Blue smoke on startup - Valve cover gasket?

[Dodge00]

Hi All, After some advice, I’ve got a 2010 30d (M57) with about 140k miles that has had it’s DPF removed that is smoking and burning oil. Probably 1 liter for every 2-3k miles. It puffs out some blue smoke on startup for a few seconds, then a fair amount the first time you floor it, although gets progressively less each time you do. I’ve replaced the crankcase breather assembly already, the shaft on the turbo has almost no play and the turbo is pretty quiet and healthy sounding. It pulls well and apart from the smoke seems to be running really well. From reading around I’m thinking the next step is getting the valve cover gasket replaced, I can see some dried oil that’s dripped down around the transfer case but not excessive and from the top it looks reasonably clean. It sounds like there is an internal gasket that can go as well? Not sure I fancy tackling removing the injectors myself so I would send it to the local specialist for the job.

any thoughts appreciated !

[Daytonawim]

Smoking on start has nothing to do with the valvecover gasket, that leaks on your floor or exhaust, and will give an oil smell in the cabin.

What you discribe looks like some leaking valve seals.

You can check the air inlet tube after the turbo and see if there is an fair amount of oil in it.

[Spaceme1117]

That is typically a symptom of bad or leaking valve seals.

[wcs531]

Valve stem seals don't seem too common on the M57, my guess would be a bad turbo.

If its on the original valve cover gasket at 140k miles that is most certainly bad also, which will cause a boost leak and push oil out of other seals.

[jbash87]

Regardless of whether you need a new VCG or not (you probably do if it's never been changed) the smoke on startup is normal. Also when flooring you will see smoke too. The amount will depend on the tune you've chosen.

Such is life for a deleted diesel.

[Dodge00]

Thanks all, I'm not so bothered that it smokes, more concerned by the blue tinge and oil burning. In my mind it adds up if the vcg leaking is letting oil get into the intake. I did search around for valve stem seals issues and couldn't find any reports of it on the m57 so it seems it's probably a very rare issue on this engine.

I think it makes sense to do the gasket and see if it improves it, it sounds like they have a limited life anyway so even if it's not bad now it will go at some point.