I was wondering if anyone has noticed their Titan blowing out a puff of smoke when starting up - especially if it has been sitting for a couple days. Unfortunately I have noticed this with my truck as there are weekends when it sits undriven from Friday evening to Monday morning. I wouldn't be concerned however the smoke appears to have a blue tint to it which leads me to think it's oil smoke. My best friend's 350 Z does the same thing so is this characteristic of all Nissan engines? We both have let the [same] dealer service our vehicles so maybe it has something to do with the type & grade of oil they are using. Any thoughts?
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2004 Titan King Cab LE 4x2
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Built Jan 2004; Purchased Feb 29, 2004
Last edited by Canteen Titan : 07-11-2004 at 09:50 AM.
Reason: updated signature
I was wondering if anyone has noticed their Titan blowing out a puff of smoke when starting up - especially if it has been sitting for a couple days. Unfortunately I have noticed this with my truck as there are weekends when it sits undriven from Friday evening to Monday morning. I wouldn't be concerned however the smoke appears to have a blue tint to it which leads me to think it's oil smoke. My best friend's 350 Z does the same thing so is this characteristic of all Nissan engines? We both have let the [same] dealer service our vehicles so maybe it has something to do with the type & grade of oil they are using. Any thoughts?
no its not normal and it does sound like oil smoke. On a regular iron overhead valve motor with one cam, it is an indicator of oil seal leakage at the valve. I'm not sure with the titan and its overhead cam engine if this is still a possibility but it probably is. there was another thread on this awhile back. search all the segments for that thread and maybe there is more info on this problem.
There have been a few "blue smoke on start-up posts". I don't have this problem (at the moment). As juma indicated, this would typically indicate oil leaking past the valve stem seal, onto to the top of the valve. On start-up, the collected oil enters the cylinder and burns, causing blue smoke. The concern would be that over time this would cause deposits on the top of the piston(s). I would take it to the dealer.
I will continue to monitor this and make the dealer aware in the event it gets worst. I know blue smoke does usually mean oil but if so many of our trucks are doing the same thing and the 350 Z with the 3.5L engine does the same, I can't help but wonder if it really is a rich start-up with the fuel mixture. I will get someone to start it for me so I can get at the exhaust to get a wiff which should determine the problem.
Any additional thoughts or ideas would still be appreciated!
I will continue to monitor this and make the dealer aware in the event it gets worst. I know blue smoke does usually mean oil but if so many of our trucks are doing the same thing and the 350 Z with the 3.5L engine does the same, I can't help but wonder if it really is a rich start-up with the fuel mixture. I will get someone to start it for me so I can get at the exhaust to get a wiff which should determine the problem.
Any additional thoughts or ideas would still be appreciated!
whiff is not the way...color is. rich fuel state gives black smoke. oil is blue. white is coolant. juma
Definitely sounds like valve stem seals...could be that the valve guides are worn as well.
Time is a factor. The longer your truck sits without running, the more time the oil has to seep past the seals and guides, into the chamber...and hey, we have 32 of them instead of 16. If oil is getting past the seals while it is sitting, then it most certainly is doing the same thing while running (after all, there is a vacuum on the intake side). You won't see the smoke, because it is a smaller amount (once again, the time and quantity factor).
Hope this isn't a trend...
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whiff is not the way...color is. rich fuel state gives black smoke. oil is blue. white is coolant. juma
I do understand what the different colors of smoke imply. The tint of the smoke appears blue but is such a small amount and disappears so quickly, I haven't been absolutely sure. That is why I wanted to smell what comes out. Oil definitely gives a distinct odor different from fuel. I've been around cars and engines all my life; believe me my father has rebuilt a many a one.
Unfortunately, when I started my truck up this afternoon, nothing. My friend started up his 350 Z after sitting all week, and nothing as well. It would figure.
At any rate, if anyone has brought this to their dealer's attention, please let me/us know about their response.
Definitely sounds like valve stem seals...could be that the valve guides are worn as well.
Time is a factor. The longer your truck sits without running, the more time the oil has to seep past the seals and guides, into the chamber...and hey, we have 32 of them instead of 16. If oil is getting past the seals while it is sitting, then it most certainly is doing the same thing while running (after all, there is a vacuum on the intake side). You won't see the smoke, because it is a smaller amount (once again, the time and quantity factor).
Hope this isn't a trend...
Worn out valve guides?! I only have 3900 miles on the truck! My concern is that it is the valve stem seals. If this is a trend, it's with both the 5.6L and 3.5L engines.
My 2006 Titan with 7,000 miles on it is at the dealership right now for the smoke on startup problem. I noticed it during the winter here but the wind would take it away too quick to notice it being a problem. So, when summer arrived and I parked it in the garage I can really see the smoke coming out.
I really do not think it is a sitting problem though. 2 weeks ago I towed my horses 80 miles. It sit for one day and when I started it there was a huge puff of bluish white smoke that hung in the air. I can let it sit for a few days and sometimes it will not happen. Really strange.
I will let you know what my service department says. Should be today or tomorrow I hope.
Possibly rich burning on startup. The titan runs a little rich anyways and mine runs really rich for the first few seconds on startup. The "smoke" seems to appear more often in damp or cold conditions, like most cars.
most fuel injection systems run rich at startup.... this could be seen in TB injection systems where the fuel spray was noticably higer until the engine fired off... cooler or damp conditions could cause this.... maybe lack of oil on the cylinder walls at startup allows enough blowby to suck a little oil past the rings, or maybe enough blowby that PCV system picks it up where it goes into intake and is burned.... just my $.02
You are talking way above my head on the mechanics but you sound like you know what you are talking about. Thanks for the input. Any input helps because the dealer could not duplicate it. And that is the funny thing about it. It will not smoke everytime.
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07-11-2004, 08:07 AM
Titan smoking?
Previous thread found!
I only have 3900 miles on the truck! My concern is that it is the valve stem seals. If this is a trend, it's with both the 5.6L and 3.5L engines.
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