Smoke on start-up?

[PltwhtSHO10]

Hey everyone,
So my SHO has been sitting all winter, and two weeks ago I started her up so I can pull the car out for a detail. After the detail, it sat for two weeks. Since the weather has been nice, I decided to take the SHO, and when I started it, I noticed a small puff of blackish / blue...couldn't get an accurate look of the color due to the sun...came out. When I smelled it, it really did not smell like oil, but rather raw fuel and such.

Has anyone experienced this? Thoughts?

Comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[sleeping_beauty]

Did you use any sort of "gas perservative." I'd bet my money on old gas and when you started it up the first time, you "finished" running old gas through the lines. And the second time (after the detail) was the result.

 

[Showgun]

Sounds like you just started it and moved it into a better position to detail it????
If so, it probably would have been much better all round if you'd started it up and let it at least warm for 10 minutes (off idle -- I rev mine to about 1500rpm).
This would have given the oil a chance to warm and lubricate vital parts somewhat and to dry out the exhaust properly.
It's a good practice also to change the oil and filter after storage for an extended time. Stale oil will degrade and pick up moisture over time.

You're probably fine but do an Oil/C + filter and then do an oil consumption check over 1k miles to make sure you're not using any.

Some of the smoke you noticed could also have been a result of a normal rich mixture at cold startup tho it would be grey/black not blue.

 

[PltwhtSHO10]

Sounds like you just started it and moved it into a better position to detail it????
If so, it probably would have been much better all round if you'd started it up and let it at least warm for 10 minutes (off idle -- I rev mine to about 1500rpm).
This would have given the oil a chance to warm and lubricate vital parts somewhat and to dry out the exhaust properly.
It's a good practice also to change the oil and filter after storage for an extended time. Stale oil will degrade and pick up moisture over time.

You're probably fine but do an Oil/C + filter and then do an oil consumption check over 1k miles to make sure you're not using any.

Some of the smoke you noticed could also have been a result of a normal rich mixture at cold startup tho it would be grey/black not blue.

No, I let the car warm up to full temperature and took it around the subdivision. I store my Mustang Cobra over winter as well, and when my cars don't even run for a couple of days, when I start them, I always let them run for some time to ensure they warm up...never just get in and go.
As for the smoke, it looked black, but with the sun shining and the blue sky, the angle might have altered the color. It also didn't smell like oil.

Thanks for the post, I appreciate it!

 

[wchain]

This is normal for all duratec engines.

If you dont start them for a while or start them to move them (run for a few mins only), the next time they're started, they will smoke.

 

[Showgun]

No, I let the car warm up to full temperature and took it around the subdivision. I store my Mustang Cobra over winter as well, and when my cars don't even run for a couple of days, when I start them, I always let them run for some time to ensure they warm up...never just get in and go.
As for the smoke, it looked black, but with the sun shining and the blue sky, the angle might have altered the color. It also didn't smell like oil.

Thanks for the post, I appreciate it!

Glad to hear that about warmups and even a little driving -- It really helps as you know.
I think wchain is correct about the minor smoke. I've had that on a few cars in recent years and attribute it to slight oil leakdown and to very thin oils.
I doubt there would be enough to smell anyway. You'd more likely smell gasoline residue from the normal rich startup/warmup.

It wouldn't hurt tho to do a check on oil consumption just to be sure.
I make a habit of doing that on all my cars.

Love your choice of cars. Anyone with a Cobra gets instant respect in my book.

Cheers,
Colin

 

[PltwhtSHO10]

Glad to hear that about warmups and even a little driving -- It really helps as you know.
I think wchain is correct about the minor smoke. I've had that on a few cars in recent years and attribute it to slight oil leakdown and to very thin oils.
I doubt there would be enough to smell anyway. You'd more likely smell gasoline residue from the normal rich startup/warmup.

It wouldn't hurt tho to do a check on oil consumption just to be sure.
I make a habit of doing that on all my cars.

Love your choice of cars. Anyone with a Cobra gets instant respect in my book.

Cheers,
Colin

Thanks, I'm itching to get my Cobra to the track, and car shows!

Take care, cheers!

 

[PltwhtSHO10]

This is normal for all duratec engines.

If you dont start them for a while or start them to move them (run for a few mins only), the next time they're started, they will smoke.

Thank you for the post. Helps me out!