I have a little blue smoke on a cold start-up ....
Discussion
Decisions decisions 
, my car has been so reliable for the last two yrs its amazing and just runs like a dream, however just of late I have noticed a bit of blue smoke on start-up and asked Simon to verify the colour of that. So my understandings is that the good side about it is that pistons are lubricated more with the extra drop of oil sitting in there when not in use and obviously the bad thing is the valve guides or something is possibly worn.
The issue is if I get it fixed, will it put pressure on other components that have worn at the same rate and open up a whole can of worms? So instead of just fixing one thing should I go the full way and get everything stripped and rebuilt? I mean at the moment it runs beautiful and got my Lotus mechanic to drive it not so long ago to verify this. The smoke is just a little embarrassing that's all. The other thing my car is never neglected and gets all the right stuff, just don't want to waste my time going in and out of garages to get the work done if you know what I mean.
Your input would be much appreciated.
Kylie
89 Esp Turbo (carbed)
74,000miles
, my car has been so reliable for the last two yrs its amazing and just runs like a dream, however just of late I have noticed a bit of blue smoke on start-up and asked Simon to verify the colour of that. So my understandings is that the good side about it is that pistons are lubricated more with the extra drop of oil sitting in there when not in use and obviously the bad thing is the valve guides or something is possibly worn. The issue is if I get it fixed, will it put pressure on other components that have worn at the same rate and open up a whole can of worms? So instead of just fixing one thing should I go the full way and get everything stripped and rebuilt? I mean at the moment it runs beautiful and got my Lotus mechanic to drive it not so long ago to verify this. The smoke is just a little embarrassing that's all. The other thing my car is never neglected and gets all the right stuff, just don't want to waste my time going in and out of garages to get the work done if you know what I mean.
Your input would be much appreciated.
Kylie
89 Esp Turbo (carbed)
74,000miles
If it's the valve guides, any sense of urgency has more to do with your embarrassment due to the smoke on start-up. The engine isn't going to grenade the next time you start it or run it hard. Enjoy the car until Winter sets in and deal with the engine during the off-season.
If it's the turbo bearing leaking oil, then you might want to get the turbo rebuilt sooner rather than later. You can spend lots of money at a high-tech, tuner turbo shop, or take it to an over the road diesel truck repair shop. Many of them (in the US) are licensed Garrett repair centers and do turbos and wastegates in their sleep. The one in my neighborhood will rebuild an Esprit wastegate and turbo, including installing a center ball bearing, for around US$350.
74,000 miles can be a lot of miles for an Esprit, or not. It depends upon how sanely you drive it. Boring, or close to the limits of it's ability. If you've been kind to it and avoided track days and such, there's really no reason to assume off hand that it needs anything more than a valve job... not cheap, but not a big deal. In the US, I'd budget about US$1500 to do the head (guides, seats, lap the existing valves) if I removed it and delivered it to a shop. If you're planning to have your mechanic do the entire job, beginning to end... add labor to R&R.
If you ride the car hard, then maybe it's time to go for a full rebuild. I have no idea what to tell you from here. But there are signs you can look for.
If the oil pressure is significantly lower when hot than it once was, then there's reason to think the bearings are worn.
Have your mechanic do a compression and leak-down tests. That should give a better indication of how worn the rings and valves are.
Your mechanic should be able to make some judgement as to how wise it is to proceed with a full rebuild, or to just attack the cylinder head.
You just have to decide if you trust him not to stick it to you, or if you fear he's more interested in sucking a big job into his shop. If in doubt, get a second opinion. Go to a petrol station/ tune-up center, or a small shop not capable of doing the rebuild. Someone capable of doing the diagnostics, but not in a position to take on the work. They have nothing to gain and will probably give a fair appraisal of the engine's condition.
Regards and Good Luck,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North,
Minnesota, USA
If it's the turbo bearing leaking oil, then you might want to get the turbo rebuilt sooner rather than later. You can spend lots of money at a high-tech, tuner turbo shop, or take it to an over the road diesel truck repair shop. Many of them (in the US) are licensed Garrett repair centers and do turbos and wastegates in their sleep. The one in my neighborhood will rebuild an Esprit wastegate and turbo, including installing a center ball bearing, for around US$350.
