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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / January 2008

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2000 Expedition smokes at startup

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jimboc - 08 Jan 2008 06:30 GMT
Symptoms:
The classic symptom of bad valve stem seals is, if when starting the car,
after it has set for a little while (say over night), clouds of smoke appear
from the exhaust and then stops after a few seconds. What happens is, while
the car is setting, oil leaks down the valve stem past the seal and
accumulates in the cylinder chamber. When you start the car, that oil is
burned off out the exhaust pipe.

Bluish/White Smoke from tailpipe at startup.

What should in a case like this?
david - 08 Jan 2008 10:00 GMT
> Symptoms:
> The classic symptom of bad valve stem seals is, if when starting the
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> What should in a case like this?

I think you answered your own question.
Jeff Strickland - 09 Jan 2008 02:30 GMT
SMOKE or STEAM?

If the latter, I suggest there is no problem at all.

> Symptoms:
> The classic symptom of bad valve stem seals is, if when starting the car,
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> What should in a case like this?
jimboc - 09 Jan 2008 02:40 GMT
Sorry, What should I DO in a case like this?

THESE ARE MY Symptoms:
Bluish/White Smoke from tailpipe at startup.

"bad valve stem seals" Symptom  Definition:
The classic symptom of bad valve stem seals is, if when starting the car,
after it has set for a little while (say over night), clouds of smoke appear
from the exhaust and then stops after a few seconds. What happens is, while
the car is setting, oil leaks down the valve stem past the seal and
accumulates in the cylinder chamber. When you start the car, that oil is
burned off out the exhaust pipe.
Whitelightning - 09 Jan 2008 12:17 GMT
> Sorry, What should I DO in a case like this?
>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> accumulates in the cylinder chamber. When you start the car, that oil is
> burned off out the exhaust pipe.

Have the valve seals replaced after making sure the valve guides are ok.

Whitelightning
jimboc - 09 Jan 2008 19:12 GMT
Thanks!

If you would like to read the Back-Story, that resulted in my Post in this
Forum, follow the two links below.

obd-codes.com/forums/Car Repair Forums - 00' Expedition Smoking:
http://www.obd-codes.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3112&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

AutomotiveForums.com > Ford > Expedition - 2000 Ford Expedition:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=879503
jimboc - 09 Jan 2008 19:15 GMT
How would i determine that the Valve Guides are OK?
Whitelightning - 10 Jan 2008 03:03 GMT
> How would i determine that the Valve Guides are OK?

You cant with out the right measuring devices and jigs, but any decent
machine shop can

Whitelightning
jimboc - 10 Jan 2008 04:02 GMT
What do you think about Jeff's thoughts?

Jeff Compton writes:
of "OBD-Codes", "Car Repair Forums":    00' Expedition Smoking
http://www.obd-codes.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3112&postdays=0&postorder=asc&st
art=15


    if the valve moves laterally too much within the guide, it's mostly a feel
thing. Im skeptical that the seals are dried out? I'd be still looking
towards a "pcv valve" issue or a "vaccum leak" from the intake gasket, spark
plug tube seals etc, I mean if it's regularly maintained then it's either a
common defect, and the dealer could confirm if that's the case, or it's not
the seals and guides!
david - 10 Jan 2008 11:20 GMT
> Thanks!
>
> If you would like to read the Back-Story, that resulted in my Post in
> this Forum, follow the two links below.

No thanks.  This is Usenet, not some lame web forum that simply copies
Usenet traffic because they wouldn't have any postings otherwise.
jimboc - 10 Jan 2008 16:52 GMT
Forums are not my concern, doing the right thing regarding my car is!
Jeff Strickland - 10 Jan 2008 18:21 GMT
You seem convinced you have bad valve seals, if you are correct, you need to
replace them.

If you have bad valve seals, you should notice oil consumption over time.

White smoke at start up is really steam, and is normal.
jimboc - 10 Jan 2008 19:01 GMT
i just spoke with the actual technician how will keep the car overnight
sometime next week and do what he can to diagnose my problem.
During our conversation he these cars don't have Valve Stem Seal problems,
that the PCV Valves never go bad and if there was a hole in the Head Gasket
he would have noticed it last week when he had 20 lbs. of pressure on the
cooling system for 8 hours.
so i think leaving it with him overnight, with my figures crossed, is the
next step to take.
let you know what happens late next week.

thanks for your help!
Jeff Strickland - 10 Jan 2008 20:08 GMT
>i just spoke with the actual technician how will keep the car overnight
> sometime next week and do what he can to diagnose my problem.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> thanks for your help!

You just brought is back to STEAM on start-up.

Have you ever noticed steam/smoke coming from the tail pipe of cars pulling
out of a neighborhood in the morning as you drive past on the artery
street/road? This is normal, and by your first post, I think this is what is
coming from your Expedition.

Your Expedition has either the 4.6L or the 5.4L motor, and according to the
data I have are the same motor with different stroke. (the diameter of the
bore is the same, so the difference in displacement has to come from
stroke.) I am new to this power plant, and I've not heard that there is any
problem associated with valve seals. Your mechanic appears to hold the same
knowledge.
jimboc - 11 Jan 2008 02:12 GMT
this is encouraging!
C. E. White - 11 Jan 2008 12:33 GMT
>>i just spoke with the actual technician how will keep the car
>>overnight
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> heard that there is any problem associated with valve seals. Your
> mechanic appears to hold the same knowledge.

The 5.4L has a different block with more deck height and a longer
stroke. Heads are interchangeable with the 4.6L. Basic engine layout
is the same. Unfortunately I have heard more than one complaint of
blue smoke at start-up. If you want the opinion of a lot of Expedition
owners, I'd suggest that you join the Expedition Owner's Mailing List
(see http://mail.xpog.com/mailman/listinfo/expedition ). I no longer
own an Expedition, but in the past I have owned two, a 1997 (149,000
miles) and a 2003 (100,000 miles). I never had any problems with oil
smoke, but the 1997 did consume a slight amount of oil (a quart or so
per 4000 miles).

One thing to consider - In the old days, blue, or blue-gray smoke at
start-up, that went away in minute or two, was always considered an
indicator of leaky valve stem seals. But today, because of catalytic
converters, almost anything that will cause slight oil smoking will
exhibit the same characteristics (i.e., it stops shortly after the
engine is started). Once the catalytic converter is warmed up, it will
"eat" any slight oil smoke. So it is possible that the cause is
completely unrelated to the valve seals and that the slight blue smoke
goes away after the engine runs briefly because the catalytic
converter has started working.

I had a friend who had a 4.6L Expedition that had the slight amount of
blue smoke at startup and the dealer never could fix it. The did
everything short of replacing the engine - which they probably should
have done. My friend is driving a GMC SUV now.

I'd suggest that the OP monitor his oil usage carefully. I also think
the comment that PCV valves never go bad is bogus. If they never go
bad, why does Ford replace them for free at 60,000 miles (read your
warranty). My 1997 was particularly bad about coating the throttle
bore with oil gunky residue. That stuff was not coming into the engine
through the air filter - it was coming in via the PCV system. It is
the same stuff that gums up IAC valves. I wonder if you disconnected
the PCV feed to the intake manifold what would happen to the smoke.

Ed
 
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