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Blue smoke

Tiny
SHAINA.MARIE
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE
  • 13,800 MILES
I have a 2003 Mazda Protege 5. Every time I start it up after about 6-8 hours, blue smoke comes out the exhaust. It burns through about 2 quarts of oil a week. We have replaced the PCV valve twice, put on a whole new head with all new valve seals and everything, new spark plugs, new head gasket, and checked the compression of piston rings. Compression is fine. We found that oil was in the PCV valve and draining into the intake manifold. Took out spark plugs and took a flashlight to look down the cylinders. There is a pool of oil on top the pistons in each of the 4 cylinders. Please help! What else could it be?

Well we replaced the valve seals and the head gasket. We did a compression test for the rings and they are all fine and bought a brand new head. Even after replacing all of that it still burns oil. So it sounds like it must be a cracked block.

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Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 12:44 AM

17 Replies

Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
Oil accumulating in the cylinders can have only three causes:
1: Bad valve seals.
2: Blown head gasket.
3: Bad rings.
Ok. 4 causes.
4: Cracked head or block.
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Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 1:10 AM
Tiny
SHAINA.MARIE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
How much would the block typically cost? How much labor are we talking to replace the it?
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Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 1:25 AM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
I couldn't tell you. It varies by area, age, mileage, and displacement.

Your best bet is to find a used complete motor or block, long or short. Since you have a new head already, I would go with the short block, which doesn't come with the head.
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Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 1:40 AM
Tiny
SHAINA.MARIE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I know some of the symptoms of a cracked block and we don't seem to have any of those symptoms of than the smoke from the exhaust. The antifreeze is clean (no oil in it) and on the contrary the oil does not look milky like it would if there were antifreeze in it. The engine is running fine and is not overheating. Is there still a possibility it's a cracked block even with the absence of those symptoms?
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Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 1:45 AM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
Yes. Oil galleries run alongside the cylinder bores. A crack between the gallery and bore wouldn't mix oil and water.
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Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 2:18 AM
Tiny
SHAINA.MARIE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Okay. I will look into that. Thank you very much for your help!
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Monday, December 12th, 2011 AT 7:29 AM
Tiny
JEPPERSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have this same issue with my 02 Protégé5. It seems to be a very common problem in this vehicle, but I have yet to hear a fix other than change valve seals, head gasket, piston rings or get a new motor. One thing that I have noticed in my cars is if I start the car in park after 6 to 8hrs it will smoke about 5 seconds after start up when the idle goes down. If I start the car and immediately put it into R or D before the idle goes down and leave it there for about 20 sec than put it into park, I will have zero smoke every time. I can not explain why it will smoke in park, but in gear I will not get smoke. I know this is an old thread but if someone has figured out a fix I would love to hear it.
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Wednesday, January 4th, 2017 AT 7:50 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,536 POSTS
Hey JEPPERSON,

This problem is probably due to the oil control rings not working correctly due to a design flaw, oil level level overfilled or oil drain back holes in the cylinder head are blocked somehow.

Please let us know happens so it will help others.

Best, Ken
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Monday, January 9th, 2017 AT 12:44 PM
Tiny
MAKATON
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • MAZDA PROTEGE
My 97, 1.5 litre Mazda Protege sends out a large cloud of blue smoke when I start the engine in the mornings after a cold night (below 50 deg F). Everything is fine afterwards, and there is no smoke when the car warms up. I've had tune-ups, replaced O2 sensors and catalytic converter even the engine at one point but still can't get rid of this problem. When the weather is warm there's no problem and the car runs well. The mileage is fine and there's no hesitation. My car has 150000 miles on it but the replacement engine only around 60000. Can anybody help me with this problem? Although, it's environmentally bad and quite embarrassing I'd like to keep my investment as long as I can.
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Monday, January 9th, 2017 AT 12:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NIKOLAYRI
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hi, I also have exactly the same problem. It looks like the valve stem seals are the problem, but the logic shows that it can be something else. I also want an answer to this.
We will have to try this:
before the start in the cold morning, take out the spark plugs - check if there is oil on one or all of them - if yes - valve stem seals - if no - piston rings (oil rings stuck)
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Monday, January 9th, 2017 AT 12:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
NIKOLAYRI
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I had my valve stem seals replaced and the smoke is still there, no change whatsoever. It must be the piston rings then.
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Monday, January 9th, 2017 AT 12:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
AIRCRAFT ENGINEER
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE
  • 135,000 MILES
Odm2 shows P0300 and hesitates on acceleration
lots of blue smoke on start up after car has been siting problem is every day
oil changes regular with 10w40 is that wrong
bought valve seals and would like to do a compresion check first
would appreciate advice
victor
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Monday, January 9th, 2017 AT 12:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,724 POSTS
Victor:

If you are seeing a lot of blue smoke on start up, it sounds like valve seals (if the smoke stops). If it doesn't, it could be rings. I would recommend doing a compression test before putting money into the engine.

As far as the PO300, that is a random misfire. It could be caused by the need of a tune up or many other things. Compression can also be the cause. Check that first.

Joe
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Monday, January 9th, 2017 AT 12:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WENDELL123
  • MEMBER
  • 23 POSTS
  • 1993 MAZDA PROTEGE
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 135,700 MILES
I have a 1993 mazda protege 1.8 liter single overhead my car some times puts out blue smoke out of the tail pipe that I can see on accelerating want could be the problem it only does after the cars warmed up.
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Monday, January 9th, 2017 AT 12:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If it only does it when its warmed then most likely it's worn or sticking oil ring's. If it did it on start up then I would say valve stem seals.
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Monday, January 9th, 2017 AT 12:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CLIFFORD NELSON
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
When starting the car blue smoke comes out pretty heavy and lightens up in a few minutes. I check all fluids and oil was two quarts low. Just had engine replaced with a used motor. He had cylinders polished and heads cleaned. So what are my options?
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Monday, January 9th, 2017 AT 12:45 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,871 POSTS
If the smoking stops after a minute or two, it is most likely caused by oil running down past the valve guide seals when the engine is stopped. Those seals were pretty easy to replace on older domestic engines, but today, especially with import engines, the valves are real deep in the heads and special tools are needed. Some are almost impossible to do without removing the heads from the engine.

Also, if there is a lot of sludge in the engine, the oil drain-back holes could be plugged. That will cause oil to collect up there where it will be much easier for it to leak past the valve guide seals. If this is what is happening, the problem will gradually clear up after a few oil changes at the recommended intervals. The additives wear out, and each oil change introduces new detergents and seal conditioners.

The clue to plugged drain-back holes is the oil level will be considerably higher fifteen minutes after checking it right after stopping the engine.
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Monday, January 9th, 2017 AT 12:45 PM (Merged)

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