74,000 miles can be a lot of miles for an Esprit, or not. It depends upon how sanely you drive it. Boring, or close to the limits of it's ability. If you've been kind to it and avoided track days and such, there's really no reason to assume off hand that it needs anything more than a valve job... not cheap, but not a big deal. In the US, I'd budget about US$1500 to do the head (guides, seats, lap the existing valves) if I removed it and delivered it to a shop. If you're planning to have your mechanic do the entire job, beginning to end... add labor to R&R.
If you ride the car hard, then maybe it's time to go for a full rebuild. I have no idea what to tell you from here. But there are signs you can look for.
If the oil pressure is significantly lower when hot than it once was, then there's reason to think the bearings are worn.
Have your mechanic do a compression and leak-down tests. That should give a better indication of how worn the rings and valves are.
Your mechanic should be able to make some judgement as to how wise it is to proceed with a full rebuild, or to just attack the cylinder head.
You just have to decide if you trust him not to stick it to you, or if you fear he's more interested in sucking a big job into his shop. If in doubt, get a second opinion. Go to a petrol station/ tune-up center, or a small shop not capable of doing the rebuild. Someone capable of doing the diagnostics, but not in a position to take on the work. They have nothing to gain and will probably give a fair appraisal of the engine's condition.
Regards and Good Luck,
Tim Engel
Lotus Owners Oftha North,
Minnesota, USA
Kylie, have you had an oil change lately? I mean, not to say it needs it, but maybe a wrong weight oil has been used. I only say this b/c one time (stupid of me I know) I used some Z-Max oil additive. Car started smoking, just a puff on start up & just a puff when shifting (blue). I could tell wasn't anything serious, b/c car ran great; like you--embarrasing. Drained my oil and returned to 20W50 full synth., no additives--no problems since. I believe the Z-max slightly diluted the weight/thickness of the oil allowing some seepage to be burned off. Long shot, but consider this before a mechanic.
Thanks Tim, I will drop it off to the mechanic to sort it sooner than later to check everything as you have mentioned, esp the turbo as well. I do around 3 track days a year. These are only sprints, not full blown racing all day. Otherwise its just a weekend cruiser.
Thanks heaps,
Kylie
Thanks heaps,
Kylie
judgea said:
Kylie, have you had an oil change lately? I mean, not to say it needs it, but maybe a wrong weight oil has been used. I only say this b/c one time (stupid of me I know) I used some Z-Max oil additive. Car started smoking, just a puff on start up & just a puff when shifting (blue). I could tell wasn't anything serious, b/c car ran great; like you--embarrasing. Drained my oil and returned to 20W50 full synth., no additives--no problems since. I believe the Z-max slightly diluted the weight/thickness of the oil allowing some seepage to be burned off. Long shot, but consider this before a mechanic.
Hi did one <500km ago and yes been through that problem too. I went to a 5W/40 thinking I would treat the car, but I was quite wrong after too many puffs of smoke out the back, so I changed back to 20W/50 grade. Problem went away for a while now a new one.
Hey, take a minute or two and rule out the turbo. If it is leaking, it will tend to do so just before "spool up" as the oil is suddenly under more pressure. Very easy to remove and correct. Not sure about NZ, but there is a great place in Dallas TX that will rebuild the entire thing for less than $300 USD. A Turbo leak does not have to be much more than a little drip to cause a puff of blue smoke...(been there done that)
If you pull the intake pipe off the turbo, feel around with your finger for the compressor fan nut and give it jiggle. If it moves at all... time for new turbo bearings. If it moves, it will be leaking out the exahust side.
Hope it is not too serious!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
If you pull the intake pipe off the turbo, feel around with your finger for the compressor fan nut and give it jiggle. If it moves at all... time for new turbo bearings. If it moves, it will be leaking out the exahust side.
Hope it is not too serious!
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
Gassing Station | Esprit | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff