Help! Smoke from engine after oil change? | FerrariChat
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Help! Smoke from engine after oil change?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Perfusion, Feb 10, 2006.

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  1. Perfusion

    Perfusion F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2004
    4,151
    Marietta, GA
    Full Name:
    Aaron
    #1 Perfusion, Feb 10, 2006
    I just got done changing my oil on my GT4. During the process, I spilled a bit (overflowed, actually) from the funnel and down onto the engine/exhuast manifold/etc. I wiped it up as best I could.

    After letting it down off the jacks and starting it up, I'm getting what I'd consider a decent amount of smoke from the engine - is this just the oil burning off?

    If so, that's okay I guess. If not, I don't want to run it longer than I should thinking I'm just burning the new oil off the engine when in reality I'm *royally* f'ing something up within the engine, and the smoke is its way of telling me so.

    Any thoughts or advice is much appreciated. Thanks so much,

    Aaron
     
  2. mondialmerle

    mondialmerle Karting

    Nov 9, 2003
    165
    Egg Harbor Township,NJ
    Full Name:
    Merle Graham
    #2 mondialmerle, Feb 10, 2006
    It sounds like all you need is a can of Gunk Engine Cleaner and a hose . Spray on the cleaner on and hose it off. Good Luck. MBG
     
  3. senna21

    senna21 F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2004
    3,334
    Los Angeles, CA
    Full Name:
    Charles W
    #3 senna21, Feb 10, 2006
    Make sure the engine is cold when you do that! ;) Or, use break cleaner and wipe it down. It'll smoke for a bit. I changed my turbo this past weekend and in the process the old one leaked a good bit of oil on the downpipe/cat-converter. I shot it with some break cleaner to get off the majority of it, put the new one on and LOTS of smoke. Warmed up the engine as I toped up coolant then took it for a good drive. Got it on the highway for about five minutes and when I exited all was fine.

    It'll burn off. You need a lot of oil and a lot of heat to get a good oil fire going if that's what you're worried about. A small coating on your headers isn't going to do it though. But, it’s enough to freak you out! :)
     
  4. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    13,379
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    #4 yelcab, Feb 10, 2006
    Make sure your oil filler cap is on right.
     
  5. Admiral Thrawn

    Admiral Thrawn F1 Rookie

    Jul 2, 2003
    3,932
    #5 Admiral Thrawn, Feb 10, 2006
    Spilt oil on the exhaust manifold does produce alot of smoke and a nasty burning smell.

    I always sprayed lots of BMW brake cleaner and wiped it down with a rag to get rid of spilt oil - works like a charm.
     
  6. VeloceManiac

    VeloceManiac Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2006
    507
    #6 VeloceManiac, Feb 10, 2006
    i wouldnt take a hose to efi engine!
     
  7. BrianC

    BrianC Formula Junior

    Apr 6, 2004
    908
    North Augusta, SC
    Full Name:
    Brian C
    #7 BrianC, Feb 10, 2006
    If your engine is choking down and feels like it wants to shut off when the smoke rolls out, then you have likely over-filled with oil. Don't ask me how I know.
    - Brian
     
  8. mondialmerle

    mondialmerle Karting

    Nov 9, 2003
    165
    Egg Harbor Township,NJ
    Full Name:
    Merle Graham
    #8 mondialmerle, Feb 10, 2006
    I wouldn't hose down the entire engine but I wouldn't be afraid to spray a little water on a exhaust manifold that was not hot and had some engine cleaner on it. I work at a large new car dealership and if you saw how the detail department cleans engine departments you would probally have a heart attack. They do 4 or 5 a day and we have very few problems. MBG
     
  9. VeloceManiac

    VeloceManiac Formula Junior

    Feb 7, 2006
    507
    #9 VeloceManiac, Feb 10, 2006
    Ah damn it, ive cleaned 2 engine bays, one time, water in the dizzy, second time took heaps of precautions, got water in near the spark plugs had to hit it with the compresser to get it out both times.

    did cover all the electricals!
     
  10. Matt Morgan, "Kermit"

    Matt Morgan, "Kermit" Formula Junior

    Nov 12, 2003
    405
    Ferndale, WA
    #10 Matt Morgan, "Kermit", Feb 11, 2006
    Take care not to get engine cleaner on the belts while you are cleaning. Belts do not like the stuff, and it may lead to early failure.
     
  11. Perfusion

    Perfusion F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2004
    4,151
    Marietta, GA
    Full Name:
    Aaron
    #11 Perfusion, Feb 11, 2006
    Thanks for the replies, all... I just went ahead and started 'er up yesterday after the change and let the new oil residue "burn off." After that, I went for a short drive to see if it *was* in fact a problem (which it wasn't), and came home to check things over. When all checked out, I gave myself the greenlight for whatever.

    I put 163 miles on her today driving down to Laguna Seca and back, and not a hiccup from the ol' girl at all! *MAN*, does this car ever love to run... It really settles in well at ~80mph, too, which makes freeway driving a dream.
     

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