1997 Saturn SL2 white smoke

Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 1997 SATURN SL2
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 168,000 MILES
This car just had an oil change and then began to have white smoke upon startup and acceleration. The smoke smells oily, not sweet and there is no oil in the antifreeze or vice-versa. Code indicates O2 sensor, replaced by system does not seem to be reading it. Smoke started after replacing this sensor. There is no bubbling in the overflow coolant bottle. It sometimes stutters when reaching 3500-4000 rpm. Any suggestions?
Monday, August 2nd, 2010 AT 10:04 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
First of all thank you so much for the donation. First thing make sure the oil isn't over full because if it is it will smoke. Also is the smoke heavy does it stay low and kind of hover around?That's what oil out the tail pipe does what o2 sensor did you replace the one in the exhaust manifold or the one by the cat?What was the number of the code you were getting?
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Monday, August 2nd, 2010 AT 10:23 PM
Tiny
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I replaced the exhaust manifold O2 sensor and I dont remember what code it was reading, it indicated group 1, sensor 1. The smoke does seem heavy and it has had a small amount of black smoke right before the white smoke on occasion. The guy at the auto part store also stated there was a code for the egr sensor.
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Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 AT 8:50 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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When you reach 4,000 rpm's the rev limiter kick's if your in neutral or park that's normal I forgot to mention that earlier. So does your o2 code come back since you replace the o2 sensor?Is your egr code current meaning if you clear it does it set again?Also if you could get me the code number that would be great a lot of those sensor's or valve's have more then one code for them. With different meaning's and diagnoses trouble tree's. You never told me if your oil was over filled?Black smoke is fuel blue smoke is oil and white smoke is usually coolant. Are you sure the smoke coming out isn't steam or coolant?
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Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 AT 1:58 PM
Tiny
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The code that comes up is P0134, bank 1 sensor 1 no activity, I reset it and it hasn't come back yet. It does appear to be overfiled on oil, it is 1/4 inch past the full mark, how to I drain excess oil? It onkly smokes for the first 5 minutes or so that it is on and then stops, until it sits for a while. Thanks
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Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010 AT 6:56 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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To lower the oil level you would go under the car and on the drain pan you will find a drain plug it should be 14mm if it's it's the factory one. Remove it for a second or two and see what the level is at then.I would try that then drive the car for a little while and see if the smoke clear's up. Are you saying the smoke only happens when you first start it up after it sits?Then goes away after it run's a little while?
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Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 AT 1:27 PM
Tiny
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The smoke is very heavy at first when you start it up after sitting for a day or 2, after driving for 5-10 minutes the smoke is no longer visable. When it is smoking it seems to be very light or not there when ideling and heavy when reving or accelerating.
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Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 AT 3:30 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Sounds like your burning oil so was the smoke ever there before your last oil change or did it all start with your last oil change?I would also set the oil level to the correct level and see how it goes from there out.
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Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 AT 4:27 PM
Tiny
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It did not smoke prior to last oil change (which was last week) I will adjust the level and hope that resolves it. Thanks
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Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 AT 6:06 PM
Tiny
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Let me know sound's like they did something if it never smoked before the oil change. You didn't switch to synthetic oil this oil change did you?
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Wednesday, August 4th, 2010 AT 6:30 PM

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