99 3.8 Smokes on startup.

[briarrabbitt]

I've recnetly been experiencing billowing clouds of blue smoke when I start the engine. It goes away after a few minuites and does not smoke while driving, except when I accelerate hard. I thought it was my valve stem seals so I replaced them but it still does the same thing. Next I did a wet and dry compression test and all of the cyllinders where almost exactly the same so I don't think it's the rings. Also, I changed the plugs twice in the past two months and both times the back two plugs (3 and 6) where completely fouled out black and caked up. So far my oil consumption test shows 1 qt every 90 miles! Any ideas?

[dxrflyboy]

Two things come to mind: PCV valve and intake gaskets. A plugged PCV valve will push oil into the intake and if intake gaskets are leaking on the bottom sides of the ports, oil will be sucked into the cylinders from the lifter valley.

[briarrabbitt]

Originally Posted by dxrflyboy

Two things come to mind: PCV valve and intake gaskets. A plugged PCV valve will push oil into the intake and if intake gaskets are leaking on the bottom sides of the ports, oil will be sucked into the cylinders from the lifter valley.

I've replaced the pcv valve recently durring routine maintenance and I thought of that so I chehcked it allready. It's working fine. Could the intake gaskets leak oil into the cyllinders even without a bad pcv valve?

[dxrflyboy]

Originally Posted by briarrabbitt

I've replaced the pcv valve recently durring routine maintenance and I thought of that so I chehcked it allready. It's working fine. Could the intake gaskets leak oil into the cyllinders even without a bad pcv valve?

Yes. An intake leak into the lifter valley will pull oil into the intake ports regardless of the PCV system.

[dxrflyboy]

You will need a vacuum gauge to diag. an internal vacuum leak. The needle should fluctuate if this is the problem. Spraying carb. cleaner around the gasket may also help, provided the leak is also external. The idle will rise if carb. cleaner is sucked in through a leaking gasket.