My Mom's car got T-boned by a Hummer, so I lent her my car until she gets another one. She keeps it in her garage. I moved it out to do some work on my truck. It was cold, I started it, backed it out, and shut it off. About 3 or 4 hours later, I started it back up to pull it back into the garage and it puffed blue smoke for a second. I waited a few hours then went out and started it again. It puffed a hair bit of blue smoke. Now, I never just start it up then shut it off like that. Usually I start it, let it warm up, then go. I have never noticed it puff smoke on start up. It is 18 degrees out.

Question is... Did this happen because I started it, didnt let it warm up, shut it right back off, and some oil leaked down ito the cyl. because it wasnt warmed up or driven?
Its never done it before.
Car is a 2004 E320 with 82,000 miles

 

Anyone?

 

blue smoke is oil in the cylinders being burnt.....white smoke is burning coolant.....black smoke is unburnt gasoline. unless it's a diesel, then black smoke is good and white smoke is very bad.....I reckon that in either case white smoke is bad and blue as well....somethings up I would guess, yet I would verify observations....good luck

 

I have a 98 E320 with 190K on it. I have seen the blue smoke on start up before. It doesn't happen but on random ocassions. I do agree that it is oil and I think your start up and shutdown procedure had nothing to do with it. I think it is normal for these engines to use some oil between changes. Maybe 1 qt. per oil change. That's just what I have observed.

srb1194

 

Thanks for the reply. I have never noticed it before (and I have looked) Im going down my parents house this weekend. Im going to take the car back for 3 weeks while they are on vacation. I will keep a close eye on it.