excessive exhaust smoke?????

[lrmarler]

My 2010 1ss camaro has a wopping 371 miles on it and been in the shop for approx. two weeks!!!!!! There in the process of replacing lifters, they say they are over aggressive!!!! Anyone else having problems???

[Warr3nc]

Here is a bulletin from GM on excessive smoke issues:

Subject: Excessive Oil Consumption and/or Blue Exhaust Smoke - Inspect PCV Baffle Drain Holes and Valve Train Oil Flow

Models: 2009 Buick Lacrosse Super, Allure Super (Canada Only)
2004-2007 Buick Rainier
2004-2009 Cadillac CTS-V
2003-2009 Cadillac Escalade
2010 Chevrolet Camaro
2003-2006 Chevrolet SSR
2003-2009 Chevrolet Avalanche, Corvette, Express, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Trail Blazer
2006-2009 Chevrolet Impala
2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2003-2009 GMC Envoy, Savana, Sierra, Yukon
2003-2009 Hummer H2
2008-2009 Hummer H3
2006-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
2008-2009 Pontiac G8
2005-2009 Saab 97x
With Any of the Following V8 Engine RPOs:
L33, L59, L76, L92, L99, L9H, LC9, LFA, LH6, LH8, LQ9, LMG, LM7, LMF, LQ4, LQ9, LR4, LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4, LS6, LY2, LY5, or LY6

This PI was superseded to suggest replacing all 16 lifters if there is no problem found with the PCV system. Please discard PIP4492G.

Important: For 2007 Full Size Trucks and Utilities with the 5.3L Engine (RPO LC9 - VIN 3), please refer to the latest version of PIP4574 for recommendations. For all others, refer to the recommendations below.

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.
Condition/Concern:

On rare occasions, some customers may complain of excessive oil consumption and/or blue exhaust smoke. Upon inspection, obvious oil will be found in the intake manifold and/or PCV vacuum tube.

This may be the result of:
•

A PCV fresh air hose that is pinched or restricted by plastic casting flash (this would normally be a concern since new, or shortly after engine repairs).
•

Plugged PCV baffle drain holes in the valve cover that has the PCV vacuum pipe attached to it (this would normally be a concern at high mileage).
•

An improperly sealed PCV valve cover baffle (this would normally be a concern since new, or shortly after valve cover replacement).
•

Over-aggressive valve lifters (generally occur at low mileage - less than 10,000 miles or so).
Recommendation/Instructions:

Important: For 2007 Full Size Trucks and Utilities with the 5.3L Engine (RPO LC9 - VIN 3), please refer to the latest version of PIP4574 for recommendations. For all others, refer to the recommendations below.

If bulletin 01-06-01-011 identifies excessive oil consumption but SI diagnosis does not isolate the cause of it, inspect the PCV vacuum pipe to see if obvious oil drips out of it and look through the throttle body opening to see if there is obvious standing oil in the bottom of the intake manifold (normally a 1/4 quart or more if this PI applies). If there is obvious oil in the PCV vacuum pipe or in the bottom of the intake, perform the steps below and re-evaluate the oil consumption concern:

1. Inspect the fresh air hose/pipe and all related connections to make sure that no restrictions exist (plastic casting flash, pinched hose, etc.), which may cause excessive crankcase vacuum. Repair the restriction as necessary. Generally, the oil consumption would have been a concern since new, or shortly after engine repairs, if this is the root cause.

2. Inspect the PCV baffle drain holes shown below to see if they are plugged with hardened oil deposits. These are located in the valve cover that has the PCV vacuum pipe attached to it. If they are plugged, replace the valve cover, ensure that the customer is changing their oil according to the maintenance schedule in their owner's manual, and re-evaluate the concern. Generally, the oil consumption would not have appeared until several thousand miles accumulated if this is the root cause.

Important: If this step leads to valve cover replacement, perform step 3 on the replacement valve cover before installing it.

Object Number: 2195879 Size: SH
Click here for detailed picture of above image.

3. Inspect the PCV baffle to ensure that it is properly sealed to the valve cover by flipping it over and adding a little oil to the baffle to valve cover joint as shown below. The oil should stay in place as shown on the 2 outer valve covers below. If the oil drains into the PCV baffle as pointed out on the middle valve cover below, replace the valve cover. Generally, the oil consumption would have been present early in the life of the vehicle or shortly after valve cover replacement if this is the root cause.

