VS V6 Blowing Dark Grey Smoke

[holden#1]

whats the go fellas?

its been emitting a small puff of dark grey smoke for 18 months now.
it does this on a cold startup. its not constant. it will do it at startup and then when you take off before engine has reached full operating temp it will smoke again slightly on acceleration.
other than this motor appears to be fine.

 

[fitzy2005]

blue = oil (could be valve steam seals, sounds like what you got but you said its grey ?)
White = water (somehting like a blown head gasket/water getting in exhaust
Black = Fuel (could be a MAP sensor or oxygen sensor etc)

 

[fergi]

sounds like valve stem guides,usually what happens is when you park the car for the nite the hot thin oil runs down your valve stems overnite and then in the morning when you first start the car this oil is burnt off,thats why you mainly see it first thing when the motor has had time to sit and cool down for a few hours,you probably will use a bit of oil between oil changes but shouldnt be too much
cheers
fergi

 

[Mk III the HSV]

Does it look something like this. Click here. I fairly certain it's the valve stem seal, but I don't have the time or the money to do anything about it.

 

[jNINE]

Sounds like valve guides to me too - mine used to do it before got the heads done and I had them replaced.

 

[fergi]

looks like valve stems on start up with a bit of over rich fuel mixture at the end
fergi

 

[holden#1]

valve stem seals it must be... thanx guys / chicks...

sounds like time for some headwork etc!
(it will be a good argument to put to the missus!

 

[richie_cky]

Wats the cost in replacing valve stem seals? Should i do any other work while im fixing this? ( i have same problem)
Also, my car leaks oil from rear main, will this end up being a major problem? Or should i just leave it for now...

 

[clinster73]

I would do a system check to see whether there is any codes for dud sensors eg code 13. before i would start spending money doing the stem seals.

 

[VRAddiction]

mmmm headjobs are very expensive