blue haze from exhaust

[JaredP]

okay, I know that blue haze is oil burning. sent the truck into local dealer today to find out why. they told me that compression in number 4 cylinder is down and that they would have to pull the engine to find out why!!!!!!!!!! my 05 has only 69000 miles on it and ive never abused it... ... ... . has anybody else experienced this yet? could it be a bad valve seal? or maybe the rings didntseat all the way?... ... ... i purchased the truck in 9/09 with 34,000 on it... ... i dont remember if it puffed on startup back then... ..... but I've noticed it alot more now... ... thanks for any thoughts ya'll can give me. Jared

 

[HBarlow]

The dealer does not have to pull the engine to determine the cause of low compression in #4 cylinder. If someone actually told you exactly that take your truck somewhere else.

Removing the cylinder head should allow them to identify the cause. It's not likely to be a leaking valve guide seal and certainly not poorly seated piston rings.

Has the engine had a magic black box installed? Or aftermarket injectors? Have you noticed engine oil level rising or smelled fuel in the oil? Black smoke from exhaust?

 

[JJPage]

Check the axial(in & out) shaft play in your turbo, you may have a bushing that is allowing oil to bypass it, and ending up in your exhaust, causing the blue haze.



I would not trust the dealer, with that evaluation.

 

[p-Bar]

Check the axial(in & out) shaft play in your turbo, you may have a bushing that is allowing oil to bypass it, and ending up in your exhaust, causing the blue haze.



I would not trust the dealer, with that evaluation.

JJ beat me to it ditto

 

[SRadke]

Is your truck using oil? Injectors can cause blue smoke at cold idle.

If you do in fact need engine work, I know a couple guys in Tri cities that might help you out. They do good work, PM me if you want info.

-Scott

 

[JaredP]

thanks for the ideas guys... ..... i dont trust the dealer. in fact i had to cancel my extended warranty because they told me they would not cover anything on my truck period. yes the truck has a banks bullet, 3. 5" hi ram, 5" turbo back exhaust, and cold air III air filter. Stock engine internals, no injector or fuel system mods... ... ..... stock drivetrain. I ordered a cummins manual and am looking for some better local options...

 

[RVTRKN]

The rule of thumb, with blue smoke at startup, then it goes away indicates Valve stem seals are weak. With blue smoke all the time indicates rings. I learned this rule of thumb from my engine mechanic days, but that was in 1976. With the new engines and Diesel engines, well? Pulling the engine seems extreme to me. Pulling the head would be my first choice for low compression.

 

[cerberusiam]

The rule of thumb, with blue smoke at startup, then it goes away indicates Valve stem seals are weak. With blue smoke all the time indicates rings.

That works fine on gas engines but not so much on diesels. Since diesel is literally a light oil, cold combustion almost always generates a light blue haze. The CR's are no where near as bad but have seen some that do it. I have 2 or 3 VE engines that haze on startup and don't use oil. One of them hazes warm and no oil consumption.



Almost always when you have a light haze on startup and it lasts for more than a few seconds with a CR, its injectors. The rest of the time is the turbo seals dumping oil. Doesn't mean this one isn't rings or valve seals as it sounds like it lost a cylinder but the occurence of valve seal problems is a lot less in these engines.

 

[JJPage]

Yes, If the Dealer managed to get part of the diagnosis right, and #4 cylinder is in peril, then the head is coming off. I was trying to eliminate a less costly avenue first.



I lost the thrust bushing on the compressor end of an SPS62, it was feeding oil through my intercooler, directly to my intake manifold, causing a constant blue haze. I was sick with worry, believing the worst... until oil started dripping out my tailpipe. It was a heck of a mess to clean up (3 days), but I was almost happy when I realized it was the turbo, and not a cylinder(s).

 

[JaredP]

sourced a backup vehicle, so I can get the truck figured out. i was thinking more along the lines of injectors myself but i've gotta get this diagnosed... ... ... . thank you again for the info and i will keep ya'll posted

 

[rscurtis]

Smell the exhaust when it does this. If it burns your eyes, it's fuel related.