Blue smoke - Altima Forums.net - The Nissan Altima Enthusiast Talk and Discussion Forums

2003altima35 · 04-15-2009

Hello everyone, I have been doing research for a couple of days, here and in Google. I have a 2003 altima 3.5 with 99k (100k by the end of today). Ill try to be as descriptive as possible. When i start the car AND rev it, it produces blue smoke, but not so much. Also when accelerating hard on the road it also smokes (not noticeable if looking through the mirrors, but it is noticeable by the cars behind me). I changed the spark plugs 1k miles ago, with NGK platinums (the oems), however 1 spark plug was covered with oil (the middle one behind the engine). I tried getting out as much as possible, I also changed the valve cover gasket. The car does not leak oil, and on oil changes, I fill about 4 1/2 quarts of used oil.

<-thats how i feel.

After researching, i have read that it could be the valve stem seals. Which are ~$40, not bad, but im not willing to personally change that.

I like doing everything myself, but not dealing with the internal engine though.
So I do not trust my local mechanic shops here.

My questions: Has anybody had this problem, and if yes, what did you do?
How much do you all think the dealership will charge for this?
Or, are there any temporarily fixes?

I am willing to sacrifice the audio system I was planning to buy, to fix the car, cause i like it a lot, and have future modifications planed.

2003altima35 · 04-15-2009

I forgot, when flooring it on the street, it only smokes once. If I step on it again it wont smoke anything anymore. Also, if i step all the way on the gas pedal, it will accelerate slowly. But if I step on it quite little, that's when it accelerates the best. I do have plans of changing the headers, but only if I fix the problem of the oil, but i dont want to get rid of my car, I like it.

JoseM97Altima · 04-23-2009

you head gasket is going bad and you are burning oil. with such a new car you must be very hard on it.
was it overheating at one point?
if you do the work yourself about $200, if not probably a few hundred. not sure exactly, ask around.

2003altima35 · 04-23-2009

Haha, nah on not bad on it. I just bought it this January. It had 95k, and right now 101k. What I did noticed is that i was overfilling the engine with oil, and the valve cover gasket that goes around the spark plug chamber was worn out, so I just put silicone around it, just to make sure if it was that. If it is then I'll buy a new valve cover. This morning it didnt throw blue smoke, only white, but it might of been just normal vapor. I'll keep checking on it, see what it does. And well I got myself in a new problem, I cleaned the throttle body, without knowing that I wasnt supposed to mess around with it in this car, but it doesnt idle bad like other car, its just about 100rpm higher then normal. I just have to relearn it and that will be all. But thanks for your advice, I hope its not the head gasket, because I have never messed around with the internal engine.

JoseM97Altima · 04-23-2009

well i hope it isn't either but if you see blue smoke, it means you're burning oil because the oil is getting passed your piston rings and being burned with you gas/air mixture and exiting out the exhaust. if you were overfilling the engine with oil, that is bad because it creates higher pressure and can blow seals. i suggest you get this checked asap.

JoseM97Altima · 04-23-2009

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_...e_exhaust_mean

2003altima35 · 04-23-2009

Im on it. This morning it didnt throw blue smoke, just white. It was in the morning so I think it was vapor. I will try again tomorrow morning, im hoping for the best. I dont have money right now. I would like to change the engine with a lower mileage one, but I would have to really save. This summer I will be taking some classes, and I didnt receive that much financial aid, so it has to come from my pocket.

JoseM97Altima · 04-23-2009

the white smoke is normal when the engine is cold or ambient temperature is.

does the car have a warantee?
are you losing any oil, and if so, how much?

maybe its not too bad and wont cause any problems for awhile. try to be gentle with the car to prolong repairs and keep an eye out for overheating and oil level.

2003altima35 · 04-23-2009

I dont have any oil consumption, it is very very minimal. The last oil change, I got out 4 1/2 quarts, and had put 5, which is normal, of the oil that stays inside, etc. The engine doesn't overheat at all, even when being with rough with it. I dont have warranty since I bought it used.

Do you have any idea on how much it would be to change the engine my a local mechanic? I know the answer depends on sooo many things. But just your prediction.

2003altima35 · 04-24-2009

WOOHOO! I fixed it, no more blue smoke. I guess it was just the valve cover and maybe overfilling too. Now I am happy, and looking up to adding the audio system.

JoseM97Altima · 04-28-2009

nice work. glad everything worked out for you. good luck with the audio.

cale33 · 10-06-2010

Hi, did you change the valva cover gasket or the whole thing?
I did over fill it too i put 5 quarts, and trow me the oil for the top gasket.

JoseM97Altima · 10-06-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by cale33

Hi, did you change the valva cover gasket or the whole thing?
I did over fill it too i put 5 quarts, and trow me the oil for the top gasket.

He only changed the gasket

**mikejamesbyma** · 10-08-2010

The rear valve cover gasket is a problem area on our 3.5's. The valve cover would be the source of the blue smoke not the overfilling.

cale33 · 10-09-2010

[Thank you very much for your help, my problen is that trow the excces oil for the gaskets but I don't know exactly which gaskets are involved, so I'm going to start whit the first step, washing the engine. suote=mikejamesbyma;9797]The rear valve cover gasket is a problem area on our 3.5's. The valve cover would be the source of the blue smoke not the overfilling.[/quote]