Question: I see blue smoke in my exhaust when I start
my engine. Is this anything I should worry about?
Answer:Yes, because your engine is burning oil. That,
in turn, means your engine has worn valve guides, piston rings
An engine that burns a lot of oil (more than
a quart in 500 miles) is an engine that needs to be overhauled.
Normal oil consumption should be a quart or less in 1500 miles.
Most newer engines consume less than half a quart of oil between
oil changes (every 3000 miles). So if your engine is burning
oil, it's essentially worn out and needs to be repaired.
Because the cost of overhauling or replacing an engine often
exceeds the value of an older car or truck, many people will just
keep on driving a "mosquito fogger" in spite of the
blue clouds of smoke it leaves behind. Never mind the pollution
it causes, oil is cheaper than a new or rebuilt engine they reason.
That philosophy may be okay if you live out in the sticks somewhere.
But in urban areas that require periodic vehicle emissions testing,
an engine that's burning oil usually won't pass the test because
of excessive hydrocarbon (HC) emissions. You may get by on a
waiver after you've spent some money (in vain) on a tune-up, but
the fact remains you're still a polluter.
An engine that burns a lot of oil will also eventually foul
the spark plugs. Thick, black oily deposits build up on the plugs
until they cease to fire. Then the engine misfires and loses
power. Cleaning or changing the plugs may temporarily solve the
problem, but sooner or later they'll foul out again.
Forget about "miracle" oil additives or pills that
claim to stop oil burning. They don't. Better to save your money
and put it towards a valve job and new set of rings.
