, an look for spitting fuel, if you know how to rev the engine manually under the hood, rev it up and down a few times and look for fuel..coming out of the fuel pressure regulator.

Any evidence of fuel replace it, its causing you to run rich..

[BodybyFisher]

By the way, there is NO need for your oil to be at the TOP of the stick, anywhere on the stick if just fine, mine is NEVER above a half a quart low. It helps the case half leak, keep in mind that it takes 7.5 quarts but it takes 7.5 quarts only it insure that it does not run out of oil when it does high G turns, if it is a quart low, it is fine... I try to keep JUST THE TIP, of my stick wet..

That is unless you are doing repetitive high G turns

[Texas Jim]

That is unless you are doing repetitive high G turns

I would NEVER do that in my Cadillac.

[BodybyFisher]

That is unless you are doing repetitive high G turns

I would NEVER do that in my Cadillac.

Oh Lord, you are starting to sound like Obama, Jim

[dell1554]

no high G turns..need to do struts and shocks......struts on order from Arnott.....shocks in a couple of weeks........I will check everything out...I do believe she is still running a little rich....gonna do plugs and wires shortly, will inspect plugs for build up........can't imagine it running better though......having to change my shorts periodically now.....but she sure is fun

[BodybyFisher]

no high G turns..need to do struts and shocks......struts on order from Arnott.....shocks in a couple of weeks........I will check everything out...I do believe she is still running a little rich....gonna do plugs and wires shortly, will inspect plugs for build up........can't imagine it running better though......having to change my shorts periodically now.....but she sure is fun

Let us know what you find out... have fun

[BodybyFisher]

By the way, your profile has 94 SLS, you have a 97 SLS also?

[Texas Jim]

Oh Lord, you are starting to sound like Obama, Jim

Oh Lord, I hope not.

I don't want to EVER be like him. (Nobama)

If I get that bad, knock me in the head and throw me out behind the barn.

[BodybyFisher]

Oh Lord, you are starting to sound like Obama, Jim

Oh Lord, I hope not.

I don't want to EVER be like him. (Nobama)

If I get that bad, knock me in the head and throw me out behind the barn.

[dell1554]

oops.....will change profile....just 97

[Ranger]

I try to keep JUST THE TIP, of my stick wet..

[BodybyFisher]

I try to keep JUST THE TIP, of my stick wet..

I was wondering who it would be!!

[Ranger]

The devil made me do it. I'm surprised no one else jumped on it. I just could not resist.

[dell1554]

ok.......been a week or so now.......I did change pcv valve....although old one seemed just fine........have kept oil level a little lower........not a big change in puffs of smoke.....maybe a little lighter, but still there.........did have a MAF sensor code shortly after changing o2 sensor.....cleared code and has not come back on since.....I am getting a "Rotten Egg" smell on cold start up thought ?????

[dgaouette]

Funny to hear of this problem. On my 97SLS I had the exact sae problem. I never worried too much about it due to the fact that I own several caddies and they all suck oil (at least the ones with the north star. One fun day when I drove my car home in limp mode only to learn that this was not "Protection mode" but "blow your head gasket mode" I ended up pulling the motor. While I was time serting the engine I notices that #4 looked a bit different then the other seven. So while I had it open, I decided to pull that piston. Much to my surprise - no top ring. This was allowing the pistonto roch and so when you would wack it it smoked. The oil and 2nd ring were fine. Fortunately I was able to hone it out to accept a new set of rings. It measured at max when I was done but with 110K miles I wasn't going to loose any sleep over it. After that, no more smoke. The engine appeared to be original, never broken down before. I'm guessing the GM robot broke one and it never got cought. The car always ran great up to that point!! You just never know sometimes.

[BodybyFisher]

Ok setting aside the idea that GM neglected to add the TOP COMBUSTION ring, what kind of OIL are you using? If you are using less than 10W30 or synthetic/Mobil 1, use STANDARD 10w30.

Secondly, while you are beating your engine nicely. Try doing the WOT procedure as described on the first page here to exercise your rings. The deceleration is good for exercising rings and getting carbon out.

[BodybyFisher]

Thank you all for your input........I will change the pcv valve.......I have only had the car about 10000 miles......but I know this was not happening until last week.......I check oil regularly......and it is possible I maybe over filling by a cup or two, but that would be all.....as far as the WOT theory....no problem there, I have added a ram air intake system.....and to date......a mustang GT....a stock GTO, a HEMI durango, and a worn out camaro have all seen my tailights after offering to make "acquaintances" on the interstate...I am certainly not concerned about oil usage....just don't like seeing that blue smoke occasionally......did have to change an O2 sensor, will see if that helps also......

One more thing, you say this just started.

Again what kind of OIL, grade, type etc

Did you check your FPR, if it has dumped FUEL, it can get into your OIL and thin it out allowing it to pass the rings