Blue smoke at start up, and shudder at idle

[krosspen]

I got a 2000 Ford Windstar 3.8 I built a building up north and in my obsession with that I hauled an incredibly large load of lumber with the van low on oil.
When I finaly found out.....weeks later?, I was 3 - 4 quarts down! I always figured I broke a piston ring....
The van uses a LOT of oil in city driving now, and less on the road. It was developing very rough "fluttering" shaking at start up of acceleration. I got 120,000 on it now and the shaking was getting bad... I had plugs and wires put in new by at home mechanic.
Runs better .....start up shudder is gone pretty much, but now at idle coming to a stop it studders and gets worse as we sit. I sat for a while the other day....and it shuddered and the oil indicator light even came on. A quick rev eliminated that. For a stop light we might put it in neutral.
There is some clickking noise in the engine at time early in start up, but no big knocking. NOW TODAY, starting this morning....when we start it, many of the starts include a big blue cloud on start up.
I got to get some more miles out of this.... $$ real bad for us right now. Been limping along with the problem from the original miss use last year. Few quarts every week or so in the city, and not that much over the road.
Now it is getting worse of course.... I'm guessing I should use the motor honey thickener to buy me more time... Any certain brand? Any other ideas?

[strongoak]

leaking valve seals can cause smoke at start up. Another problem can be caused by using oil that builds sludge. The oil return holes in the cyl head will stop up and flood the valves. Removing valve covers and cleaning return holes can eliminate the problem if they are stopped up. If a lot of sludge has built up in engine I would use caution on changing to a different oil that may break up the sludge and block oil ports. As for the rough idle you may wish to check the EGR valve for a sticking problem. Let me know what you find.

[krosspen]

OK, I know the engine is on it's last legs (but I got 20 K miles out of it since I screwed it up).

WHAT'S YOUR GUESS ON HOW IT WILL DIE?

I ask cause we use it to go up to our get-away, and we use it for fishing and hunting trips.

Will knocking suddenly become apparant and we limp home and shoot it to put it out of it's misery? (after ordering used engine at junk yard to be put in)

Or will it happen SUDDENLY ANYWHERE ANY TIME AND THERE WE SIT, 20 miles from closest small town?

[theoldwizard]

Originally Posted by krosspen

WHAT'S YOUR GUESS ON HOW IT WILL DIE?

Main/rod bearings. The oil pressure light at idle is the give away

Will knocking suddenly become apparant and we limp home and shoot it to put it out of it's misery?

Maybe, maybe not

Or will it happen SUDDENLY ANYWHERE ANY TIME AND THERE WE SIT, 20 miles from closest small town?

Highly possible ! You'll get to see what the NASCAR boys see when a rod go through the side of the block! It will happen, only a matter of time.

[doug 351]

Originally Posted by theoldwizard

Highly possible ! You'll get to see what the NASCAR boys see when a rod go through the side of the block! It will happen, only a matter of time.

And when that happens- everything in the lower end is junk. It's not the most fun thing in the world, but there is a (slight) possibility you can replace the bearings while in the vehicle. It depends on the vehicle. Sometimes the crank is not hurt too bad and new bearings can buy you some time. Even if you pull the motor and turn the crank- the costs are not that great- but the labor is. I can sympathize with the hard times- I know first hand- But the costs invovled just getting the vehicle home when it breaks down far away from home and civilization outweigh repair costs. I can't even afford a hunting /fishing license, but I always find the cash to keep my vehicles running.

[lismorris]

Originally Posted by krosspen

I got a 2000 Ford Windstar 3.8 I built a building up north and in my obsession with that I hauled an incredibly large load of lumber with the van low on oil.
When I finaly found out.....weeks later?, I was 3 - 4 quarts down! I always figured I broke a piston ring....
The van uses a LOT of oil in city driving now, and less on the road. It was developing very rough "fluttering" shaking at start up of acceleration. I got 120,000 on it now and the shaking was getting bad... I had plugs and wires put in new by at home mechanic.
Runs better .....start up shudder is gone pretty much, but now at idle coming to a stop it studders and gets worse as we sit. I sat for a while the other day....and it shuddered and the oil indicator light even came on. A quick rev eliminated that. For a stop light we might put it in neutral.
There is some clickking noise in the engine at time early in start up, but no big knocking. NOW TODAY, starting this morning....when we start it, many of the starts include a big blue cloud on start up.
I got to get some more miles out of this.... $$ real bad for us right now. Been limping along with the problem from the original miss use last year. Few quarts every week or so in the city, and not that much over the road.
Now it is getting worse of course.... I'm guessing I should use the motor honey thickener to buy me more time... Any certain brand? Any other ideas?

I feel for you! ALthough I guess I am lucky that my Lincoln has 322011 miles on it and just started puffing smoke like a year ago. It only burns about 1 qrt of oil every month or two. Leaky valve on the drivers side. Youre probably gonna have to invest in another car! PInching those pennies!!! Good luck!