Hey, I've got an '01 Cobra with only 8200 miles on it--it only had 3700 on it when I bought it last August. I have Penz. 5W20 in the crankcase. Today, right after I started it from cold, I noticed some smoke that "quafted away" from the exhaust, only lasted a second, but this is the first time I noticed it. Could I be getting "some leakage" overnite by the valve seals or is this something to expect from time to time with the ultra-light 5W20 oil? BTW, I also have a '91 Chev pickup with the 4.3L V-6 with 125K miles that is noted for doing this with high mileage and has been doing it for a couple of years, but it doesn't burn any noticeable oil to the point of my having to add any. However, I'm wondering if anyone else has had this happen with their Cobra with low mileage and light viscosity oil.
I wouldn't worry about it too much, because a lot of other owners also experience this small "puff" of blue smoke at start-up...just keep an eye on your oil level (to make sure it isn't excessive).
Yep, what he said...check your oil level at least every 500 miles. Mine did the same thing after I bought it and has since gotten worse. I'm burning oil now even after it warms up and fouled a plug (started missing). See my post for what I end up having to repair... http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=456720
my 01 did the same thing at start up and on the coast side. just breaking in the rings now at 35000 miles has stopped. ditch the penzoil quick!!! mobil 1 makes a 5-20 synthetic. good stuff. walmart 4.79 a quart. keep oil level checked
Several Cobra owners have this issue, but I have yet to get a clear-cut answer as to why these motors, with low miles, puff blue smoke. There are threads that suggest a poorly designed PCV spewing oil into the manifold. Some have replaced them with breathers, and say this was a fix. I contacted SVT and was told that he knew of no known issues i.e. rings, valve seals, pvc's. The advice was to monitor the oil consumption, and make sure it is not using too much (Ford says 1 quart in 800 miles, but that is a lot, and worth arguing) or smoke going down the street. Otherwise he, and 3 Ford service techs I called , said they would not be concerned with the occaisional puffs of blue smoke. Runs over 5500 rpm will cause oil blow-by and cause smoke, he said. My puffing is inconsistent and seems to have no rhyme or reason. I am in my first monitored oil change after buying my used 2001, 26,000 miles. The motor sounds healthy, runs great, and a compression check looked good. Oh yeah, don't put more than 6 quarts (with filter change) of oil in your motor. Your dip stick will only read about half full, but SVT said that is normal. I think the sporadic puffing on start-ups might just be a characteristic of the DOHC motor. But, I still love my mustang
Maybe 5W30 Synthetic will work better? Maybe I should switch to 5W30 synthetic, eventhough Ford says to use 5W20 for this car. Maybe the slightly heavier wgt. in a synthetic will answer the problem? I think it's worth a try....
Get the 5w 20 out of there and replace it with 5w 30 mobil one or anything for that matter but no 5w 20.
