Good day,

I've had this car about 1k miles. The engine oil was clean, I've fixed several issues with it - suspension etc. I'm pleased with the car. My wife and I enjoy it.

It is a 04 x350 xj8 with 126k on the clock.

Has service history and a recent fresh water pump (previous owner).

Long story short, I've been driving the car daily - no smoke on startup or oil consumption that I could see via the dip stick. The engine feels strong and is smooth.

The only time I gunned it was on the test drive, which of course was at night and it felt fine. I did get a p0171? code which was remedied by replacing the pcv valve. I did get a cheap new ebay pcv valve for around 40 bucks. The code has not come back.

Yesterday I was going about 80mph on the highway and this new pickup was riding my bumper real close. I said ok and I floored the jag. It had been driving for 40 minutes or so already and was all warmed up. When I did this - it appeared that I became batman - I let out a gray smoke screen behind me that filled the highway. Not kidding. The guys car and several other cars were engulfed by this smoke.

I did think it was rather funny but at the same time, was worried for my new jag. No overheating and the smoke stopped.

I gunned it twice more, no smoke that I could see. Granted I had been just cruising around in this car as it's a pleasure to drive, no riding it hard till this point.

Well I parked it, got back in it to go home from work, gray/white smoke on startup and went away. Went to the grocery store - gave the car hell figured if it's going to blow bring it on. Well no smoke. Left the grocery store no smoke.

This morning went to fire it up after sitting overnight, white/gray smoke. Smells like oil.

I'm thinking valve seals? I dont know. I'm going to give her an oil change see what happens. Long blocks are 700-1000 dollars for our cars at this point so it's not the end of the world just upsetting.

I've read it also could be a bad master cylinder, will look into that. No coolant consumption or overheating.

Has anyone else experienced this?

 

Grey smoke; it does sound like you're burning oil. Not usually something that comes on out of nowhere, in my experience, but.... a compression check might pinpoint a broken ring, or suggest a closer look with a boroscope,,

 

not sure what to say, the smoking has stopped. Maybe the 'ol girl was clearing her lungs out after living a part throttle life.

I'm giving it an oil change and hoping for the best.

No apparent oil or coolant loss.

Do these cars break rings often?

Thanks!

 

Don't worry I think the smoke is due to oil vapour depositing in the PCV lines and then flushed into the engine when you floor it.

 

I believe that the corrugated nature of the PCV pipework helps to trap oil.
I have had the huge cloud of smoke a couple of times in the 10 years that I have owned the Jag.