Yukon Denali smoking after sitting

[Spencer Asman]

Hi everyone,

I have a 2016 GMC Yukon Denali with about 56,000 miles on it. I’ve kept it fully dealer maintained and never really had any mechanical problems. Over the past couple weeks I’ve noticed if the truck sat for 3-4 days then I start it, there is a short plume of a foggy grey smoke from the tailpipe. Now, today while I was driving, the info screen indicated low oil. It doesn’t need an oil change for another 1,200 miles. Is there a situation where the smoke and the low oil? Also if I start the truck daily, there is no smoke, only when it has sat for a bit. Thanks in advance!

[m3n00b]

Burning oil creates a blue smoke.  It sounds like condensation burning off to me. 

[rav3]

24 minutes ago, Spencer Asman said:

Hi everyone,

I have a 2016 GMC Yukon Denali with about 56,000 miles on it. I’ve kept it fully dealer maintained and never really had any mechanical problems. Over the past couple weeks I’ve noticed if the truck sat for 3-4 days then I start it, there is a short plume of a foggy grey smoke from the tailpipe. Now, today while I was driving, the info screen indicated low oil. It doesn’t need an oil change for another 1,200 miles. Is there a situation where the smoke and the low oil? Also if I start the truck daily, there is no smoke, only when it has sat for a bit. Thanks in advance!

Which engine do you have? And what does the dip stick show on oil level?

[Spencer Asman]

It has the 6.2 ecotech, and from what Im seeing the stick was about 3/4 the way up - also if it has something to do with it every so often there is a faint burning odor in the cabin after getting on the highway.

Edited September 15, 2020 by Spencer Asman

[rav3]

6 minutes ago, Spencer Asman said:

It has the 6.2 ecotech, and from what Im seeing the stick was about 3/4 the way up - also if it has something to do with it every so often there is a faint burning odor in the cabin after getting on the highway.

The smell of burnt oil is an indication of an oil leak, maybe from valve covers, & dripping down on the exhaust. The smoke then is sucked in from the vents to the cabin. I'd get a flash light & check if you see any oil leaking/seeping from the valve cover gasket(s). If you see some, 1st thing I'd try is to tighten the bolts that hold down the valve covers. You'll need to pull the black plastic cover off from on top of the VC to get to them. Keep us posted. If you're not comfortable doing this, have a mechanic take a look at it.

Also, sometimes oil is spilled when adding oil thru oil fill tube, like at an oil change. BUT, since you have not had that, I'm just sharing in the event you smell this after an oil change.  

[BCMoto]

I get a puff of smoke on a cold start and it hasnt been an issue yet

[Spencer Asman]

I took the truck in to a local shop to get it looked over, and they said there is some oil seepage from the top end. They also said there is a decent amount of oil staining and some wetness on the cross member that sits directly under the engine. They said without further digging they can’t pinpoint exactly where it’s coming from, but that there definitely is a leak of some form. I’m not mechanically inclined in any shape or form, so I’m taking it to my local dealership to hopefully have fixed in under my extended GM warranty.

[rav3]

30 minutes ago, Spencer Asman said:

I took the truck in to a local shop to get it looked over, and they said there is some oil seepage from the top end. They also said there is a decent amount of oil staining and some wetness on the cross member that sits directly under the engine. They said without further digging they can’t pinpoint exactly where it’s coming from, but that there definitely is a leak of some form. I’m not mechanically inclined in any shape or form, so I’m taking it to my local dealership to hopefully have fixed in under my extended GM warranty.

Yes, if you have it covered under warranty, that's the best & easiest way to go. Good luck & keep us posted.

[dieselfan1]

I had a 2011 5.3 that did that.

Usually it did it after driving on the interstate for over an hour then park it. After a few hours I would go to start it and it would blow a huge cloud of smoke. 

In the old days I would have thought it to be worn valve guides. But I never had it looked at just kept driving it and dumping a quart of oil in it every 2000 miles. I traded that one for my lifted truck.

It had 215,000 miles and still ran great. I wouldn't have hesitated to hop in it and drive cross country. 

[Spencer Asman]

The truck is in the shop, and they have diagnosed the oil issue to failing oil lines. So in terms of replacement, the advisor said any line that carries oil outside the engine is getting replaced. They are also replacing an A/C compressor, two magnaride shocks, and the driver side deploying running board motor, all under warranty. The running board part is on back order so they have me in an Impala until it’s done, but hopefully there should be no issues for a while. Thanks to everyone for their input!