MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - puff of smoke when starting

Hi all,
Need some advice my beloved f has started to emit a puff of smoke on start up.( smells oily) it has done 76,000km is this normal or should I start worrying. It does not smoke when you drive or seem to be using oil, please help
Mike D
M L Dippenaar

Mike

Oil smoke on startup reminds me of worn valve guides and/or oil seals.

If it were rings or bore I would expect smoke under accelleration, especially after a throttle lift while driving.
JohnP

What colour is the smoke Mike?

I think that John's absolutely spot on there: I was wondering about the piston rings, but the smoke, as John says, would make an appearance under other driving conditions.
Rob Bell

I concur with the others, smoke on start up, is oil draining pass worn valve guides, Not too worrying, but a sign of old age, as long as the smoke does not appear whilst driving, then no worries, in the "old" days there used to be a rubber 'o' ring on the valve stems to try to prevent this , but I expect the modern engnes, don't bother.
regards to all from KL
Mike
MikeKuala Lumpur)

ditto the above ,i had the same on a van which lasted another 30,000 ,then i had new piton rings fitted,to begin with it only smoked on start up but did on accelaration when more worn. cost me about 100.00 to put right but was on a van.am i right in saying that they all imit a bit of smoke,at start,my van was a unmistakable blue smoke,not white,and smelt of oil. still passed mot test as when warmed up did not fail emiss test,as the oil which pass,s the rings has then been burnt off. no expert but HTH ...MEL..
m e johnson

Hi Rob,
The smoke colour is blue gray and smells like burnt oil I start my car in the garage so its not water vapour. We are having temps in the 30's at the moment so sure its not cold vapour. This is a new occurances as it suddenly started. I had suspected HGF and overheating problem a while back and now suspect that the engine may have being damaged. The car is under extended warranty but I have no faith in the dealers here. They had my car for 3 weeks and could not find the problem. I fixed the problem my self when I took my car in for some new tyres, found a loose hose clamp tighten it and coolant loss disappeard. $4000. dollars wasted at dealers.
Regards Mike D
M L Dippenaar

if it has started sudenly it could be something else,my vechile went down the nick slowly,and lasted for years ,hope you have a good outcome .. mel..
m e johnson

Hi,

<.. rubber 'o' ring on the valve stems to try to prevent this , but I expect the modern engnes, don't bother ..>

The K series engine does have valve seals to prevent oil seepage (as, I guess, most modern engines do), but I would think that these would slowly fail after a very large mileage, not suddenly (but, as usual, I could be wrong).

They can be replaced with the head in position, or so the manual says.

My K series BMW bike used to do this from new, I put that down to oil drainage when it was on its propstand and leaning to the left. I didn't bother to find out where from or to. It never used any oil or caused any other problems.

I should keep running the car and, if no other worrying symptoms arise, live with it. You don't really have a great deal of choice anyway!

Regards, Kes.
Kes

This thread was discussed between 07/12/2004 and 11/12/2004

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGF Technical BBS now