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exhaust smoke

Sent to Car Experts August 02 09:48 AM

I have a 1996 toyota avalon with the V-6 that has 190,000 miles. The car has always had regular maintainance but is now smoking from the exhaust when it is started in the morning or after it sets for a short time. It burns off quickly-20-30 seconds. It does not, however, do it every time nor does it smoke while driving. It is using some oil. What might be the cause and can you prescribe any possible remedies?

 

Optional Information:
1996 Toyota Avalon V-6

Already Tried:
use of high mileage oil.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $12
Info Request
August 2 10:00 AM (12 minutes and 38 seconds later)
         
REPLIED to Info RequestCheck Mark
Is the smoke a blue, white, or black color?

Can you decribe the odor?

Are you loosing coolant?

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RonRepair -- Auto Mechanic/Tech -- 95% Positive Feedback on 67 Car Accepts
40 years of experience on all makes, 15 yrs. ASE Master Tech, 5 yrs. Certified Toyota Tech
Reply
August 2 10:04 AM (3 minutes and 44 seconds later)
         
Reply to RonRepair's Post: the smoke is a white to maybe a pale blue in color and i have not noticed much of an odor. I am not loosing coolant.
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
August 2 10:40 AM (35 minutes and 30 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
White smoke is either condensation or coolant, so I wanted to eliminate that possibility.

Blue smoke would be oil. From the symptoms you describe it's likely that the problem is your valve guide seals. When you shut the engine off, oil runs down the guide and past the seal. They would have to be replaced to correct the problem. Other then oil consumption, it's not usually detrimental until it starts fouling your plugs. Removing the plugs and reading them will verify the problem. Oil deposits will build up on one side of the electrodes.

As far as the problem being intermittent, it's probably the length of time the car sits between starts, and the oil temperature when you shut the engine off.

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RonRepair -- Auto Mechanic/Tech -- 95% Positive Feedback on 67 Car Accepts
40 years of experience on all makes, 15 yrs. ASE Master Tech, 5 yrs. Certified Toyota Tech
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