I have a 2011 Grand Cherokee that sometimes smokes briefly when started. Engine is the 3.6L V6. Vehicle has 6000 miles on it. Anyone heard of this? I checked the oil level and it was not overfilled.

 

Haven't heard of it on the newer GCs but typically that means your valve seals or guides are on their way out.

If the oil wasn't overfilled was it low at all?

 

No, oil level wasn't low either. Dead on normal. Only oil changes have been performed by the Jeep dealer where it was purchased. Sure is low miles for internal trouble. Concerned.

 

new vechicles are not guaranteed perfect i bought a 94 xj off the lot bran spankin new two weeks after motoor started ticking three visits under warranty got a brand new motor if its under factory new warranty take it back, but i agree smoke at start up if its blus is valve guide seal

 

My dad's Exploder snapped a timing chain just after getting the oil changed for the 3rd time.

You should still have a warranty.

 

Go to a dealer and tell them whats happening. they might want you to leave it over night to duplicate the smoke on cold start up concern. they will probably do a valve job, unless they repalce the motor. but expect to leave the vehicle.

 

x4 Valve Guids

 

Thing is, valve guides or seals would mean that its consuming oil. How is the oil level the same if its consuming this oil?

 

Gee,

Oil level is not dropping. No smoke any other time. Does not occur on first start in the morning. Seems to smoke when engine has been running a very short time, as in 1 minute or 2, then it sits for about 2 to 3 hours and then is restarted. Smokes during first couple of seconds of starting then no more.

 

Well if no oil is missing its not valve guides or seals.

Maybe somehow its fuel and it just looks blue?

White = burnt coolant
Blue = burnt oil
Black = running rich/not burning all the fuel

Thing is, as that black smoke gets dissipated it can tend to look blue.

 

Your engine is burning oil somewhere in there. It's not a gross amount of oil, maybe a few drops here or there. Very real possiblity that it could be a Valve Seal gone bad, or possibly some of the piston rings had not been seated properly during the break-in period. Check the spark plugs to see which one is the dirtiest, it will help you narrow down which cylinder is causing the smoke.

 

sounds like when you let the motor sit you have some oil leak into one or more of your cylinders. when you start it up the oil burns off and the seal or what ever swells up from the heat so you dont get the oil burning all the time. something like this happend on my toyota. I would take it back to the place you got it and MAKE them fix it.

 

I thought I read in your first post it only happened on "first start up" after sitting 6+ hours.... but I guess I misread it.

valve guid seals can leak, cause smoke on start up and show "normal" oil consumption based on spec, depending on how worn they are.

however, If it where valve guid seals it would show up after sitting for 6+ hours and first start only, running and then sitting would burn the oil sitting on the valves and then be clean for the next start up.

I am leaning twards what GEE is thinking... could be fuel. hard to tell with out seeing/smelling it.

 

sounds like when you let the motor sit you have some oil leak into one or more of your cylinders. when you start it up the oil burns off and the seal or what ever swells up from the heat so you dont get the oil burning all the time. something like this happend on my toyota. I would take it back to the place you got it and MAKE them fix it.>>>>>>>>>>>

Sounds reasonable and would explain the minimal to no oil usage, it would probably take a while to show you're using oil.

Don't let the dealer tell you "we can't find anything wrong with it" because that is typically their first response if the symptoms aren't blatantly obvious, heck drain some oil out next time you bring it in and say "see it's using oil".