My car has been stinky for a long time now, I don't have any Cats but lately within the last few months I always see smoke coming out of the exhaust at Idle. It is kind of whitish gray color and stinks badly of oil. I changed my Oil last week and it is already 2 quarts low!!

The exhaust fumes smell just like oil. It doesn't seem to smoke if I get on it, and it runs pretty good. The oil is still nice and clear on the stick, so Im assuming its the valve guide seals. I've gotten one estimate of $1500 to do the valve seals because the guy says he has to take the engine out to do it. Does that sound right? I don't know diddly about motors, Im a painter
Is there anything else I can check or any idea's what else it could be. It is not leaking any oil on the ground, but it sure seems like a lot of oil is getting burned to used up 2 quarts in one week.... I have 128,000 miles on my 4.6.

I did recently change to synthetic and it seems to stink worse then non synthetic. Are there any additives that might help?

Thanks for any help

 

What year is your car? And welcome to the burning oil club . I lose a quart every 200 miles. Yes it does sound like valve guide seals but for good measures you should really check to see if you have a serious oil leak and also check compression. If your car is a 96-98 it's not worth replacing the valve seals, might as well drop in a pi motor. You might be able to get a lower mileage motor and drop that in for around the same price. No you don't have to take out the motor to do this job.

 

I have a 2004 Gt, 5 speed. Its not leaking any oil on the ground. I don't know if I should pay to get it fixed, or just get another mustang and switch all my mods over, and sell it cheap...

 

Likely the valve seals. You don't have to remove the engine to take the heads off. $1500 sounds like a pretty fair deal to me if you trust the guy.

 

I had he same symptoms on a Crown Vic I used to own. Cost me around $500 at the Ford dealer to replace the valve stem seals but that was about 8 years ago.
Take it to the Ford dealer they have the right tools and a lot of experience doing it....very common repair.