2008 Malibu V6 Smoke

Coastal44 · 05-11-2008, 09:58 AM

Last week I purchased a '08 Malibu 2LT with the 3.6L V6. It had 5 miles on the odometer when I bought it and it now has 474. When I started it yesterday from a cold start, a large volume of smoke came out of the tail pipes. It smelled like burnt oil which lasted for about 10 seconds. I'm 100% positive it was not condensation burning. This is the second time it has done this. Any suggestions? I'll probably take it back to the dealer this week. This is very frustrating since I just traded in an '03 Traiblazer LTZ that had problem after problem.

unkillsam · 05-11-2008, 10:07 AM

All new car's burn off some oil that is left in the exhaust system to prevent rust if the car sit's for a very long time before it is bought.

When I sold car's, we would go and put 10 miles or so on the car right away because customers thought that the cars were crap during a test drive if they smelled the burnt oil.

With 474 miles it is no longer the exhaust pipe that can be blamed.

Good luck.

FenwickHockey65 · 05-11-2008, 11:39 AM

New cars can do weird things...dealer will be able to fix it.

01sunfire01 · 05-11-2008, 12:19 PM

my g5 used to do that. put now with 17k on it the only smoke that comes out the tailpipe is when its cold the normal smoke. i wouldint worry about it. give it till its first oil change and see what it does.

**BigAls87Z28** · 05-11-2008, 12:30 PM

New exhaust smell, dont worry about it. Smoke is condensation, the smell is from the new exhaust.

Coastal44 · 05-11-2008, 06:06 PM

Thanks for the replies. It appears that an LTZ that Edmunds tested did the same thing, but mine was on start up.

"So it's no surprise that our LTZ slithered through our slalom course in a composed and unruffled manner at a respectable 64.5 mph. It also hurtled around our skid pad at 0.80g — better than most similarly priced sedans. And that's no smokescreen.

But a cloud of smoke billowed from our Malibu's tailpipe during its clockwise run around the skid pad. Further investigation revealed that some oil had been slung past the valve cover breather and into the intake tract. We've tested our long-term Aura XR V6 the same way and have never seen this behavior. And we were unable to replicate the smoke by flinging the Malibu at a few freeway cloverleafs we know."

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=123695

Al465 · 05-12-2008, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coastal44

Last week I purchased a '08 Malibu 2LT with the 3.6L V6. It had 5 miles on the odometer when I bought it and it now has 474. When I started it yesterday from a cold start, a large volume of smoke came out of the tail pipes. It smelled like burnt oil which lasted for about 10 seconds. I'm 100% positive it was not condensation burning. This is the second time it has done this. Any suggestions? I'll probably take it back to the dealer this week. This is very frustrating since I just traded in an '03 Traiblazer LTZ that had problem after problem.

You might have a bad valve seal.

tom3 · 05-12-2008, 11:27 AM

Parking on level ground? See this sometimes when parking on a hill or at an angle. Don't really understand why though

Coastal44 · 05-12-2008, 03:04 PM

It's been parked on level ground in my garage since I've owned it. Hopefully it isn't a valve seal, but the 100,000 mile drivetrain warranty gives me some peace of mind.

coaster.n3rd · 05-12-2008, 03:53 PM

Never seen that on an Aura with that many miles...

osevennali · 05-26-2008, 04:54 PM

i have an 07 denali with the 6.2 and it's also smoking at start up ?? anyone have any ideas as to why this is happening. Truck has 27,000 miles on it ...

ohmywrd8 · 05-26-2008, 05:53 PM

My Rabbit did it too when I bought it. Chill out, no biggie

kovich14 · 05-29-2008, 01:43 PM

Call your dealer if you are super concerned, but as stated before, get at least through the first oil change. 474 miles is still a brand new engine and sometimes funny stuff happens during break in. Dont weat it.

fordsundevil · 06-25-2008, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coastal44

Last week I purchased a '08 Malibu 2LT with the 3.6L V6. It had 5 miles on the odometer when I bought it and it now has 474. When I started it yesterday from a cold start, a large volume of smoke came out of the tail pipes. It smelled like burnt oil which lasted for about 10 seconds. I'm 100% positive it was not condensation burning. This is the second time it has done this. Any suggestions? I'll probably take it back to the dealer this week. This is very frustrating since I just traded in an '03 Traiblazer LTZ that had problem after problem.

This could be a major issue. Drive it around for 5000 more miles. If the problem persists, have 'em take it back or trade it in altogether. The new Honda Accord might be a good car to look into.

FenwickHockey65 · 06-25-2008, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fordsundevil

The new Honda Accord might be a good car to look into.

*coughs*

05-11-2008, 09:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
Coastal44 Walking Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4	2008 Malibu V6 Smoke Last week I purchased a '08 Malibu 2LT with the 3.6L V6. It had 5 miles on the odometer when I bought it and it now has 474. When I started it yesterday from a cold start, a large volume of smoke came out of the tail pipes. It smelled like burnt oil which lasted for about 10 seconds. I'm 100% positive it was not condensation burning. This is the second time it has done this. Any suggestions? I'll probably take it back to the dealer this week. This is very frustrating since I just traded in an '03 Traiblazer LTZ that had problem after problem.

