Smoke on Startup - 2000 Camry

[Nick1994]

Well my 2000 Camry 2.2L w/ 197k miles has a little smoke on startup. It has a blue tint to it, and only smokes when started up in the morning or occasionally after sitting for 3-4+ hours. It doesn't smoke when driving down the road or freeway, even when flooring it. It runs great, in the video there's a car passing by and I don't know what the rattle is in the video, I'm thinking the passing car since my car doesn't make any noises.

I changed the oil 5 weeks and 2,650 miles ago and just checked it and topped it off, was exactly 1/2 a quart low. When changing the oil I replaced the valve cover gasket (clean inside) and PCV valve. The oil I used was Chevron Supreme HM 5w30.

Looking back at the service records, it had the valve guide seals replaced at 78,937 miles on 8/2/2006. In the notes it says "Customer states smokes when started in AM".

So does it look like it needs valve guide seals again? I don't really want to add any additives, since I will be doing a used oil analysis on my next oil change for Pennzoil with the Pennzoil Ultra Platinum. Future oil changes after the PUP will be the last generation Pennzoil Ultra that I have in my stash.

The smoke doesn't really bother me, but if it's damaging anything I want to fix it.

So, is this a problem? Here's a link to the video I took this morning, was quite chilly at 75 degrees

https://youtu.be/JpLlb4e6eK8

 

[tinmanSC]

Sure sounds like you're 0 for 2 on valve steam seals.

Your engine didn't happen to over heat, did it?

 

[bvance554]

Don't look in the mirror when you start it up, check the oil often and you'll be fine.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
Sure sounds like you're 0 for 2 on valve steam seals.

Your engine didn't happen to over heat, did it?
Not that I know of. I bought the car about 5-6 weeks ago. Seems well taken care of, and an old man owned it for about 2 years before I did.

 

[Quest]

either valve stem seals and/or worn valve guides.

Q.

 

[Merkava_4]

Why is it always valve stem seals ? You guys afraid to say the piston rings are shot ?

This is what I'm gonna say :

The engine is too worn out for 5w30.

 

[Nick1994]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Why is it always valve stem seals ? You guys afraid to say the piston rings are shot ?

This is what I'm gonna say :

The engine is too worn out for 5w30.
Lol I'm assuming not rings because it doesn't smoke while driving down the road, only on startup.

My brother's Lexus smokes while driving down the road, and burns a quart every 300-400 miles on the highway. Probably rings.

 

[Quest]

smoke during initial start up first thing in the morning---worn valve guide and/or valve stem seals.

smoking during acceleration: worn/stuck piston rings mainly, but can also be partially due to stuck oil control rings.

smoking during deceleration: could be valve guide/valve stem seal related (esp. on the intake side). Most commonly related to jammed oil control rings.

Do remember this: deceleration creates high vacuum, so oil will seep in through nooks and crannies and get into the combustion chamber that way...

Q/

 

[MuzzleFlash40]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Why is it always valve stem seals ? You guys afraid to say the piston rings are shot ?

This is what I'm gonna say :

The engine is too worn out for 5w30.


You might be right, wouldn't know without a tear down. But since it stops after it warms up, that points to the stem seals 9 times out of 10.

 

[The_Jeff]

You can also have bad rings and only notice smoke when the car is cold, because the warm catalytic converter cleans it up. But since your consumption is still very low, I would just keep topping it off. You can have a gummed oil control ring but still have good compression.

 

[demarpaint]

My first guess would be it's time for valve seals again. If it's really bothering you do a compression test, dry then wet and report the readings.

 

[Turk]

My Wife's '97 Camry 2.2L has been doing the same smoking blue
each morning for the past 120,000 miles.

- Does not matter which regular or High Mileage oil I put in.
- It's creeping up on 250,000 miles.
- Engine has never been opened up.
- ZERO issues.
- Runs like a dream.

Don't worry about it.

 

[Lubener]

Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
Sure sounds like you're 0 for 2 on valve steam seals.

Your engine didn't happen to over heat, did it?


16 years old and 197k miles will harden up the seals, you don't have to overheat. As stated valve guides/ seals will cause the smoke you describe as the oil on top of the heads drain down the valve stems as the engine sits. Rings will usually smoke when running, especially hard. Your consumption isn't bad. I would try a High Mileage oilnext change and just check it often. It's not worth reconditioning the heads with this minor issue.

 

[Lubener]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Why is it always valve stem seals ? You guys afraid to say the piston rings are shot ?

This is what I'm gonna say :

The engine is too worn out for 5w30.


When sitting, oil will not defy gravity and creep up into the combustion chamber past the rings.. Valve guides/ seals likely is the issue.

 

[itguy08]

There's always the idle test for valve seals. Let it idle for a while - 30 mins or so. Then re the engine. If you get smoke you need valve seals.

I'd let it go until you start burning oil or fog people out at a stoplight. It's got almost 200k - things will start going, Toyota or not.

 

[CourierDriver]

Age,wear and tear, the elements, like people engines wear, like knees, they get replaced, count your blessings ,it runs, what do you want, your ride is 15+ years old and paid for ....your lucky, drive it till it lays down....

 

[KrisZ]

As others pointed out I would let it go and just keep on driving.
BITOG is full of "it has to be done by the book" guys and it's easy to say something like "do it right and change the XXXX part" when the car is not yours, the money is not yours, the downtime is not yours and you're sitting behind a computer screen slurping on a cup of coffee or something.

With old cars you have to learn to pick your battles. Small oil consumption and some smoke at startup is really an annoyance, nothing more.

 

[Plumber]

Being in Phoenix, could you run a 20w-50 or 10w-40?

 

[krismoriah72]

not a good candidate for expensive synthetics or extended drains. Its a 15 year old family car that should give you many miles back and forth to work or grocery store etc.

keep an eye on plugs and check engine lights for 02 sensors and replace as they become carboned up.

 

[zach1900]

Oh my God what a bunch of girls, cars didn't even use to have valve stem seals and you're crying about a 15 year old car with 200K milesthat "may" have a tiny bitty dried seal? wow.