nissan murano blowing smoke on start-up

[salty87]

03 (i think) murano is blowing a cloud of smoke in the morning. shop said it was just water. it does the same after work just not as bad.

what's the deal? it's not low on coolant. i don't see other cars doing the same...

thanks

 

[dolluper]

Re: nissan murano blowing smoke on start-up

If it's diffently blue in colour than you have....bad valve seals or valve guides ...but also possible the oil drains are plugged not allowing the oil to drain from heads to pan......also check that your PCV is working right

 

[NoKlu]

Re: nissan murano blowing smoke on start-up

Water "smoke" is white and dissipates very quickly. If there is a bluish grey tinge and hangs around for a while it's oil. Could be a small water leak in the head gasket. Oil will sometimes leak past the valve seals and give a puff of smoke after the car has sat for a while. The longer it sits the more oil leaks in to the cylinder and the more smoke you get till it burns off. The only way to cure the problem is to change the head gasket for the water or replace the valve seals for the oil. Has happened to me a few times. Each time I just rebuilt the heads and put in new gaskets. In these newer engines there might be something else doing it I am not aware of but this has worked for me on the older stuff. Either way you got a problem that will only get worse if you leave it. A leakdown test might tell you more. Also check the plugs for oil.I wouldn't accept the answer "it's just water" from the mechanic,find out why.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: nissan murano blowing smoke on start-up

That's no big deal. That's a little bit of an oil leak on top the cylinders. A few drops of oil can make smoke. Don't worry about it. My uncle's 1990 Chevy pickup has about 40000 miles and has smoked every time he started it since about 1993.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: nissan murano blowing smoke on start-up

How far do you drive to work?

How cold is it?

Are you using oil?

My BMW Mini did the same thing.

Dealer said it was normal, but no one else's did it, and I was using a liter of oil a week (it wasn't leaking). They said it was all in the "tolerance of normal" for a newer BMW.

They said it wasn't oil, it was condensation, I know the difference. I didn't think so, and after the many other problems started to add up , I got rid of it.

 

[salty87]

Re: nissan murano blowing smoke on start-up

drive is about 15 mi to work

it's been in the 40's here in the morning but it will smoke when it's warmer too.

it's not losing any noticeable oil.

def white smoke, burns off quick. blows away quick, doesn't hang around.

gonna take it back in i guess.

 

[Wotknot]

Re: nissan murano blowing smoke on start-up

Gotta be from that distinct orange coating due to the area you live in.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: nissan murano blowing smoke on start-up

Well the 15min drive to work is not much, but I would think it would be enough to prevent any accumulated moisture build up in the exhaust system. If it is also doing it in hotter temperatures, I would also be wondering.

I won't do any speculating as to the cause, because thats just what it would be. Speculation. Get the dealer to run through their test, as NoKlu mentioned, there is so much that can cause something like this on a modern computer controlled engine, even they probably can't tell you what it is that is causing it without diagnostic equipment. It could be something a small as a $5 sensor, or maybe a blown gasket.

My Nissan Silvia (200SX state side) did this also but it was always a reoccurring turbo/intercooler, head gasket problem. I don't think it would be a problem connected to your engine.