06 1500 smokes on startup

Mattr2589 · August 23, 2017

I have a 2006 Silverado 1500 with a VIN B 5.3l engine. It has 185,000 miles and smokes a good bit on startup. It started about 10,000-15,000 miles ago. If I unhook the PCV hose from the drivers valve cover it doesn't smoke at all. I do have oil puddling up in the intake. I found a TSB about oil consumption and have checked both valve covers. One thing I'm seeing is there could be a problem with over aggressive oiling from some lifters. To check this the TSB recommends removing the valve covers and starting the engine while monitoring the amount of oil coming from the rocker arms. It states that there will be no question if one is over oiling as a good bit of clean up will be required. After startup all of them looked normal. Only one time did I see anything I would consider over oiling as it shot a stream of oil out of the drivers side that hit the hood. Now, I don't understand how a lifter would over oil in the first place let alone at times. I am wondering if anyone could shed some light on this subject for me? I was hoping to pull the covers, start it up and have oil flying everywhere so I would at least know I need to replace the lifters but with how it acted I'm a little unsure. Any help would be appreciated.

eddiefromcali · August 23, 2017

I would start with spraying some B-12 down the pushrods, onto the lifters. To do this, simply remove the rockers and put the straw on the spray can n spray down each push rod...change your oil and give the driver side valve cover a GOOD cleaning. You might have the older version of the cover, so compare it to revised versions posted online. Id recommend you get the revised one. Another possible issue might be your valve seals, cheap enough to replace just in case, in my opinion.

Personally, I ditched the 5.3 PCV system and went with a valley cover from an LS6 that has an actual PCV valve built into it. Also added a catch can and my oil consumption went down to zero and the can is only emptied every 10k miles or so with 3-4oz of oil in there....intake is no longer a pool of oil.

Mattr2589 · August 23, 2017

Eddiefromcali: Thanks for the reply. I will try the B12. I think I have the updated valve cover. Mine has 1 large hole opposite the fixed pcv valve with 2 small drain holes. I do have the Saikou Michi dual catch can. I installed it thinking it would correct the problem. The directions were very generic so I'm not sure it's installed correctly but it is catching oil.it has not changed how much oil I'm using. Unless you're talking about the valley cover over the lifters my valve cover has the built in pcv valve.

txab · August 24, 2017

Your valve guide seals are probably shot and your sucking oil down the guides. High mileage engines, pretty common

Mattr2589 · August 24, 2017

If it were the valve seals I don't think it would stop smoking when the PCV was unhooked.

2005_Silverado · August 24, 2017

Eddiefromcali: Thanks for the reply. I will try the B12. I think I have the updated valve cover. Mine has 1 large hole opposite the fixed pcv valve with 2 small drain holes. I do have the Saikou Michi dual catch can. I installed it thinking it would correct the problem. The directions were very generic so I'm not sure it's installed correctly but it is catching oil.it has not changed how much oil I'm using. Unless you're talking about the valley cover over the lifters my valve cover has the built in pcv valve.

Im talking about this valley cover...the one under the intake manifold