Ok, almost everytime i start up my car i get this extremely nasty smelling dark cloud of smoke that comes out the exhaust. It lasts for maybe 5sec's tops. The problem has been around for a while now. Im thinking it could be a bad fuel pump, but iam not so sure being that our cars have alot of sensors that could be bad as well. Anyone else having this problem and have a possible solution for me?? Daniel B. Martin, what you think??

[Edited by ny96maxse on 01-09-2001 at 10:51 AM]

 

Do you press that gas down at start up?? It looks like the car is starting really rich for some reason. If the cloud is blue, you may have some oil leaking down into the combustion chambers at night. A sign of leaky valve stem seals. What happens when you warm start the car? ie.. after you go to the store or something? No smoke?

If it's black smoke, then it's just rich for some odd reason. Maybe leaky fuel injectors?

 

Stand behind your car and observe the exhaust while an assistant starts the engine.

Blue smoke = burning engine oil.
Possible causes include
- bad engine valve seals
- worn or broken piston rings
- over-filled crankcase

Black smoke = over-rich mixture.
Possible causes include
- sticking fuel injectors
- bad fuel pressure regulator
- obstructed fuel return line
- bad Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (warm starts only)

Your report of symptoms did not mention if this problem is more pronounced with a cold start or warm start. More details are always helpful.

You didn't mention any difficulty in starting the engine. In that case I would not suspect a bad fuel pump.

 

Yes, I agree with Jeff and Daniel. Sounds exactly like a case of too much gas during startup (overrich mixture). One case I read about where a similar thing happened to a Maxima is that the fuel injector nozzle was damaged and letting too much fuel through. That spells bad news as Nissan fuel injectors are hideously expensive.

As for the fuel pressure regulator, it is also a possible cause, in which case it may be ruining all six of your injectors. Oh well, I guess one bad injector is better than all six (which can cost like $1500 to replace).

Good luck.

 

>>>>> BLUE SMOKE <<<<<

The engine turns over right away in the morning, so there is no engine starting problems. Except a noisy starter that iam gonna replace(makes that loud grind noise after engine starts up, there was a post about that last week)

I NEVER touch the gas when i start it up either. The engine only makes this smell/cloud on a cold start. After it has been sitting all night. Once the puff comes out thats it for the day. No odd smoke or nuttin after she is warmed up.

[Edited by ny96maxse on 01-09-2001 at 02:20 PM]

 

Again is the cloud blue or black??

I'm leaning more towards :

Black = leaky fuel injectors or dirty injectors

Blue = worn valve stem seals.

Both are a ***** to repair.

 

>>>> BLUE SMOKE <<<<<

 

The other guys have been spot on for the diagnosis. I had a Gallant with this exact problem while I was in school. As I was destitute getting a valve job and replacing the seals wasn't really an option. (I like to consider myself handy but I don't screw with this stuff) I also had a sticky lifter, but that's another story :>. Thank god that POS (major lemon bought used) is history.

Make sure to check you oil level everytime you fill up the gas! Since you're burning off that oil you run the risk of running low and damaging the engine. I used to carry a few bottles of oil in the trunk of the Gallant for this very reason. Good luck with a fix.

 

Doh! Sorry! Hey about the starter. It starts fine but then grinds after it starts? That means that the gear is sticking. Some here have just taken the starter off and lubed the shaft that the gear rides on(back and forth). If your handy, you might save yourself some bucks and try and fix it yourself. Good luck.

 

well im not too concerned about it. My car runs great (knock on wood!) Ill get concerned when it does this while its running and warmed up. I guess ill just check my oil level moe often. But till then ill enjoy the ride!!

 

Make sure you also keep an eye on your spark plugs because they don,t fire too well after alot of oil starts. Once they start going bad then it will show up by the O2 sensors which will give you a check engine light and so on, and so on. You may be able to isolate which cylinder but it could be a few of them. Any way that,s all I got.