TDCI blue smoke

[Hellboy80]

Hi all

 

Car is 2006 Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Zetec on 90k miles.

 

I have noticed recently on the first start up of the day I get a puff of blue smoke smells like burning to and has a rough idle for no more then 10 seconds. I started to have a look online and saw a few people having the same issue. Got some people saying they had it for a while and seems to be normal and some saying its the stem valves that need changing.

I got a feeling its the stem valves though as my oil level has dropped. I only had the car since October 2016 and it was full when I got it. It was just above empty when I checked this morning so I am sure this is excessive use. Done about 2.5k in that time.

Would like to point out once the blue smoke happens its fine. Drives fine, pulls away fine, MPG is fine, can't see any other smoke other then when I gun it and can only really see that in car headlights at night.

1. Is it ok to use the car still until I get it sorted. No car means no job for me as its a 25 mile drive sometimes at 4am?

2. What sort of cost is it to replace the valves. I understand the head has to come off so what am I looking at in total?

3. Is there anyway to test what the issue is without taking the engine apart just in case its not the valves?

4. Anyone have the same symptoms and what was the issue/solutions?

 

Many thanks

 

 

 

[FatHead1979]

My MK2 1.8 TDCI had a similar issue and it was due to the glow plugs being 9 years old and rather dead.  However I don't think I had the excessive oil consumption.

[Hellboy80]

I have filled it up today as this is the first time I noticed the oil level. I Will check it again on Friday should end up doing 300 miles or so by then so will have a nose.

[Gizza11]

If it is your  rubber valve stem oil seals then the parts for each valve is quite cheep on there own. Some garages can change these without taking the head off (they use a special tool)because of the blue smoke you are right its probably valve stem oil  seals But it also could be the valve guides and hopefully not, the piston oil rings but this would be more likely on a high miler I would think. The valve guides would require a specialist to change them not a difficult job but a head off one. Rings a engine strip down etc. With a bit of luck it will be just the seals they do perish over time on any car. Don't worry about using the car it won't hurt it until you get it fixed just  blue smoke a bit on startup.

[Gizza11]

Forgot to say its very unlikely to be the actual valves themselves from what you describe .When you look at the seals if they are rock hard/brittle and not like good rubber then they have had it

[Hellboy80]

Its just a worry if the oil drops. Got to go to Manchester this weekend. I just hope it isnt ***** out

[Albert27]

2 hours ago, Hellboy80 said:

Hi all

 

Car is 2006 Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Zetec on 90k miles.

 

I have noticed recently on the first start up of the day I get a puff of blue smoke smells like burning to and has a rough idle for no more then 10 seconds. I started to have a look online and saw a few people having the same issue. Got some people saying they had it for a while and seems to be normal and some saying its the stem valves that need changing.

I got a feeling its the stem valves though as my oil level has dropped. I only had the car since October 2016 and it was full when I got it. It was just above empty when I checked this morning so I am sure this is excessive use. Done about 2.5k in that time.

Would like to point out once the blue smoke happens its fine. Drives fine, pulls away fine, MPG is fine, can't see any other smoke other then when I gun it and can only really see that in car headlights at night.

1. Is it ok to use the car still until I get it sorted. No car means no job for me as its a 25 mile drive sometimes at 4am?

2. What sort of cost is it to replace the valves. I understand the head has to come off so what am I looking at in total?

3. Is there anyway to test what the issue is without taking the engine apart just in case its not the valves?

4. Anyone have the same symptoms and what was the issue/solutions?

 

Many thanks

 

 

 

Have a very similar problem on my 1.6 tdci. Been like it for 9 months.  Blue smoke on cold start and rough idle for 15 seconds then everything is fine.  I did post a thread on here about a month ago had some good advice - be worth you reading but to summarise: I think someone said blue smoke can mean you're burning oil or diesel.  Leaky Turbo seals, leaky injectors, leaky valve seals could also be culprits or a clogged DPF filter (mine doesn't have that so it wasn't a problem for me).  Someone suggested to have a look round the injector seals to see if there's any carbon build up. Changing the fuel filter was suggested as well but that made no difference to my problem but it can't hurt to do.  All I can say is I've been driving it for ages like this and had no problems but I haven't been losing any oil which is what's slightly different between your symptoms and mine.