So what is going on, engine light on and exhaust tips dirty?

Usually blue/white smoke is burned oil. Did the shop doing the compression test use oil to seal the rings during the compression test? If so, that oil will find its way to the exhaust canister and sit there. It will take a very long (hot) drive to burn it all out.

If they did not put any oil into the cylinders during the compression test, then the car may be burning oil internally some place.

Have you checked the oil level recently? Also, try to smell the smoke to see if it smells of burnt oil. I would also make sure the O2 sensor lines are properly attached and/or not broken.

Finally, have a dealer pull the check engine code and see what's going on.

Ray

 

I'm no sure with Ferrari but blue smoke can be two things;
the car have more gas in the mixture that it should
or
the car is burning oil

 

if the CEL is on, i would suspect a bad O2 sensor. easy to check with a $40 code reader from autozone or wherever.

 

Just remember Seanile- if you undo the battery you will erase the check engine code. Either do not do this, or buy a code reader at an autoparts store (they aren't expensive), write down the code and mileage, and re-set after talking to your mechanic if he wants you to reset the code (to see if it comes on again). If you just erase the code by disconnecting the battery you don't know what caused it...if you disconnect the battery make sure your using the proper procedures to let the car recalibrate the computer (check other posts- I think you have to wait with key turned before starting, then when the car is ready start it and let it for 10 minutes or something like that).

I get some smoke on the first start after sitting a while- the car sputters for about 10 seconds like it's running on 4 cylinders and then goes to full 1,100 rpm idle. It's common on 360's when they have been sitting for a few days, and my mechanic recommendes to just let the car do it's thing, not to push the gas or anything until the car gets up to full idle. My point is some of this may just be a "normal" quirk with 360's that happens to many of them.

 

By the way, my car is at the mechanic now for a check engine light. So far he's checked intake leaks (none), and fuel pressure (Good). He's got a bunch of other things to check- and we know what codes were recorded! Without the codes it would be even harder to diagnose...there are so many things from a wire that is loose to a bad sensor to...well, bad catalytic converters and anything in between...

 

Did you notice any other unusual running conditions after all this? Is the car sluggish or flat sounding?

 

it might be using oil,ck your oillevel when eng is hot and running,or possibly some oil in itake from ovefilling at one time.i know 95% of 360 owners say there car uses no oil within 3000 miles bt mine uses about 1 qt within 3000 miles,i do drive mine the way it was designed to.let us know what the code or codes are.

 

Often "smoke" on start-up can indicate weak piston rings. It could be as simple as something in the PCV system failed and is allowing some oil ingestion also. I realize these are two entirely different situations, either way it's something you'll want to look to a qualified shop to figure out as they could be serious.

 

When the O2 sensor is bad the ECU injects too much fuel. This causes smoke and dirty exhaust tips. As well as poor idling and high fuel consumption. If the car is merely burning oil, the CEL would not be on.

 

of course many other things could be wrong, but the symptoms match a bad O2 sensor, which also happens to be a common type of failure (more so than, say, broken piston oil ring) and easy to check. definitely the first thing i'd look for.

 

Totally agree.

 

John,

You need to READ THE CODE(s) before you try to guess "what's going wrong".

Diagnosis is a procedure - and with that code we can tell you what your Motronic THINKS
the problem is.

Jim

 

Good news!