Ford Repair: 2003 Mercury Marauder, 2003 mercury marauder, ambient air temperature

Question
Hi Steve:
Thanks for your thoughts.
I am about to try another dealership anyhow.
A thought occured to me after my original inquiry was sent.
Is it possible for the intermitttent smoking problem to be somehow related to a defect in the Positive Crankcase Ventilitation (PCV) system, Either of a mechanical nature or design defect?
Could some amount of oil be sucked up into the PCV system and entered into the combustion process?

Thanks:
Robert Smith
Richwood, NJ
Followup To
Question -
RE: Engine problem

Hi Steve:

Hope you can help with this.

At about 5,000 miles, my Marauder's 4.6 L engine started discharging considerable blue smoke out it's rear exhausts, upon engine start-up. Smoke discharge seems to be worse out the drivers side than the passenger side.

The problem has been on-going, without diagnosis or resolution by my Mercury dealer and Ford engineering.

The smoking seems to be intermittent and related to high ambient air temperature and / or extensive driving, after-which the vehicle sit's for an extended period of time. Usually more than three (3) hours or overnight.

Start-ups in cold weather and / or after driven short distances, usually less than several miles with frequent restarts, will not replicate the problem.

The dealership has been told this and refuses to expend both time and manpower necessary to replicate. I have tried driving the vehicle extensively, prior to evening drop-off, but they still have not consistantly replicated the problem.

The dealership service department and Ford engineering are frankly baffled.
The dealer has visually acknowleged the problem's existance.

Numerous visit's to the dealership have found nothing abnormal.
A comperssion check found all cylinder levels normal.
On one occassion the vehicle was retained for one week, to correct a leaking valve cover gasket which did nothing to correct the smoking problem.

After start-up, no smoking occurs nor is there any abnormal oil consumption.
This has been confirmed by Ford's request for a monthly oil level monitoring, by the dealer.

According to Ford, there are no Technical Service Bulletins (T.S.B.) or recalls on theis engine at present.

The dealership service manager has indicated the problem relationship to valve seal leakage, but Ford will not authorize exploration to diagnose and possibly correct an unknown problem.

So, my problem continues without resolution.

Frankly, I'm totally frustrated and at my wit's end.

Can you perhaps offer help as to what steps should be taken to resolve?

Thanks:
Bob Smith
Richwood, New Jersey
Answer -
Robert-

  My first thought was that the rings never seated properly during the engine break-in period, but if the compression check is coming back ok then the rings aren't the problem.  So it boils down to this...blue-ish smoke is burning oil.  About the only way you can get that besides bad rings would be bad valve seals.  A cracked block would also produce this in some cases, but that would be VERY unusual in a car that's so new.  If that were the case you would also undoubtedly encounter other problems as well so I feel it's safe to rule that out.  I would feel pretty confident that it's a valve seal problem and frankly I'm stunned that Ford hasn't taken steps to fix it.  If at all possible, you might try dealing with a different dealership service center.  Your warranty should be good at any dealership and somehow from what you've described I don't get the feeling that this dealership is doing everything they can.  Hope this helps.

Steve

Answer
Robert-

  That's possible as well...but generally with a PCV problem you'd notice problems elsewhere.  Usually if the problem is bad enough it will suck oil into the intake tract.  You might check around your air filter and around the intake itself for signs of oil just to make sure, though.  Hope this helps.

Steve