Slight puff of smoke

[chimi500]

Noticed the last few times since my car was serviced that theres a slight puff of smoke when you start the car, my dads been following me around and there is no more smoke after start up, was maybe thinking it could be running a bit rich as my carbon cans are very black around the ends.
proberly a good time to buy that warrenty!!

any ideas? thanx

[Mats]

I wouldn't worry. Just enjoy it. If it rattles on the top or sounds like a bag of spanners, or has a lumpy idle take it back and get it checked. Otherwise dont worry about it... Mines at the dealer now with a top end rattle and possible impending rebuild. Do I care, heck no disappointed maybe but I've got my first kid on the way so that should keep me amused while my P&J is off the road for a little bit. Happy Driving, At least yours works

[CiderwithCerbie]

I'm sorry chimi500, that's the valve guides going at least. Yes you can still drive it until it goes BANG, but oil consumption will increase and swarf may damage other engine parts. Rebuild after a true BANG will be big dosh or new engine (difficult to come by apparently).

You must get someone reputable to look at it.
Any warranty?

[chimi500]

CiderwithCerbie said:

I'm sorry chimi500, that's the valve guides going at least. Yes you can still drive it until it goes BANG, but oil consumption will increase and swarf may damage other engine parts. Rebuild after a true BANG will be big dosh or new engine (difficult to come by apparently). You must get someone reputable to look at it. Any warranty?

No got no warranty at the moment, the years one from the dealer has just expired, u'd think that they would have noticed something like this at its service. The engine still feels as strong as it always has and it isn't using any oil as of yet anyway
Is this the full £5000 rebuild on the way then?

[GreenV8S]

chimi500 said:

Noticed the last few times since my car was serviced that theres a slight puff of smoke when you start the car

How much smoke, and what colour?

[J_S_G]

Could just be water collecting in the cans then evaporating.

But, it could also be the valve guides. How many miles is your car up to? If it's heading towards 20,000+ and it's oil-coloured smoke then yeah - this could get costly. See if you can get someone to check behind you as you're pulling away from traffic lights/standing still with the engine already running for a while; if you've got burnt out valve guides, you'll probably get some smoke then. You've got until you're up to 1 litre of oil per 500 miles or so before it starts getting REALLY close to needing a rebuild. It'll start chewing through spark-plugs, etc. at that point as the oil escapes.

Again, could just be condensation, tho...

[chimi500]

Just a slight bluey black sort of smoke, none when setting off from lights etc just on the first turn of the key. could it be the straight through carbon can co pipes i fitted just before its service?

my car has done 13500 miles. i bought it at 8000, i dont know if it was rebuilt before that

thanx

>> Edited by chimi500 on Sunday 21st August 18:09

[CiderwithCerbie]

chimi500 said:

Just a slight bluey black sort of smoke, none when setting off from lights etc just on the first turn of the key. could it be the straight through carbon can co pipes i fitted just before its service? my car has done 13500 miles. i bought it at 8000, i dont know if it was rebuilt before that thanx >> Edited by chimi500 on Sunday 21st August 18:09

Does not sound good I'm afraid - that's the oil smoke colour. Early evidence of rebuild needed soon. Same milage as my Tuscan went pop.

[chimi500]

Thanx for the replys guys, looks like it's the dredded rebuild then
Whats the best route for this now, the dealer that i bought the car from is no longer a dealer. should i have it trailerd down to tvrpower, shame i only live 20 miles from the factory but they dont want to know anymore. do they?

[GreenV8S]

Does sound like oil smoke, most likely from worn valve guides. This may be a symptom of general top end wear and may be a clue that trouble is on the way, but in itself it isn't particularly serious - OK to keep driving the car IMO but plan to have an expert look at it before too long to see whether you really do have a problem.

[J_S_G]

Mine needed the valve guides doing about 13-15,000 miles after its previous rebuild (was on about 22k when I finally admitted defeat and took it in). Was still totally driveable, mind. If you want to keep it long-term, I'd suggest getting a slot booked in at TVR Power/TVR Craft, and driving it in the meantime. Alternative is pass it on to a dealer/indy...

Would check to make sure it IS definitely burning lots of oil before fearing the worst, though - keep a record of how much you're having to pour in (and switch to something a bit thicker like 15/50 to prolong the engine's life).

Hope that helps...

[slick rick]

Sounds just like mine

The amount of oil it seems to use does seem very variable though, and i only rarely get puffs of smoke. Have started topping up with 15W 50 as you sugggest JSG.

I guess my options are drive down to my dealer soonish, or as i was (by some lucky coincidence) planning on driving past TVR power (from London) in a few weeks booking it in there.

Does anyone think i am going to see signicant differnces in cost / time for work between the dealer vs driving straight to the workshop route, and whether its worth the slight extra risk of driving another 200 miles now i know there are problems?

(2001 Tuscan, rebuilt 2002, now on around 21k miles, and done about 1000 since i noticed the first smoke.)

Cheers

Rick

[J_S_G]

If it just needs the valve guides doing, keep driving it and throwing oil at it as long as you like. Eventually you'll get sick of pouring oil in, and it'll start lunching spark plugs. Then you're out of options. Think I put over 1500 miles on mine after I'd got it booked in for a rebuild before handing the keys over - just cost me about £40 in oil. (And I knew it needed a rebuild well before then)

Would go straight to Power if possible - their hourly rates are generally much lower than most dealers (guessing the dealer'll just charge you transport costs/labour for taking engine out on top of rebuild at Power costs). Might be able to arrange getting a full service done whilst it's in there, too, saving another chunk of cash.