[Torched03Mach]

I put on my JLT rai about 2 weeks ago (no issues) and I put on my Mac o/r H last week...It smoked a little when I started it the first time after installing the H and it hasn't really done it (to my knowledge) since then. It sat for about a day and when I started it up today it puffed a cloud of smoke out but once it warmed up there was no more smoke at all...I'm thinking maybe it needs tuned...It's only got 8k on it

[Calogero6685]

You're fine. Just condensation from how youre describing it. A tune would be idea for performance, though.

[03Black2v]

You're fine. My gt dioes it, turned out it was just water in the pipes. Or it could be burning the plastic off the midpipe but I doubt it.

[Torched03Mach]

I'm praying it's something simple like that...I don't see why it'd do that at all, but I'm ordering my tuner tomorrow so I'll get that out of the way anyway lol

[Cobra Kai Dojo]

my 03 cobra does this every now and then. it did it bone stock with only 17k miles. few weeks ago i got a catted x-pipe and catback installed and it got worse (more frequent). i started researching it on here and other sites and it seems pretty normal for these cars. car runs fine and nothing ever happens while accelerating or decel.

i cleaned the intake tube as there was some oil residue from the pcv hose. i am considering putting a breather filter on the passenger side. driver side has an oil separator already.

[1999cobra92]

Mine does it... After I pull hard on the engine, the next time I turn it on it smokes a bit

[Torched03Mach]

Glad I'm not the only one with that issue...I just got a little freaked out...I was thinking "8,000 miles, wtf?!?"

[76Cobra2]

My 03 Mach and 03 cobra do it also, the Mach is at 54k and the Cobra 67k. It seems like they do it more with the o/x pipe and even the catted x pipe on the Mach

[ModdedMach]

Im so glad i found this thread, I have a 2003 mach 1 with 62k miles, American racing LT headers with 3" X pipe (no cats) and borla stingers and i get the puff of smoke on startup sometimes too. only after its warm, it never does it cold. Is this pretty normal? I seriously douby the valve seals would be that worn after 60k miles. And it runs great no smoke while driving.

[Torched03Mach]

My cars just now at 10k and it only does it every once in a while... Alot of people seem to have this issue...so I'm assuming it's normal

[ModdedMach]

My car did it this morning from a cold start, like I said its jus..t right when it cranks, the smoke almost immediately goes away, I'm changing from back from 0w20 to 5w20 to see if that makes a difference as well.

[WickedSnake00]

Smoke on start isn't a big deal. Just keep tabs on color. Black is usually excess fuel, blue is oil, white is condensation/coolant (water). As long as you're not getting excess blue or white smoke and your fluids look fine, no need to worry.


BTW Satin- when are you going to head out this way so I can see that mint Mach of yours?

[Torched03Mach]

Originally Posted by WickedSnake00 Smoke on start isn't a big deal. Just keep tabs on color. Black is usually excess fuel, blue is oil, white is condensation/coolant (water). As long as you're not getting excess blue or white smoke and your fluids look fine, no need to worry. BTW Satin- when are you going to head out this way so I can see that mint Mach of yours?

Haha I need to head up that way sometime! My smoke is blue for some reason, I've that alot of the 4v's have oil that sits on top of the intake and it blows it out on startup...It's not a whole lot of smoke, just a puff and then it's normally done...I took it to one of my buddy's shops and they checked all of the plugs and found absolutely nothing...so what's the deal??

[termi_GT]

If your car sits for long periods of time the valve guide seals sometimes allow some seapage and the result is a bit of blue smoke on start-up.

[Torched03Mach]

Originally Posted by termi_GT If your car sits for long periods of time the valve guide seals sometimes allow some seapage and the result is a bit of blue smoke on start-up.

I bought it about 5-6 months ago and I've always driven it at least once a week since then, but I bought it with 5,100 miles on it...It did a lot of sitting before, I still wouldn't think the valve seals would be bad already?

[WickedSnake00]

It may not be that they're toast, they may just need some more thermal cycling (read: drive it A LOT.) Some seals can basically come back to life after sitting once some fluid gets circulated on them and they go through some heat cycles.

Now you have an excuse to drive your car all the time.

[termi_GT]

Originally Posted by satinsilver02 I bought it about 5-6 months ago and I've always driven it at least once a week since then, but I bought it with 5,100 miles on it...It did a lot of sitting before, I still wouldn't think the valve seals would be bad already?

This isn't a bad thing its pretty common. If you go over on the mach1registry you will read about LOTS of guys have a bit of smoke on start up. My old Mach did it as well. Its just the nature of the beast.


Unless it turns into a smoke show I wouldn't worry about it.

[Mach1dmb!]

Mine smokes a lot too, its normal and healthy. I bought mine last summer with 8,xxx and it smoked a little at first, then I drove the shit out of it and it never really smoked unless I revved it up to like 5k when idle, which is a normal reaction.

I just installed a MAC catback a few weeks ago and it smoked a lot for the week I had it on the road, then I took it off the road for winter and now every week when I start it up I get lots of white smoke, even after its heated up. So I'm guessing its a combination of the new exhaust, the cold, and not driving it.

[Torched03Mach]

Originally Posted by termi_GT This isn't a bad thing its pretty common. If you go over on the mach1registry you will read about LOTS of guys have a bit of smoke on start up. My old Mach did it as well. Its just the nature of the beast. Unless it turns into a smoke show I wouldn't worry about it.

Haha it's not a smoke show, but it's enough to whee it pisses me off!

Originally Posted by Mach1dmb! Mine smokes a lot too, its normal and healthy. I bought mine last summer with 8,xxx and it smoked a little at first, then I drove the shit out of it and it never really smoked unless I revved it up to like 5k when idle, which is a normal reaction. I just installed a MAC catback a few weeks ago and it smoked a lot for the week I had it on the road, then I took it off the road for winter and now every week when I start it up I get lots of white smoke, even after its heated up. So I'm guessing its a combination of the new exhaust, the cold, and not driving it.

Good deal, it's just worried the hell out of me...I hate things like that! I love the Mac exhaust!

[Lefty]

First off people...lets get this straight. What color is the smoke? If it's a whiter smoke it's probably condensation after sitting. If it's a light, bluer smoke, then it probably IS the valve guides. It is a NOTORIOUS issue with these cars but it's not a huge deal. It is even more common after having the car sit for a while, or doing a hard run with the car.