Blue smoke on extended idle. 2006 4.8is.

[bcredliner]

I have read through all the posts. Most of the time the smoking problem has been reduced to an 'acceptable' level but has not been eliminated, and, most of the fixes don't last very long or there is not enough history to know that they will. Is that correct?

Does anyone feel confident enough to post a list of sequential steps that should eliminate or reduce the smoking to an 'acceptable' level at some point in the steps?

It is my understanding the dealer solution is to install new valve stem seals and that alone eliminates the problem?

Or, does the dealer always do other modifications or replace other parts that are contributing to the smoke or the root cause rather than valve stem seals needing replacement at all?

I feel that if my X did not smoke when it was new, any level of smoking means something is still wrong. I.E--if I see any vehicle smoking on the street, I don't see that many, my conclusion is something is wrong, especially if it is an X5.

[A B Able Truck]

Originally Posted by bcredliner

I have read through all the posts. Most of the time the smoking problem has been reduced to an 'acceptable' level but has not been eliminated, and, most of the fixes don't last very long or there is not enough history to know that they will. Is that correct?
Does anyone feel confident enough to post a list of sequential steps that should eliminate or reduce the smoking to an 'acceptable' level at some point in the steps?
It is my understanding the dealer solution is to install new valve stem seals and that alone eliminates the problem?
Or, does the dealer always do other modifications or replace other parts that are contributing to the smoke or the root cause rather than valve stem seals needing replacement at all?
I feel that if my X did not smoke when it was new, any level of smoking means something is still wrong. I.E--if I see any vehicle smoking on the street, I don't see that many, my conclusion is something is wrong, especially if it is an X5.

My next step is to see if the vacuum is at specs at different loads & speeds. At new, everything is adjusted correctly, is clean & new - so no smoke - but people still complain about excessive oil consumption. I've read a few posts that state they've replaced the stem seals and the smoke stopped. Others say they replaced the stem seals and it still smoked. The only difference may be that the ones that quit smoking may have washed their valve covers (these have built in labyrinth oil separators).

[bcredliner]

Originally Posted by A B Able Truck

My next step is to see if the vacuum is at specs at different loads & speeds. At new, everything is adjusted correctly, is clean & new - so no smoke - but people still complain about excessive oil consumption. I've read a few posts that state they've replaced the stem seals and the smoke stopped. Others say they replaced the stem seals and it still smoked. The only difference may be that the ones that quit smoking may have washed their valve covers (these have built in labyrinth oil separators).

That is my point, since there doesn't seem to be one sure thing that will eliminate smoke, if you have smoke what should one do first-second -third etc.,
in descending order of the easiest and/or least expensive fix first.

Another unanswered question--why is it only some and not all that start smoking?