I've got an 09 E350 with about 5k on it. A few weeks back I was getting on the freeway and floored it. When it got to about 5000 RPM a puff of white smoke came out. Since then I've used Techron twice thinking it might be carbon buildup. It's still smoking. Should I take it in?

 

I don't believe Techron will help you much, since you are is still very new. Maybe I am old school, but white puff of smoke doesn't sound normal. I think you should take it in, keep us posted what you find out.

 

Where did the puff of white smoke come from ? The engine compartment ? The exhaust ?

 

I noticed it in my rearview mirror, so I'm guessing exhaust.

 

very odd. white smoke usually means bad head

 

White smoke from the exhaust could mean that you have coolant or transmission fluid leaking into the combustion chamber and burning up. I would definitely take the car in as soon as I could.

 

there are a few threads about these. try a search and they will come up. I have heard numerous stories of white smoke coming from exhaust but mostly on 03 - 05 cars.

 

Get behind your car and smell the exhaust. Your trying to pick up a sweet smell which is a common indicator of coolant burning up int he combustion chamber. While highly unlikely, it is possible you may have a small crack in your block but I am doubtful.

 

In my '04 E 500 I had this exact problem. White smoke usually means water is somewhere it shouldnt be. I NEVER had any contaminated fluids, and no one was ever able to figure this out. I posted a ton about this back in the day. If I floored it entering a freeway, I layed down a smoke screen so thick I NEVER saw a car emerge from it (since I was so far down the road by then).

Embarrasing, but I had to live with it... and NO, its not "normal".

 

So I took her in today to see if they can figure anything out. They couldn't. They want me to use a higher quality gas. I've been using Costco premuim grade. I've used Techron twice in the last month. I think they're clueless.

 

If you are leaking water or coolant into the head it will also wnd up in your oil. And though it may not show up under visual exam it would show under an oil analysis.

Go to Bobistheoilguy.com and choose one of the companies who perform this service and send them a sample of your oil. If it comes back positive for coolant then take the report to MB and insist on a head gasket replacement.

I have had good service from Blackstone Labs.

Jeff

 

Same on Blackstone Labs

 

I hate to say this, but it's under warranty. Wait until your first service when they change your oil and if they see anything out of the ordinary, it will show up. I would see on occasion a puff of smoke on initial start up, but wouldnt see anything under acceleration. I would however floor it almost everytime I drove it just to ensure if there was carbon build up that it would be cleared out.

 

Thanks for all the advise.

 

started up the CL500 today and wad u know... puff of white smoke came out from left tail pipe (didn't see if it came from right as well).