Smokeless Engine Oil? REALLY?

[ArkRescue]

Timeline:

Spring 2011 - Failed emissions test
Fall 2011 - went to retest and they turned me away saying SUV was smoking too much
In a few weeks I am due to test again ......

The mechanic I use told me that I can try smokeless oil so that Emissions will let me test (turned me away a few months ago due to too much smoke), then I will get more time to figure out what to do with my SUV even if I fail again.

I was reading online that smokeless oil doesn't work BUT the mechanic said he ordered some (from a supplier in Georgia for $200) for a customer who used it and went through DC inspection just fine (meaning it worked).

I'm thinking this, if the smokeless oil works, I use that, then have the shop figure out what else caused me to fail Emissions last Spring, then maybe I get a year or 2 if I pass to figure out what's going on with my engine, and at the minimum a few more months if I don't pass.

So does smokeless oil work that anyone here knows of? I would assume maybe some brands work and some are just getting big $$ for a product that doesn't work.

 

[desertrat]

Timeline:

Spring 2011 - Failed emissions test
Fall 2011 - went to retest and they turned me away saying SUV was smoking too much
In a few weeks I am due to test again ......

The mechanic I use told me that I can try smokeless oil so that Emissions will let me test (turned me away a few months ago due to too much smoke), then I will get more time to figure out what to do with my SUV even if I fail again.

I was reading online that smokeless oil doesn't work BUT the mechanic said he ordered some (from a supplier in Georgia for $200) for a customer who used it and went through DC inspection just fine (meaning it worked).

I'm thinking this, if the smokeless oil works, I use that, then have the shop figure out what else caused me to fail Emissions last Spring, then maybe I get a year or 2 if I pass to figure out what's going on with my engine, and at the minimum a few more months if I don't pass.

So does smokeless oil work that anyone here knows of? I would assume maybe some brands work and some are just getting big $$ for a product that doesn't work.

That sounds weird. Never heard of a smokeless oil and if you vehicle is putting out too much oil smoke it has a problem. Rings? How many miles? Best to just get it fixed.

 

[aps45819]

That sounds weird. Never heard of a smokeless oil and if you vehicle is putting out too much oil smoke it has a problem. Rings? How many miles? Best to just get it fixed.

I've herd of additives like STP that are supposed to stop an engine from smoking but never smokeless oil

 

[desertrat]

I've herd of additives like STP that are supposed to stop an engine from smoking but never smokeless oil

Yeah, your engine should not be burning very much oil. I think STP just helps keep it from getting past the rings.

If It is coming from the top though I don't think it can help.

 

[ArkRescue]

That sounds weird. Never heard of a smokeless oil and if you vehicle is putting out too much oil smoke it has a problem. Rings? How many miles? Best to just get it fixed.

I don't have the $$ to let someone open up the engine to see what the cause is (could be $500 + or a new engine for $3k) so I need more time. Emissions says I have to be there in a couple weeks again to retest, and they may suspend my tags this time? I don't know how many chances you get. I just need more time, and I don't want to give up my tags for 6 months (or more) and have to get them back again. I'm not driving it due to the smoking problem, so me polluting the environment in the meantime isn't the issue.

 

[ArkRescue]

oh 230k miles now V8 5.7L GM

 

[ArkRescue]

Smokeless Oil URL

" Does ENTEK Smokeless Motor Oil really work?
This is a frequently asked question simply, because our claims seem too good to be true; however, they are true as evidenced by over 50,000 successful uses. The only time that ENTEK Smokeless Oil will not stop tail pipe emissions is if the emissions are coolant related, (in which case, another high quality ENTEK Corporation product, MR. BLOCKHEAD, should be used) or in cases of a very rich fuel/air mixture. A good automotive professional should be able to tell the difference; OIL BASED EMISSIONS ARE BLUE; COOLANT EMISSIONS ARE WHITE OR GRAY; AND FUEL EMISSIONS ARE BLACK"

:: ENTEK Corporation ::

 

[ArkRescue]

here's another smokeless oil:

"What is this oil and how does it work?
FHS SmokeLess Oil is a unique synthetic oil that was developed from our high performance racing oils. These special oils were necessary for engines to survive the extreme conditions encountered in racing. By using the same innovative, cutting-edge technology, we have created a new oil to prevent the problems that occur in worn engines. Several special properties allow this oil to work for you."

Cutting Edge Racing Oil and Fuel

 

[dave1959]

Look into a waiver... VEIP Waiver Information

 

[bcp]

dont they let you spend a certain amount on repairs then give you a waiver if you still dont pass?
If so, get a tune up, and move on

 

[Foxhound]

Yes they do. My Saturn failed last year, (before I put diesel in it). If you spend over $400 trying to fix the problem you are able to get a waiver. You are also given almost 3 full months to retest after a failure. I got lucky and only had to get a couple sensors replaced due to my failure. (again before I put diesel in it. BCP please put a sign on your truck so I don't siphon diesel into my car again)

 

[ArkRescue]

dont they let you spend a certain amount on repairs then give you a waiver if you still dont pass?
If so, get a tune up, and move on

You have to spend a minimum of $450 on emissions-related repairs during certain specified time periods to qualify. I don't think my SUV needs $450 of emissions-related repairs (aside from engine), and I'd hate to think I have to spend $450 on stuff I don't need just to get more time. If I had $450 laying around, I could probably get the engine opened up and looked at to see why its smoking?

