Cloud of smoke from engine!!!!! ('03 TL)

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Gabriel Afana - 23 Nov 2003 11:29 GMT

Hi,
I just had my 2003 TL serviced the other day (the 30k mile service
package). After picking my car up from the dealer, I took a trip to
another town for a meeting. After driving for about 45 minutes or so...I
was getting off on the offramp when a huge cloud of white smoke came out of
my engine. I was already at my destination...so I went to my meeting and
about 2 hours later, called a tow truck to tow my car (I had no idea what it
could be). Tow truck guy checks my oil and says there is no engine oil in
there ?? When it got to the dealer, they said it was a mistake on their
part (an oversight) that they overfilled the transmission fluid. They said
this had nothing to do with the engine oil...but that the transmission fluid
was over filled and all the smoke was the excess burning off on the hot
engine.

Does this make sense?? Think the dealer is feeding me some crap?

Anybody think any damage to engine or tranny was possible?

What about the engine oil....think acura is lying about the engine oil or
think the tow-truck guy was doped up on drugs??

Gabe

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NomoreRGS - 23 Nov 2003 12:54 GMT

I think if the engine had no oil in it, it would show a few have a
signs of it. It would be louder, run hotter and most likely not be
able to run for 45 minutes at speed.

I would try to get a signed statement from the tow truck guy if you
can. Also his qualifications in the statement might also help. If
you ever have an internal engine problem it would help you.
If ant further problem arise under warranty Acura might try to get out
covering it due to "You did not put oil in after an oil change". If
out of warranty you may have a good case with them as it surely did
damage.

Good luck, hope the tow truck guy was wrong.

>Hi,
> I just had my 2003 TL serviced the other day (the 30k mile service
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
>Gabe

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JXStern - 24 Nov 2003 01:01 GMT

>Does this make sense?? Think the dealer is feeding me some crap?

No lights on the dash?

Most likely, cloud of smoke is from oil spilling ONTO the engine,
rather than out of it. I'm not sure of the geography of the tranny,
but maybe if it spilled fluid onto the exhaust, you'd get that smoke.

Odds are the dealer is telling something like the truth, IMHO.

Luckily, I'm guessing you still have a year or two left on the
warranty, time enough for it to get worse and get fixed, if it's going
to go through that.

J.

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The Other One - 24 Nov 2003 02:04 GMT

>Hi,
> I just had my 2003 TL serviced the other day (the 30k mile service
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
>Does this make sense?? Think the dealer is feeding me some crap?

Transmission fluid does make white smoke. Engine oil makes a darker
bluish gray smoke.

>Anybody think any damage to engine or tranny was possible?

Read below.

>What about the engine oil....think acura is lying about the engine oil or
>think the tow-truck guy was doped up on drugs??

I think the dealer is lying. My brother had the same problem with a
Saab. He brought it to the dealer for an oil change and at some point
later on it appeared that there was no oil in the crankcase.

It turned out that the grease monkey at the dealer had only hand
tightened the drain plug. The oil leaked out over a period of time.

This is probably what happened to you. Either that or the oil filter
wasn't tightened. There is no way you drove an almost new car for
forty five minutes without any oil at all. That's why I believe it
was probably a gradual leak.

Keep in mind that even when it is too low to register on the dipstick
there can still be some oil in the crankcase. Your engine was
probably not running totally dry. There may not be any damage to the
engine. Just a terrible loss of peace of mind regarding your almost
brand-new TL. I believe you are due some compensation in the way of
free service for the lifetime of the car, or a hefty discount on a new
one.

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Tera Baap - 24 Nov 2003 17:20 GMT

> >Hi,
> > I just had my 2003 TL serviced the other day (the 30k mile service
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> Transmission fluid does make white smoke. Engine oil makes a darker
> bluish gray smoke.

Coolant, perhaps?

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The Other One - 24 Nov 2003 19:00 GMT

>> >Hi,
>> > I just had my 2003 TL serviced the other day (the 30k mile service
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
>Coolant, perhaps?

Yeah, but with coolant it is usually obviously steamy and has that
antifreeze smell.

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Tom Waugh - 27 Nov 2003 18:57 GMT

> Hi,
> I just had my 2003 TL serviced the other day (the 30k mile service
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> Gabe

You should always check the car out before you leave the dealer. Check the
oil level -- and in general around the engine compartment and underneath the
car. Then you have recourse.

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