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2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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Tyroc
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Sep 12, 2017, 4:40 PM
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2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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I have an 2003 Pontiac Aztek base model FWD and it has the 3400SFI engine. The first thing it did was when pulling out from a drive up window it blew enough smoke out of the exhaust that the car behind me had to pull over. Then it stopped and I didn't see it again for about two weeks. I was waiting for my son and it was idling for about fifteen minutes with the air in and when I drove off here come the smoke again. . It isn't black smoke its it started out as a dark grey smoke then after it started smoking more each time I drove it, it was white smoke. It only happened after I drove it then turned it off and when I started it again it would smoke. It looked more like steam so figured head gasket. It has 12500 miles on it. So I replaced the head gaskets and started it let it get up to temp and shut it off. Waited for about an hour started it again and drove it and didn't see any smoke. Then when I started it again the smoke was back. Lots of it. Pure white but it smells like oil to me. Never smokes in the morning when I start it and when I drive it. But when I turn it off then start it again the smokes starts. It will stop after about thirty seconds but if you stop at a light it will start again for another thirty seconds. Is that rings or is something cracked. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks for your time. One more thing now when it smokes it starts stalling. Doesn't die but until the smoke stops it runs like crap no
(This post was edited by Tyroc on Sep 12, 2017, 4:43 PM)
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Hammer Time
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Sep 12, 2017, 5:27 PM
Post #2 of 20
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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Did you send the heads out to the machine shop while they were off?
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Tyroc
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Sep 12, 2017, 8:27 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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No we just checked them with a straight edge to make sure they were not warped although the engine never over heated. We put new guides in and lapped the valves. guess maybe I should have taken them down. . They appeared to be in good shape and the head gasket was bad. It seems to have went from steam to oil smoke. I just trying to find out if I should rebuild this engine or purchase another rebuilt. These 3400 engines I found out or a lot of them have a problem with the rockers stripping out of the heads. I already replaced all the rockers with rockers from the grand prix. same rocker just bigger studs. its just strange how I can start it in the morning and drive it all over with no problem. Until I shut it off. then the trouble starts when I start it up the second time. craziest thing I have ever seen
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Hammer Time
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Sep 12, 2017, 8:30 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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I have never done a head gasket on an engine with aluminum heads that weren't warped and that particular engine is one of the worst. It's also one of the hardest to get the air pockets out of the back head.
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Tyroc
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Sep 12, 2017, 9:11 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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ok so probably needs the heads done or would different motor be a better idea
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Hammer Time
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Sep 13, 2017, 5:18 AM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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I don't know. What's the mileage. I doubt 12K was correct. If it was 125K, it probably worth fixing.
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Tyroc
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Sep 13, 2017, 9:33 AM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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Yea it was supposed to say 125000.
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Tyroc
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Sep 13, 2017, 9:35 AM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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Would a compression test tell me if it needs rings
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Hammer Time
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Sep 13, 2017, 9:39 AM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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No, not really. The head gasket problem will influence that test.
Unless you really cooked the engine by severe overheating, the rings should be fine at that mileage.
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Tyroc
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Sep 13, 2017, 9:46 AM
Post #10 of 20
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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No it never got hot. I always keep an eye on my gauges. Thanks for the info.guess it's time to get started. Thanks again I really appreciate it.
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Tyroc
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Sep 13, 2017, 6:06 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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Hey Hammer time, I have a question if you don't mind. You know how I said it smelled like oil and not steam, well I started pulling it apart and when I pulled the upper intake off the intake was full of oil. Any idea why there would be so much oil in the intake. The only way I see possible would be through the pcv valve. Is that a bad pcv or is there another reason its dumping oil in my intake. I would think that would be the cause of the white smoke. any suggestion would be appreciated
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Hammer Time
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Sep 13, 2017, 6:22 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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Are you sure it wasn't overfull?
The PVC is a possibility but not the volume you described. A damaged piston or broken rings is possible too. Since the engine was recently apart, you can't rule out assembly issues either.
I assume you used new head bolts when you put it together.
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Tyroc
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Sep 13, 2017, 6:29 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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yes all new head bolts torqued to 44 ft lbs then 95 degrees more
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Tyroc
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Sep 13, 2017, 6:36 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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The oil appears to be coming from the top because I don't see any in the lower intake but there was quite a bit that came out of the upper intake. There is a little on the gaskets but most came out after I pulled the intake off
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Hammer Time
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Sep 13, 2017, 8:07 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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That could mean ring blowby if it's excessive but they all have a little because the PCV breather feeds into the intake snorkel.
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Tyroc
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Sep 13, 2017, 8:11 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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I just did a compression check and all cylinders were 190 except one that was only 110. I also forgot that when it's running it will run real smooth but if you remove the oil fill cap the engine will just about die. That's too much pressure build up right
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Hammer Time
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Sep 13, 2017, 8:19 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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That just doesn't sound right at all. That compression is just too high and doesn't sound believable. That dramatic of a difference in one cylinder is a major problem also.
If your gauge happens to be reading 30-40 pounds too high, it would make more sense. You still have a bad cylinder though.
The reason the engine stumbles when you take the cap off is because you are creating a vacuum leak through the PCV.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tyroc
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Sep 13, 2017, 8:25 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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I thought that was high but as far as my gauge I just used it on my sea doo and a old motor like it had runs about 130 to 135 and the gauge read 130. Also the 305 I used to have in my iroc it read 165. I don't know if there is a way to check the gauge but it's always been accurate before.
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Tyroc
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Oct 2, 2017, 9:16 PM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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Ok I got it fixed. When I torqued the heads down the 95 degree turn showed about 100lbs on my torque wrench. When I torqued the back head down I noticed some of the bolts showed close to 100 lbs but some didn't seem as tight. I don't know if it was because of the heads being warped or what so I just set my wrench at 100 ft lbs and torqued the head bolts all to 100 ft lbs. There was two bolts that actually turned more than two complete turns. I thought they were stripped but they finally tightened up. Put everything back together and it has ran great . I have put more than a thousand miles on it with no problems. I know that isn't the right way of doing it but I figured it was worth a try . Thanks for all the input hammer I do really appreciate it
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Discretesignals
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Oct 3, 2017, 4:34 AM
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Re: 2003 Pontiac Aztek 3400SFI
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Sell it while you have the chance.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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