 

[GWguy]

From the mechanic in me: It's got 230,000 miles on it. It's worn out. Could be rings, could be valve guides, could be seals. I'd bet that whatever the root cause of the smoke is, it will be far more expensive than $450. If it were me, and the truck body and frame and tranny were all in VERY good shape, I'd replace the motor, not fix it. If the truck is NOT in good shape, it's wasted money. Put it toward a new or newer vehicle.

From the Naturalist in me: If it's smoking, it needs to either be repaired or taken off the road. The whole reason for the emissions test is to catch and remove vehicles from the system that pollute. Getting a waiver to get around it just because you don't want or can't afford to get it fixed is just not an excuse in my book.

 

[Bann]

From the mechanic in me: It's got 230,000 miles on it. It's worn out. Could be rings, could be valve guides, could be seals. I'd bet that whatever the root cause of the smoke is, it will be far more expensive than $450. If it were me, and the truck body and frame and tranny were all in VERY good shape, I'd replace the motor, not fix it. If the truck is NOT in good shape, it's wasted money. Put it toward a new or newer vehicle.

From the Naturalist in me: If it's smoking, it needs to either be repaired or taken off the road. The whole reason for the emissions test is to catch and remove vehicles from the system that pollute. Getting a waiver to get around it just because you don't want or can't afford to get it fixed is just not an excuse in my book.

IOW, it's dead Jim. ?

 

[ArkRescue]

From the mechanic in me: It's got 230,000 miles on it. It's worn out. Could be rings, could be valve guides, could be seals. I'd bet that whatever the root cause of the smoke is, it will be far more expensive than $450. If it were me, and the truck body and frame and tranny were all in VERY good shape, I'd replace the motor, not fix it. If the truck is NOT in good shape, it's wasted money. Put it toward a new or newer vehicle.

From the Naturalist in me: If it's smoking, it needs to either be repaired or taken off the road. The whole reason for the emissions test is to catch and remove vehicles from the system that pollute. Getting a waiver to get around it just because you don't want or can't afford to get it fixed is just not an excuse in my book.

I would rather put a new engine in it than pay someone to look into the current one since it may a big job and I still may end up needing a new one? The trans is about 4 years old, body still good, and it has sentimental value to me also. It also has a new Flowmaster exhaust system on it.

I mentioned that I am NOT driving it due to the smoke. But I want to keep my tags until I can get the smoke issue addressed (as soon as I find someone who does engines as a hobby or I buy a new one). Vehicles w/o tags are not allowed to be within sight of the road, and short of parking it in the horse field, I have no other place to put it out of sight, AND I'd have no choice then but to have it TOWED to a shop when I have $$ to fix it, and I'd lose my Alumni tags which I'd have to reapply for - so too much hassle to turn in tags until I get it fixed, if I don't have to.

 

[ArkRescue]

IOW, it's dead Jim. ?

It AIN'T easy to put my hands on $3k for the replacement of the engine ..... but I'm not going to trash the whole vehicle because of that just because emissions wants me to pass or take my tags.

Prior to last Spring I was passing the emissions test, suddenly I don't pass, then the next time I go they say it's smoking too much to let me test. So I take a vehicle that I've spent thousands of dollars on in recent years, and throw it away? I can't afford to do that unfortunately. If I had money to buy a new(er) vehicle I'd happily buy one.

 

[bcp]

It AIN'T easy to put my hands on $3k for the replacement of the engine ..... but I'm not going to trash the whole vehicle because of that just because emissions wants me to pass or take my tags.

Prior to last Spring I was passing the emissions test, suddenly I don't pass, then the next time I go they say it's smoking too much to let me test. So I take a vehicle that I've spent thousands of dollars on in recent years, and throw it away? I can't afford to do that unfortunately. If I had money to buy a new(er) vehicle I'd happily buy one.

What kind if vehicle is it and what engine do you have in it.

 

[bcp]

Never mind, I just went back and saw it was a GM.
I have a 302 with 108k on it that I was going to offer to let you have.
Still would have had to pay someone to swap it, but it would have been much less than other ways.

 

[huntr1]

It AIN'T easy to put my hands on $3k for the replacement of the engine ..... but I'm not going to trash the whole vehicle because of that just because emissions wants me to pass or take my tags.

Prior to last Spring I was passing the emissions test, suddenly I don't pass, then the next time I go they say it's smoking too much to let me test. So I take a vehicle that I've spent thousands of dollars on in recent years, and throw it away? I can't afford to do that unfortunately. If I had money to buy a new(er) vehicle I'd happily buy one.

Call Brandywine and see what they have in the way of used motors for you. Shouldn't be too expensive since it's not a high end engine, just a run of the mill 5.7. They also do replacements, so get a price on that as well. If you can swing the $$ for a used motor, let me know and I will give you the info for my mechanic. He does good work and is cheap.

 

[bcp]

Call Brandywine and see what they have in the way of used motors for you. Shouldn't be too expensive since it's not a high end engine, just a run of the mill 5.7. They also do replacements, so get a price on that as well. If you can swing the $$ for a used motor, let me know and I will give you the info for my mechanic. He does good work and is cheap.

that and with a hoist the average backyard mechanic can do a swap on a saturday, fine tune things on a sunday and be back on the road monday morning.