smoking car

[SmokeyD]

96 chrysler sebring coupe
mitsubishi 2.0 4 banger
auto trans
148000 miles

I recently purchased this car and replaced the short block with a used short block. After getting it all back together, it runs, with a couple of issues:

1.Diagnostics show insufficient flow to EGR valve and misfire on cylinder four. The check engine light is constantly on but if it idles for a few minutes, the check engine light will start flashing.

2. It smokes. THe smoke seems to be the blue haze type that is associated with burned oil. I can't figure out what exactly is causing this issue. Valves or rings or...something else?
I have put about 500 miles on it and the sum bitch runs like a raped ape. Seemingly great compression, fuel delivery, etc. I did check the spark plugs today to see if any oil is present and found they all looked clean with no hint of oil.
I did put a quart and a half of oil in it this morning but this could be contributed to it's relatively new assembly.

What is the cheapest, yet effective way to find out what is causing this smoke? What tests can I do to narrow this issue down? Any advice appreciated.

[curtis73]

First of all, THANK YOU for posting all of the important information regarding your car.

I would first do a compression check and a vacuum test. The compression test will show which cylinder(s) burn oil. If the compression shows up evenly, a vacuum test can usually diagnose a valve problem which would show up as a vacuum leak.

[Moppie]

The old Mitsi 2.0l engines are famous for smoking.
Most of Mitsi's 4cly enignes are based on a single design from the early 80s, and very little has changed since.

Some engines will never smoke, the turbo'd engines are very good, while others will take up the habbit quite early in life with no other ill effects than a need for oil every few thousands Km's.

From my experiance the simpler the engine the more its likely to smoke, for example the Turbo, MIVEC and GDI versions of the 4g63/2 don't smoke unless something is wrong, while the very basic twincam version will usualy start to have the odd puff after only 50,000kms or less.


Its possible the used short block you have is a smoker, and other than a complete rebuild there is little you can do about it.

[drdisque]

he actually has a dodge 2.0L, the Mitsubishis used Dodge engines, not the other way around.

[curtis73]

Originally Posted by drdisque

he actually has a dodge 2.0L, the Mitsubishis used Dodge engines, not the other way around.

Up until about 90 you are right, but after that its all Mitsu stuff. Remember the problems they had with smoking in cars like the Eclipse? Then magically in about 90 or 91 suddenly the Caravans started smoking? It was a ring-land problem that wore rings very quickly.

[SmokeyD]

I appreciate the replies thus far.

A bit more background on the car. The lady that had it before me admitted she had ran it out of oil just prior to selling it. I assumed this is the reason that when I tore the motor down, no. 1 piston was cracked in half while the rod had ate the crap out of the combustion chamber.

The short block I purchased has about 30000 less miles on it than the original. I did a cursory exam of the crank, rods, etc and did not notice anything that might clue me off to any issues. I also put some marvel mystery oil in the chambers and the pistons seemed to have wiped it nicely so I did not bother to put in the extra expense of a ring job.

I will get the compression check today or tomorrow and go from there. I still need to track a vacuum leak before I can proceed with a leak down test.

My main issue is cash. I can't afford to go for a complete rebuild. This is why I need to find specifically what is causing the smoking. Next year I'll be able to go all out but for now, I'll be happy with a non smoker.

Also, the cheaper I can go with this, the less the wife can gloat. Gotta love her "I told you so" attitude.

[drdisque]

there were no sebrings made before 1990.

The sebring 4 cylinder has a 420A, which is 100% dodge. The sebring V6 though had a 6G mitsubishi engine.

[curtis73]

Well, I was speaking of Dodge in general, not just Sebrings, but I stand corrected... the 2.0 in the Sebring does have a Dodge name on it.

[Moppie]

So is it a designed and built by Dodge engine, or is it the designed by Misubishi and built by Dodge?
Or is it bastard child of the two companys?

[drdisque]

designed and built by dodge.