05-11-2008, 10:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
unkillsam 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Philadelphia, PA Drives: 2008 Victory Red HHR LT Posts: 2,441	Re: 2008 Malibu V6 Smoke All new car's burn off some oil that is left in the exhaust system to prevent rust if the car sit's for a very long time before it is bought. When I sold car's, we would go and put 10 miles or so on the car right away because customers thought that the cars were crap during a test drive if they smelled the burnt oil. With 474 miles it is no longer the exhaust pipe that can be blamed. Good luck.

05-11-2008, 11:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
FenwickHockey65 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Chester, OH Drives: Chevrolet Malibu LS, GMC Envoy SLE, GMC Sonoma SLS Posts: 5,419	Re: 2008 Malibu V6 Smoke New cars can do weird things...dealer will be able to fix it. __________________ Proud to drive American. Proud to drive GM. Current Cars: 2007 Chevrolet Malibu LS: 2.2L ECOTEC I-4 2003 GMC Envoy SLE: 4.2L Vortec 4200 I-6 1998 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext. Cab: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6 Former Cars: 1993 Saturn SW2 (1993-2006, 243,000 miles) 1989 GMC Safari SLT (1989-2003, 293,000 miles) Future Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT RS: 3.6L DI VVT V6

05-11-2008, 12:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
01sunfire01 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: CT Drives: 2001 Pontiac sunfire Posts: 641	Re: 2008 Malibu V6 Smoke my g5 used to do that. put now with 17k on it the only smoke that comes out the tailpipe is when its cold the normal smoke. i wouldint worry about it. give it till its first oil change and see what it does.

05-11-2008, 12:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
BigAls87Z28 GMI Mod/Camaro Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 9,506	Re: 2008 Malibu V6 Smoke New exhaust smell, dont worry about it. Smoke is condensation, the smell is from the new exhaust. __________________ Any Inside Info? Questions or Coments? Ideas? Email me at BigAl@GMInsidenews.com 1993 Caprice 9C1 1987 Camaro Z28 1972 Camaro RS

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05-11-2008, 06:06 PM	#6 (permalink)
Coastal44 Walking Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4	Re: 2008 Malibu V6 Smoke Thanks for the replies. It appears that an LTZ that Edmunds tested did the same thing, but mine was on start up. "So it's no surprise that our LTZ slithered through our slalom course in a composed and unruffled manner at a respectable 64.5 mph. It also hurtled around our skid pad at 0.80g — better than most similarly priced sedans. And that's no smokescreen. But a cloud of smoke billowed from our Malibu's tailpipe during its clockwise run around the skid pad. Further investigation revealed that some oil had been slung past the valve cover breather and into the intake tract. We've tested our long-term Aura XR V6 the same way and have never seen this behavior. And we were unable to replicate the smoke by flinging the Malibu at a few freeway cloverleafs we know." http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=123695

05-12-2008, 11:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
tom3 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,798	Re: 2008 Malibu V6 Smoke Parking on level ground? See this sometimes when parking on a hill or at an angle. Don't really understand why though

05-12-2008, 03:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
Coastal44 Walking Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 4	Re: 2008 Malibu V6 Smoke It's been parked on level ground in my garage since I've owned it. Hopefully it isn't a valve seal, but the 100,000 mile drivetrain warranty gives me some peace of mind.

05-12-2008, 03:53 PM	#10 (permalink)
coaster.n3rd 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: 5,059 Miles SE of Dutch Harbor Drives: 2008 Saturn Aura XE 2.4 I-4 Posts: 3,860	Re: 2008 Malibu V6 Smoke Never seen that on an Aura with that many miles... __________________ 'I've seen the next Cadillac STS replacement and it looks damn good... like a ****ing Bentley.' - Unclassified GM exec. 'I had no respect for the 55 mph limit and I took great delight in breaking the limit I can assure you.' www.32hours7minutes.com

05-26-2008, 04:54 PM	#11 (permalink)
osevennali Walking Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 9	Re: 2008 Malibu V6 Smoke i have an 07 denali with the 6.2 and it's also smoking at start up ?? anyone have any ideas as to why this is happening. Truck has 27,000 miles on it ...

05-26-2008, 05:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
ohmywrd8 3.8 Liter V6 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chicago suburbs Drives: 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit Posts: 466	Re: 2008 Malibu V6 Smoke My Rabbit did it too when I bought it. Chill out, no biggie

05-29-2008, 01:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
kovich14 1.8 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: May 2007 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Drives: 2007 Cobalt SS 2.4 VVT Posts: 35	Re: 2008 Malibu V6 Smoke Call your dealer if you are super concerned, but as stated before, get at least through the first oil change. 474 miles is still a brand new engine and sometimes funny stuff happens during break in. Dont weat it.

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