Nissan Vanette: Hardened valve stem seals — blue smoke on start-up and oil disappearing between services
Hardened valve stem seals — blue smoke on start-up and oil disappearing between services is a common engine fault on the Nissan Vanette on the 1985–1999 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $700 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 5 documented faults on the Nissan Vanette.
- Vehicle
- Nissan Vanette
- Years
- 1985–1999
- Fuel
- diesel
- System
- Engine
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The valve stem seals in the LD20 harden with age and heat, and once they stop sealing, oil seeps down the valve guides while the engine is parked and burns off the moment it starts. The signature is a puff of blue smoke on start-up, and then again after coasting down a long hill with your foot off the throttle. It is not immediately dangerous, but it means topping up oil constantly, it fouls the exhaust, and on an engine of this age it usually arrives alongside general wear rather than on its own — so a van showing it is telling you about its whole history, not just its seals.
What you would notice
- A puff of blue smoke when it first starts, clearing after a few seconds
- Blue smoke when you accelerate after coasting down a long hill
- Oil level dropping between services with no leak on the ground
- Oily deposits inside the tailpipe
- Owner keeps a bottle of oil in the van
How to check it
Where to look. Valve stem seals in the cylinder head; evidence shows at the exhaust
Stand behind the van, out of the way, and have somebody start it from cold while you watch the exhaust — a distinct puff of blue that clears is the seals.
The second test is better: on the drive, find a long downhill, coast down it with your foot completely off the accelerator, then accelerate firmly at the bottom and watch the mirror for a blue cloud.
Pull the dipstick and check the level against the service sticker, and look inside the tailpipe with a finger for wet, oily black rather than dry soot.
Look around the engine bay and under the van for actual oil leaks, because oil going down without a leak is being burnt.
Ask how much oil it uses between changes, and notice whether there is a bottle of oil in the van.
What it costs to put right
$700 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “How much oil does it use between services?”
- “Does it smoke on start-up?”
- “Has any engine work been done to it?”
Now check the Nissan Vanette you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- EngineCode.uk — Nissan LD20 engine review, specifications and common issues
- CarGarages.co.uk — Nissan Vanette common van problems by generation
Nissan Vanette buyer questions
Is hardened valve stem seals — blue smoke on start-up and oil disappearing between services serious on a Nissan Vanette?
We rate it major and common on the Nissan Vanette. The valve stem seals in the LD20 harden with age and heat, and once they stop sealing, oil seeps down the valve guides while the engine is parked and burns off the moment it starts. The signature is a puff of blue smoke on start-up, and then again after coasting down a long hill with your foot off the throttle. It is not immediately dangerous, but it means topping up oil constantly, it fouls the exhaust, and on an engine of this age it usually arrives alongside general wear rather than on its own — so a van showing it is telling you about its whole history, not just its seals.
How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Vanette?
$700 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Nissan Vanette years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 1985–1999 Nissan Vanette. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Stand behind the van, out of the way, and have somebody start it from cold while you watch the exhaust — a distinct puff of blue that clears is the seals. The second test is better: on the drive, find a long downhill, coast down it with your foot completely off the accelerator, then accelerate firmly at the bottom and watch the mirror for a blue cloud. Pull the dipstick and check the level against the service sticker, and look inside the tailpipe with a finger for wet, oily black rather than dry soot. Look around the engine bay and under the van for actual oil leaks, because oil going down without a leak is being burnt. Ask how much oil it uses between changes, and notice whether there is a bottle of oil in the van. Look here: Valve stem seals in the cylinder head; evidence shows at the exhaust