My 98 max is smoking when I start it up. It has a funny smell, almost like a very slight burning rubber smell, coming from the exhaust pipe. There is also a little bit of blue in it. My local Nissan dealership did the double hot oil flush, and replaced the pcv etc. The mechanic said it could possibly be the rings, but is leaning more towards it being the valve seals, since it doesn't emit blue smoke once it has started up (unless I boot it). In the morning when it is cold, it smokes, and then if I start it up after it has sat for a couple of hours, it smokes, but it only lasts for about 5-8 seconds. Has anybody else had leaky valve seals? or does anybody have any other suggestions. Would going up to the next grade of oil help, say a 10w-30. Thanks

 

Take your car out on the road and have a friend follow you. Drive around through all RPM ranges. If its oil rings, the smoke will tend to go away as the engine warms up and smoke will generally only be seen as puffs of smoke as you shift in high rpms. If your valve seals are leaking, you will pretty much have smoke all the time because the parts don't warm up and expand in the same way as the rings do on the pistons. I've replaced valve seals on a Chevy V-8 and a Kawasaki KZ650. I also had a Sentra that had oil ring problems, and I would see puffs of smoke whenever I shift or race the engine up high under load.

 

i was watching a video of my max at the dragway, and i was shifting at high rpms and saw a grey puff of smoke pop out of the car. what do the colors mean? anyways, didnt see it but that one time, but i wondered if something was up with my max as well.

 

Black/grey = excess fueling

Blue = is usually caused by oil, oil leaking into the combustion chamber or extremely worn engine/ blocked breathers / valve guides

White/Light grey = water vapour, could be blown/leaking head gasket or just engine running cold, blowing off water in exhaust system