I just recently bought an 03 cobra coupe. Only has 25k miles on it, and everything seemed great. I think it's a second run (has the gold coolant), and I haven't heard any ticking on the driver side engine bank, so I think I'm ok there.
Lately though I think I'm burning oil. On startup after the car has been sitting for several hours, a cloud of bluish-white smoke is shot out the exhaust that persists for several seconds. Also, the inside of the tailpipes are heavily coated with black soot (if that has anything to do with it). Does not happen at lights when i give it gas or anytime else...if I start it up after leaving it for only minutes, this doesn't happen.
My questions are 1) how serious of a problem could this be? 2) should I take the car to be looked at immediately, can it wait a month or so? 3) I haven't been to any performance garages yet as I've just moved, but I recently found one nearby. Should I have this checked out there (do performance garages just want to tune/install stuff on your car, or will they be receptive to checking out a problem for you), or just take it to AAMCO or Midas or something for this problem (hope that's not blasphemy).
Thanks
That seems like it would indicate valve seat or guide wear, hopefully it's not a ring problem...the "leak down" test is what needs to be run in order to make the next decision...my 1996 Cobra with well over 150K miles uses almost no oil...if the car sat a long time without being driven that could create the issue. Good luck...
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"Goose, Hollywood's fine, I want Viper"
1995 Mustang GT Cnv 347(427 stroker being built!) almost done!
1996 Cobra with Kenne Bell 2.1 Supercharger and every other conceivable part you can bolt on it...650hp upgrade in the works
2003 Infiniti M45 V8 340 hp...a methadone treatment for reformed Mustang drivers
valve seal or seals. it leaks just a bit of oil down the valves while it sits for the puff on start. then burns it out pretty fast and clears up. thats what it sounds like to me. i have that right now in my old dodge 4x4
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Thanks for the replies. So for a problem like this should I get it checked out right away (am I risking damage to the engine/can it worsen)? And if yes, should I take it to a performance shop to get looked at (a Mustang shop) or just your run of the mill Midas/Meineke, etc.?
I GUARANTEE you have oil puddling in your lower intake and Eaton, this ends up in the combustion chamber and is pumped out the exhaust on startup, that's why you see it then!
The chances an 03 Cobra with 25K having bad valve seals would be pretty slim. Oil is entering your intake track through the PCV and air inlet tube on the passenger side valve cover!
Breathers or a Catch can will solve this problem and many fellow SVT Cobra guys use this method!! FYI when I disassembled my motor at 58K I had a half quart of oil in my lower plenum and the combustion chambers had oil sludge.
You said your Burning oil? Do you have to add a good amount between changes? Or did you mean you can see it in your exhaust? If it's the latter I wouldn't panic, you could run a bottle of Seafoam through your PCV then add K&N Breathers!
And I'd have my Cobra worked on at a Ford Mustang exclusive shop, Midas? HELL NO!!
Here's a look at my setup! http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5778/svtcobra048.jpg
I don't know that it's "burning oil" in the traditional sense; no I am not flying through oil, I haven't had to add any since I got the car 1,000 miles ago.
I thought the PCV valve was to let uncombusted gas out from the engine and funnel it into the intake...so you're saying oil is going from that line, into my intake and then through the system that way?
I actually just unplugged the hose from where it connects to the rubber elbow at the passenger side valve cover/PCV outlet...there was no oil residue on the inside of the rubber hose that I saw, but there was a touch of oil on the inside of the plastic elbow. So you think this is really where it's coming from? Why only on startup then? Can I just leave the other end of the PCV valve unplugged, open to the air, as opposed to leading into my intake (I'd tape it down so it doesn't flop around obviously).
EDIT: Just read up on PCV's, I guess it has to be negative pressure to work. So if this is what's happening why doesn't it happen to more people? My oil level isn't particularly high.
It does happen to pretty much EVERY 99-04 Cobra, guys post this problem in Forums all the time, and the PCV valve is used for crankcase ventilation, if you saw the pic I attached I use breathers on the valve covers to vent the crankcase pressure like 50 million guys have been doing for 40 years!
And exactly oil vapor is entering your intake track through these 2 spots. I can say that just about every guy that pulls an intake off these cars with more than 50K miles on them have lots of oil buildup inside! I'm not saying that it is DEFINETLY this but I'd put a wager! FYI these Cylinder heads hold A Lot of oil during WOT and it shoots on the inside top of the valve covers and up through those 2 tubing pieces!
Sounds like the design is the similar to the S197's, the blow-by oil is vented back into the intake. The solution many on here have found (myself included) is to buy or fabricate a "blow-by catch can". If you do that, or use the "old" vent to the air style as has been mentioned, run some Sea Foam into the intake to get rid of the oil build up. My 07' (with only 7,000 miles at the time) would smoke at start up like you described & after putting in the "catch can" & Sea Foaming it, no more smoke.
If you do a search for "oil catch can", you'll find discussions on how to fabricate one by using a water separator designed for an air compressor.
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+1, my 05 had oil in the intake when i did the motion delete plates. Also i put the breather filters on both valve covers on my 03 Cobra. The lightnings have the same problem. like mentioned, it's best to get a oil sep, catch can, or breathers to eliminate the problem.
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1995 Mustang GT-Heavily Modded-Sold 2003 Ford Lightning-Sold 1997 Saleen-5.4 conversion-Sold 2005 Mustang GT-Torch Red-Sold 2003 Mustang Cobra-Oxford White 2003 4Runner V8 Sport Edition 4X4
I'm surprised this doesn't cause a big hassle for those people who have to have emission tests run on their cars, seems Ford would have recalled and fixed the problem..clearly the 96-98s don't have this issue.
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"Goose, Hollywood's fine, I want Viper"
1995 Mustang GT Cnv 347(427 stroker being built!) almost done!
1996 Cobra with Kenne Bell 2.1 Supercharger and every other conceivable part you can bolt on it...650hp upgrade in the works
2003 Infiniti M45 V8 340 hp...a methadone treatment for reformed Mustang drivers
Well..... I don't think its all that bad. I think it depends on the previous owners driving skills right? If he operates the car in boost all of the time then yes you will pull more oil into the intake. I got together with a friend this summer to help him put back on his S/C and he did have oil that collected under the undercharger but not much. I have the LFP Oil separator. You'd be surprised that if you don't operate in boost how little oil is actually collected.
Do you have hi-flow cats? I know every so often my Bassani cats still smoke on startup.
That correct 04 Venom but those WOT passes like I mentioned will have lots of oil shooting on the inside of the valve covers, a Ford Engineer made clear engine pieces so he could see the oil behavior in these motors, the Heads hold A Lot at high rpms and I'm sure you know how few return passages are available that's why I only put 7 Quarts in the stock pan now NOT 6!
Here's a similar pic of how the Technician viewed the inside, he also made a clear oil pan to see the pickup! Note this is just a model!
03 cobra -- exhaust plume on startup advice 