PCV Baffle Comparison

Object Number: 2245145 Size: SH
Click here for detailed picture of above image.

4. If there is no problem found above but there is obvious oil in the PCV vacuum pipe or bottom of the intake manifold, this may be the result of the PCV system ingesting excessive oil due to an over-aggressive lifter. Sometimes this may occur intermittently so inspecting the lifter flow may or may not isolate the suspect lifter. As a result, all 16 should be replaced if steps 1-3 above do not isolate the cause of oil in the intake.

Important: If Step 2 or 3 leads to valve cover replacement, perform Step 3 on the replacement valve cover before installing it.

Important: Drain/clean the oil out of the intake manifold and install the intake with new intake gaskets before releasing the vehicle to the customer. If this is not performed, the customer may return with an exhaust smoke complaint even though their oil consumption complaint may be repaired.

Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.

[camaro5]

Originally Posted by lrmarler

My 2010 1ss camaro has a wopping 371 miles on it and been in the shop for approx. two weeks!!!!!! There in the process of replacing lifters, they say they are over aggressive!!!! Anyone else having problems???

replacing lifters, they say they are over aggressive!!!!



I read that here before.

[F8WillW8]

Had the same issue. Dealer replaced all 16 lifters. No more burn oil... unfortunately the new car smell has now been replaced by the smell of burning oil, for a little while anyway!

[Guns]

The excessive smoking issue happened to my SS on the day of delivery (9/19/09). It happened again multiple times over the next two days. Took it to service department two days ago. Just spoke to the service guy who had incomplete information from the mechanic but did mention ordering new lifters. Will post more detail when I get it.

Seemed to happen when accelerating -- no difference between aggressive or mild acceleration. Heard small popping sounds and experienced fairly severe hesitation.

Smoke was so thick that it would obsure view of cars behind me. The smoke PO'd a lot people -- got a lot of dirty looks.

Update -- regional engineer of some sort looked at the car -- they are indeed replacing the lifters.

[lrmarler]

I got my camaro back last friday and drove it about 350 miles and seems to be fine! I love the car but just hate knowing its been apart!!! They replaced all lifters.

[Monkey]

I had the same problem @ 1700 miles, had lifters replaced. Runs great. 4400 miles now.

[BearDownSS]

I've already taken my SS in once for this problem, and I have an appointment to bring it back in tomorrow morning. I am sure they'll have to replace the lifters, but how long did the repair take? My car has less that 250 miles on it. I'm actually trying to find reasons not to show the car to my buddies yet, I don't want them to see it having issues like that.

[Wvallediego]

White smoke is okay? I get a lot of that in the morning even after it has warmed up. It does not smell like burned oil.

[Sterling]

White smoke is from water... not oil... you might have a leaky head gasket if it continues after it is warmed up.

[Sterling]

Are you sure it's not just from the cold weather? All cars exhaust will steam some when it's cold out.

[Wvallediego]

Originally Posted by sterlingnotes

Are you sure it's not just from the cold weather? All cars exhaust will steam some when it's cold out.

Yeah, maybe. It's been pretty cold lately.

[BUMBLE B]

1400 MILES...SOME OIL-LIKE SMELL SOMETIMES NOTED IN INTERIOR..WILL CHECK INTO THESE BULLETINS AND LOOK UNDER HOOD...LIKE THAT MIGHT HELP. WILL CHECK OIL LEVELS MORE FREQUENTLY...ALREADY CHANGED OIL AT 1000 MILES...HOPE THE 6.2 ISN'T A DOG MOTOR. WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST MAKE A 383 STROKER OUT OF THE SMALL BLOCK INSTEAD OF THE 378 C.I.D. 6.2 L.??
SOME LIGHT SMOKE DURING WARM-UP EVEN HERE IN ORLANDO! DURING REMOTE STARTUP I CAN REALLY HEAR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A WILDER CAM. SOUNDS BAD ENOUGH TO BE A POWERFUL MOTOR...OR ELSE SOMETHING ELSE IS UP WITH IT.

[Dopey]

I have a 2010 2SS with 10K miles. Experienced excessive white smoke (no smell) from tailpipes on the evening of 3/15. Cleared within a minute. Had it at the dealer today and they re-routed the engine harness??? Can anyone make sense of this? They told me that it was a technical service bulletin. To much tension on the harness could have caused poor connection and altered fuel mixture. Not sure I'm buying this explination.