Smoking on startup after sitting

4yers · Sep 2, 2021

I have a 2020 Explorer ST. On startup, smoke appears out of the exhaust, sometimes it is light, other times it is heavy smoke. I took to 2 different dealers and they said they could not replicate it and thus could not address. Has anyone else experienced this? I have attached 3 different videos showing what I'm talking about.

TMac · Sep 2, 2021

Need more info. Is the engine cold in these videos on startup or has it been driven for awhile and then restarted while warm? What was temp outside? How many miles on engine? Notice any oil consumption?

JohnE · Sep 2, 2021

It sort of looks like condensation burning off within the exhaust system (steam) as when the ambient temperature cools down after shutting down the engine. On the other hand, it sort of looks like oil smoke (white/blue) which indicates a valve guide issue as when sitting for a while after shut down. I can't really tell if the white smoke or steam dissipates or not. If it does, it is condensation burning off. You can also tell by the smell of the smoke if it’s oil or not.

TMac · Sep 2, 2021

JohnE said:

That's why we need more info. If the engine/exhaust is cold, you wouldn't immediately see steam on start-up because the exhaust hasn't warmed up. The combustion chamber though heats up immediately, so it could also be a head gasket issue which you could identify by smell. With an oil smell, I'd suspect valve guides seeping oil into combustion chamber during shutdown as you suggested. However, in one video you can definitely see water droplets being ejected followed by steam, so there is condensation present. It's hard to tell.

Best way to determine would be to have an observer follow him down the road while he goes full throttle for a few seconds and then lets off it dramatically in say sports or manual mode. This would create a huge vacuum, and were the valve guides worn, would pull oil into the combustion chambers and would also result in visible oil smoke on decelleration- same would be true of a head gasket. Condensation would then be ruled out.

*edited to add head gasket possibility

JohnE · Sep 2, 2021

TMac said:

That's why we need more info. If the engine/exhaust is cold, you wouldn't immediately see condensation on start-up. In that case, I'd suspect valve guides seeping oil into combustion chamber as you suggested. However, in one video you can definitely see droplets being ejected followed by steam, so hard to tell. Now, if someone were to follow him down the road while he goes full throttle for a few seconds and then lets off it dramatically in say sports or manual mode, that would create a huge vacuum, and were the valve guides worn, would pull oil into the combustion chambers and would also result in visible oil smoke.

Correct.

Autoworker · Sep 3, 2021

Could it be a turbo seal issue? Ford's had problems with those in the past. Burns oil on cold start up.

TMac · Sep 3, 2021

Autoworker said:

That's another possibility, good catch!

F=MA · Sep 4, 2021

Check out this video. Maybe its a Closed Crankcase Ventilation issue like a catch can install.

Jeff · Sep 28, 2021

4yers said:

Did you get this resolved? My 2020 ST is in the shop today for the same issue

Jeff · Sep 28, 2021

4yers said:

Was you problem resolved? If so what was the diagnosis? My 2020 ST is in the shop today for the same issue

TMac · Sep 28, 2021

IIRC, the OP wrote in another thread that it was a turbo seal.

JohnE · Sep 28, 2021

F=MA said:

That’s a Diesel in the video. Diesel’s operate completely different than gas. One major difference is that they have no manifold vacuum to pull the gasses from the crankcase as in gasoline engines.

Jeff · Nov 8, 2021

problem was recently diagnosed, valve leaking oil so cylinder head and valve was replaced. no problem for 3 days now the same thing, A/C and idle shut off no longer works.
Dealership has no idea and no appointments available until November 29 and Ford corporate is not helping.
Does anyone have a contact at Ford i could contact to get this moving forward?
I am assembling paperwork for Lemon Law.

2020STTexas · Nov 28, 2021

Jeff said:

We’re having the same problem with my wife’s 2020 ST. We bought it new in 2020. Just started noticing lots of blue/grey smoke on cold start. Stinks of burnt oil and fills up garage and carport. Calling dealer tomorrow. My email is Mark@cuttingedgeclosets.com if you want to keep in touch about Ford’s response.

TMac · Nov 28, 2021

2020STTexas said:

There have been a couple of the start-up smoke issues listed in the forum. Usually traced to a bad turbine seal.

4yers · Jan 2, 2022

Thank you all for your reply. It has taken me awhile to get some info as I’ve been trying to work with Ford and my dealer. This only occurs on cold start-up, and when the SUV is parked on an incline (engine facing uphill). When I park it backwards (engine facing downhill), the smoking issue has yet to occur. For clarity, anytime the vehicle does smoke on startup, it smells burnt/like oil.

Here is where we are with the issue:
I enlisted the help of Ford, and they worked with my local Ford dealer to address by having the dealer communicate and troubleshoot with a Ford engineer. After two weeks of troubleshooting, they came back and said they have found no issues with any potential part failures, and are tentatively ruling it like this: that this is a normal situation that when the SUV is parked on an incline, it will smoke under those conditions and will not cause harm.

The only other thing they are having me do is drive my car for 3k miles, and then I have to take it back for them to see if there has been any oil burn off. If so, they will continue to investigate. If not, that is where Ford is leaving it. Doesn’t really make sense to me and I hope to get something figured out.

4yers · Jan 2, 2022

2020STTexas said:

See below (or above I guess) what Ford/my dealer has told me. I’m not convinced of their response and will continue to work on getting this resolved. Would love to know what they tell you.

TMac · Jan 2, 2022

I also have an inclined driveway and my car is pointed uphill whenever I park. I've owned the ST for 18 months now and have never encountered any smoking issues.

4yers · Jan 2, 2022

Jeff said:

Sorry for the late reply. No luck on my end. As for a Ford contact, I don’t have a specific contact. They just assigned me to a “Rep” and the rep has worked with me. Ford also sent me a $250 gift card for the “inconvenience”.

4yers · Jan 2, 2022

TMac said:

This is good to know. My driveway is not very steep (you can probably tell in the videos). I definitely believe that there is something more to it and is probably a bigger issue that Ford has yet to address, IMO.

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