DAMM..DAMM..DAMM..SMOKE!!!

98_GXE · Aug 31st, 2005, 02:25 PM

Okay,
before I go a head and shell out the money to fix this or a new car. I will post my problem and see if anyone has had or having this problem. I own a 98 Nissan Sentra GXE sedan auto with about 160,000 miles on it (I'm hoping to keep this car past the 250,000 marker). I started noticing that my oil was disappearing and some of it was on inside of the hood. I figure it out thanks to this site replace the crank seal. I also replace the rotor/cap, serviced the front brakes, cleaned the throttle body (which had some oil or gunk), new air filter, spark plugs, pcv , fuel filter rotated the tires and valve cover gasket and oil pan gasket all this back in March 05.

Everything was going great...now, I'm getting gray smoke. I knew it was time to replace my CV joint and was due for an oil change so, I said might as well do my other stuff on my to do list. I replaced all the fluids it was time already. So, new coolant, oil, oil filter, tranny and wind shield wiper. Service the back brakes and replaced the passenger wheel hub and bearing. Also, got an alignment and rotated/balance the tires. Check the crank seal no leak...but, still getting smoke.

After, some reading and calling around some people say I have a bad blow by, engine wear, blown gasket and or a bad ring. I was wondering if a clogged fuel injectors could cause my gray smoke. I've never had them service so, before proceeding any further ...I figure I'd ask by posting. I've noticed a tapping (kind of like a machine gun if you will) noise car will hesitate then shoot out smoke some tile a bit then other a lot. Also, my car doesn't accelerate like it use to and I also check all my belts.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Mean while I will stay smoking up the street till then and keeping any eye on my oil levels.

thanks.

**wes** · Aug 31st, 2005, 04:29 PM

Do a compression test and see what kind of numbers you get.

98_GXE · Sep 1st, 2005, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wes

Do a compression test and see what kind of numbers you get.

Try that already sorry, forgot to post that I've already done that...compression test came up fine. The only thing left for me to do is take the plunge (pay the service fee of $89.95..if I remember right) and take it to the dealer and find out exactly what it is. You always have the option to decline the work ...but, at least you know what the problem is.

I'm really hoping it's the fuel injectors ...which weather permitting I will probably tackle over this labor day weekend. I'm starting to think that this is a common problem with these car reasoning being I saw a blue sentra just like mine smoking up the mall parking lot. So, makes me wonder..

himilefrontier · Sep 2nd, 2005, 01:39 AM

Doesn't sound like fuel injectors to me. If the tapping is valvetrain noise, it could point to poor maintenance history and valvetrain wear. Also, old oil becomes acidic over time due to excess fuel and combustion deposits that seep past the rings and into the oil. If the bad maintenance hypothesis is right, then it could be your valvestem seals are cracked and brittle, drawing oil into the intake port and thus the combustion chamber. Remember that oil is bluish grey smoke, water is white ( steam) and rich mixture is black. I have never had a GA apart, so I don't know if this is a procedure that can be accomplished on the car ( I.E. it has "umbrella" type seals) or requires the valves be removed ( O-ring type seals on the valvestem in the valveguides) and thus the head.