Smoking kills - and so does my car on start up

[Guest]

Can anyone offer advice please. My car has done 109K miles, and from all history has not had a top-end rebuild to date. The pre-purchase inspection included a cylinder leekage test -3k miles ago- and nothing untoward was discovered. I had a 12k full service done about 2 months ago an again nothing reported.

1)I've noticed a plume of blue smoke on start-up from cold - car is not used daily - which disappears almost straight away and reverts to water vapour. After this you don't see it again. Should I be worried?

2)It has recently developed a slight backfire from within the exhaust- hot or cold - usually on overun when revved up from idle, or when changing down whilst on the move - any ideas as to the cause, and how this can cured?

 

[Guest]

The smoke on startup is nothing to worry about, its a symptom of the flat six where small amounts of oil can pool in the pistons when its sat for a while. They then get burnt off when you startup. As long as this is the only time it does it it certainatly is no indication of any mechanical problem.

Are you sure its backfiring ie a definate <BANG>. Burbling sounds on decelration are common. Can't really comment with any authority on causes of backfire, there's quite a list of possibles...

Too rich due to...
Vacuum leak - check all hoses around engine are secured and free of stress or cracks
After market chip programmed to rich - has it been changed recently?
Leaky injectors
Condition of exhaust/presilencer and silencer - any holes, any changes made?
Idle Switch not activating - duff switch badly adjusted throttle linkage

Who was it serviced by? Dealer, Specialist or Joe Bloggs Motors?

Maybe someone else can help?

Cheers

Andy

 

[Alan_Armstrong]

Agree with all Andy says, plus with regard to vacuum pipes, there are some that run from
the fuel cut off valve/return....should be investigated by someone in the know and with Bosch injection tuning machine/gizmo!

 

[Guest]

Steve

Mine does the same now after having a full sevice prior to the winter. Once warm it is fine and the friend of mine who services it says there is nothing untoward. Presume you are not using all the time.

Tim Knight
86 3.2 Cabriolet