The car is a 1997 Toyota Avalon V6 with 93,000 miles. The Engine at startup (and in traffice afer idling a few minutes) blows a blue/gray smoke, not a small amount of smoke, but a great deal. It clears up shortly.
since the engine runs smooth and strong, and has no cooling system issues (engine was not overheated) I serously doubt there is a piston/ring failure. I didn't check the cylinder pressure as it seems like a nighmare because one valve over is against the fire wall and has the intake system covering it. The engine has had oil changes regularly and overall was well maintained.
Yesterday, I changed the oil to Valvoline Maxlife high milage 10w40 oil and added Valvoline's oil conditioning thats in the red bottle in an attempt to swell the valve seals as I feel this is most likely the problem. It has reduced the smoke a good deal but thats probably due to the heavier oil as its to soon for the conditioner in the oil to do anything.
Afer looking at pitures in a service manual I feel replacing the valve stem seals is a little above my limits on this type engine. I've changed these seals in my truck's engine ( A Dodge V6 - a completely different type engine) a few months ago and the old seals seem to have harden up, so I'm sure what if anything the seal conditioner in the high mileae oil can really do.
Anyone know what a dealer might charge to recondition the heads?
Also, is there anyting else I could check that might be sucking oil into intake system?
--------------------------------------------------
Is it possible the oil thinned out at about 4000 miles causing this problem? The oil is always changed at Jiffy lube, so I don't know which oil they use, but it would have to be fairly decent conventional oil
since the engine runs smooth and strong, and has no cooling system issues (engine was not overheated) I serously doubt there is a piston/ring failure. I didn't check the cylinder pressure as it seems like a nighmare because one valve over is against the fire wall and has the intake system covering it. The engine has had oil changes regularly and overall was well maintained.
Yesterday, I changed the oil to Valvoline Maxlife high milage 10w40 oil and added Valvoline's oil conditioning thats in the red bottle in an attempt to swell the valve seals as I feel this is most likely the problem. It has reduced the smoke a good deal but thats probably due to the heavier oil as its to soon for the conditioner in the oil to do anything.
Afer looking at pitures in a service manual I feel replacing the valve stem seals is a little above my limits on this type engine. I've changed these seals in my truck's engine ( A Dodge V6 - a completely different type engine) a few months ago and the old seals seem to have harden up, so I'm sure what if anything the seal conditioner in the high mileae oil can really do.
Anyone know what a dealer might charge to recondition the heads?
Also, is there anyting else I could check that might be sucking oil into intake system?
--------------------------------------------------
Is it possible the oil thinned out at about 4000 miles causing this problem? The oil is always changed at Jiffy lube, so I don't know which oil they use, but it would have to be fairly decent conventional oil
