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V6 Dakotas
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jkw
Dodge Dakota
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2/26/2003
21:07:28
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 Subject: Puffs smoke on start-up
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I've got a 94 Sport V6 with a buttload of miles (around 187,000) Over the past year or so, I've noticed that it will puff some smoke when I start it after it's been sitting for a while. I'm pretty sure it's the valve guides. If anyone has fixed a prob like this and has any info on what all is involved in fixing it, please post.
Thanks in advance,
Jeff
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Todd W
GenIII
2/27/2003
08:13:40
|  RE: Puffs smoke on start-up
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Your on track with the valve guides! As far as I know, the only way to fix it is to pull the head and have new guides pressed in, you might want to call around to machine shops to find out how much that will cost.
Of course, my dad's old Chevy Van started puffing at about 100,000 miles... he didn't do anything to it except make sure that the oil level was good. Van went another 100,000 miles with nothing but tuneups and some minor maintaince (altenator twice) before spinning a main bearing. Niehbor bought it and rebuilt it, runs strong again.
So, really, unless your noticing it's using a lot of oil, it's not a 'panic' problem. :) The fact that it went 187,000 miles before the guides wore to the point of leaking a bit, is impressive! The only thing I can say though, is with that many miles, if you -do- pull the head expect to do more... since you'll have it apart you'll probally find out that the cam is worn, the timing chain stretched, and the cylinder walls probally will have some minor scratchs in them.
I learned to drive from James Bond and playing Grand Theft Auto
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C P
Dodge Dakota
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2/27/2003
12:07:47
| RE: Puffs smoke on start-up
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Puff of smoke at start up is an old and almost sure sign of worn rings. 180K is pretty good. Don't feel bad. Do a compression check, and a leakdown to verify condition and location(s). This complaint could probably be ignored until the difference between cylinder pressures becomes greater than 15% or when compression falls below specs. Just be sure to check your oil level weekly.
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jkw
Dodge Dakota
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2/27/2003
12:18:36
| RE: Puffs smoke on start-up
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Thanks Todd. It doesn't really use much oil. Maybe a quart in between oil changes, which to me really isn't that big of a deal. But you're right about being impressed, I've never put this many miles on anything I've ever owned. This has been the best truck. Sure I've had some minor bugs here and there, but overall I can't complain a bit. I'm pushing for 200,000 now, then maybe a rebuild. And best of all, it still runs like a champ and gets 18mpg. What more could you ask for?
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Todd W
GenIII
2/27/2003
18:41:35
|  RE: Puffs smoke on start-up
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Well, you could ask for it to not puff oil :)
Besides that? Not much I would think! Thats a sharp looking truck, are those Gen III wheels on it? Nice looking combo. Your right, it's a clean looking Dakota, hard to tell by looking at it that it's got that many miles on it.
I'm going to disagree with the worn rings causing the puff though... the puff is generally caused by a buildup of oil in one or more cylinders that burns off on startup, since worn rings woudln't let the oil up there, it has to be from the top of the engine. Hence, valve guides. Besides, worn rings typically are associated with blue smoke under accelleration or cruise, not startup, and typically come with performance drops. Valve guides simply 'puff', and the actual oil used is minimal because the guides 'swell' once pressure is restored.
I do recomend the compression check though! Let you know where your standing, although I bet it's not bad if your running like a champ. If it was me, I'd eye that oil level occasionally and start saving for an engine rebuild/replacement.
I learned to drive from James Bond and playing Grand Theft Auto
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jkw
Dodge Dakota
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2/27/2003
19:28:31
| RE: Puffs smoke on start-up
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Thanks Todd. You've got really good advice, and I agree, I'm sure the rings aren't the cause (of my problem anyway) It only smokes the first few seconds after start up, then it quits completely. I have to attribute my good fortune to religiously changing the oil EVERY 3000 miles, whether I thought it needed it or not. It's never had more than 3200 miles on a single oil change since I bought it back in 95. Pennzoil 10W-30 by the way. I'll just let it ride til I'm ready for a rebuild. With the body and interior still in top shape, 3 core radiator out of a V8 Dak, elect. fans etc, I think it deserves a fresh motor :)
I bought these wheels off the net cheap. They are off of a Durango (15X8). Made a big difference in the appearance, and seems to handle better too. I get compliments all the time.
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Jason Teague
Dodge Dakota
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2/27/2003
23:02:58
| RE: Puffs smoke on start-up
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I would be looking at the valve stem seals not necessarily the valve guides themselves. I would bet you a 6 pack of beer that valve stem seals alone will fix your problem. They are easily changed with a cheapo valve spring compressor and a air compressor and air hold fixture to hold the valves up when the springs are removed. You will most likely find that the seals are very hard and brittle where new seals will be soft and spongy. The air hold fixture can be made from a junk compression tester, remove the checkvalve and connect it to an air compressor with at least 100 psi pressure and your set.
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whitedakota
Dodge Dakota
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2/28/2003
00:33:47
|  RE: Puffs smoke on start-up
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i also have a 94 dakota swb, reg. cab. i have 212,400 miles on it! it runs as good if not better than the day i bought it. the only things ive done to it is change the oil every 3,000, homebrew intake, polished the tb, 40 seris flow, rebuilt the tranny and installed a shift kit, lower the rear 2in to level it out. belive it or not it has never been rebuilt, or had a head job! it uses absoloutly no oil. i take it to the strip every fri night and run constient 10.30's. i guess they just built the dakota better and stronger during 1994! i admitt i have drove the hell out of it. i got it for my 16th b-day and im now 18, and have put about 40,000 extremly hard miles on it. to this date i have the second fastest viehcle at school, next to a 5.0 mustang with some work. but hey what more could you expect out of a 3.9l dakota! i am not gonna complain one bit when mine bites the dust, but im sayin it wont because it a DODGE!!!
my two-cents worth,
whitedakota
future mods: 440 w/work, 9in ford, coil-overs, slicks, and stock exhaust (yeah right) sleeper!!!
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Todd W
GenIII
2/28/2003
01:41:59
| RE: Puffs smoke on start-up
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Message:
Yep, your right, could be the Stem Seals as well! You know JKW, if you can get it to last long enough and want to rebuild the V6, there are companies coming out with stroker cranks that bump these babies up to about 4.7L...
I love those wheels on the Gen II... snazzy lookin! The tires are wider than the stock Gen IIs, aren't they? I know the 15x8s on my Dak stick out about an inch on all sides, looks wide as all heck (sprays mud all over though). But yeah, does make for some nice road-gripping! Pbbbt... 25mph exit ramp my butt... :D
Whitedakota,
Sleepers are great! Wish I had pics of my old 1980 Chebby 1/2ton... it was four different colors, beat all to heck, but could lay a half-block long strip of rubber. The fact that it had a steep enough cam to make it sound like it was about to die at idle helped a -lot-... heh, silly Camaro owners...
I learned to drive from James Bond and playing Grand Theft Auto
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Mark green92
Dodge Dakota
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2/28/2003
12:41:47
| RE: Puffs smoke on start-up
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Jeff, I had a similar problem with my 92. I am now at 175,000 and recently added roller rockers. At the same time I swapped valve stem seals with Felpro replacements and it solved the problem. The may someday start to leak again, but I am not going to pull the engine down until I can justify a rebuild. Chrysler built these right, I’ll put this truck up against the best of the imports, they just can’t compete!
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