This is my first post in the motoring forum and my knowledge on motors is very limited. We bought a 2003 citreon berlingo with 125k on the clock last september and it had a small problem with blue smoke on startp but nothing major. It got a lot worse when my mum made the mistake of completely overfilling the oil and now it belches out blue smoke for 5 minutes when the car is started up in the morning. Some people have said that this may be due to bad valve seals but i'm looking for a second opinion. I'll try and get some pics of the engine later on. Also, is it an easy replacement job? I have a neighbor who is a retired mechanic who may be able to help but he has quite severe arthritis now so I doubt he would want to physically assist with it. Alternatively, how much do you think it would cost to get repaired at a garage?
Citreon berlingo bellowing blue smoke on startup
- Thread starter synixx
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Have you dropped the oil to get it down to the correct level?
You could try a thicker oil or an additive to "help" with the burning of oil on start-up, no idea on cost to repair as it might be a head off for valve stem seals or they might be able to do it in situ.
You could try a thicker oil or an additive to "help" with the burning of oil on start-up, no idea on cost to repair as it might be a head off for valve stem seals or they might be able to do it in situ.
Yes, we had to get the oil drained and replaced it with other oil. I'm not sure which oil it was though as I wasn't the one who replaced it. As i'm a student who doesn't drive I don't have much reason to know a lot about cars so excuse my lack of knowledge 
Just to clarify, the smoke is only on startup. Once running and burning off that oil it runs fine, no blue smoke on acceleration or anything. Does this help in the diagnosis? Where are the valve stem seals located?
Just to clarify, the smoke is only on startup. Once running and burning off that oil it runs fine, no blue smoke on acceleration or anything. Does this help in the diagnosis? Where are the valve stem seals located?
I am guessing this is a diesel van? If so, the obvious thing to check when you have a smoky start-up is the glow-plugs.
They are a service item but only get changed when they fail. Does the car run rough as well as belch out smoke or is it just smoke?
If its the former than I'd suggest glow plugs (again, assuming its not petrol!), however if its the latter then something else seems more likely.
They are a service item but only get changed when they fail. Does the car run rough as well as belch out smoke or is it just smoke?
If its the former than I'd suggest glow plugs (again, assuming its not petrol!), however if its the latter then something else seems more likely.
Duff glow plugs give a white smoke with a strong smell of diesel. Blue smoke is oil burning.
If it only happens on start up, especially if the engine hasn't been started for a while then valve stem seals are suspect. They are not an easy job to change since you have to remove the valve springs, and this is impossible unless to prevent the valves dropping into the cylinder. Either remove the head (lots of work) or it may be possible to remove the injectors and get an adapter to connect a compressed air line to the cylinder to keep the valves shut. Obviously you'll need a compressor. You will also need the proper valve spring compressor in order to remove the springs.
If the engine is a turbo diesel then it could also be the turbo oil seals.
Yes it's deisel. Do you agree with what what dogbreath (lol) wrote?
Any idea how much it would cost at a garage? I think it was a full 1ltr bottle. The problem was she didn't know how to read the dipstick correctly and didn't know the capacity of the oil chamber. It was overfilled roughly in February.
Cheers, I think it's a 1.9. Diesel. Seems like too much work for someone with no experience such as myself
But it's belching out smoke for five minutes. It's quite embarrassing and clearly indicates a problem. Also i'm worried about possible damage to the engine.