94 celica st puffing blue smoke Options

[stryue_19]

hey well i just want to get some of ur opinions about ur car puffing out blue somke? What could the be cause rite now i have no clue why my car is doing that?
leave me some comments on it if you can help me figure it out...thanks

[96bluevert]

sounds like your burning oil.

Does it happen continuously while driving or only on start up?

[TerryE]

If it's only at start-up, it most likely the valve seals, it is extremely typical on celica's from 77 at least to the present.
Mine have been doing that since I can't remember. usually after 100,000 miles on the clock. it's nothing major, the seals are cheap, the bugger is pulling the head to get to them and getting the right valve spring compressor (I had to fudge with one from murray's and a hot-glued deep-well socket.) I wouldn't bother unless you using up a lot of oil.
Other than that it could be(oh, my G--. the piston rings, oh no!!!) hope this helps!

[stryue_19]

sounds like your burning oil.

Does it happen continuously while driving or only on start up?

yeah it only happens when i start it up

If it's only at start-up, it most likely the valve seals, it is extremely typical on celica's from 77 at least to the present.
Mine have been doing that since I can't remember. usually after 100,000 miles on the clock. it's nothing major, the seals are cheap, the bugger is pulling the head to get to them and getting the right valve spring compressor (I had to fudge with one from murray's and a hot-glued deep-well socket.) I wouldn't bother unless you using up a lot of oil.
Other than that it could be(oh, my G--. the piston rings, oh no!!!) hope this helps!

thanks that does help me to understand the situation now.

[GriffGirl]

I think this is particularly common with the STs. Mine does it too. About 110k on the engine, 237k on the rest

[CelicaGTS94]

my 5sfe has been doing it since I bought it. It had 160,000 Km's when I bought it. It is a known issue with the celica's. valve seals!!

[Tigawoods]

my 5sfe has been doing it since I bought it. It had 160,000 Km's when I bought it. It is a known issue with the celica's. valve seals!!

x2

[Bitter]

its a known issue with MANY engines as they age and rack up miles.

start adding about 1/2 quart of Automatic transsmission fluid to your oil at oil changes and it'll slowly do two things.
1. clean the engine gently
2. soften and renew the seals slowly.

i no longer have any oil leaks, burn only the tiniest puff on startup, and dont loose more than 1-2mm's off my dipstick between 5000 mile oil changes. though i did also seafoam my crankcase, 1/3 can and 20 minutes idling followed by an oil change.

[stryue_19]

its a known issue with MANY engines as they age and rack up miles.

start adding about 1/2 quart of Automatic transsmission fluid to your oil at oil changes and it'll slowly do two things.
1. clean the engine gently
2. soften and renew the seals slowly.

i no longer have any oil leaks, burn only the tiniest puff on startup, and dont loose more than 1-2mm's off my dipstick between 5000 mile oil changes. though i did also seafoam my crankcase, 1/3 can and 20 minutes idling followed by an oil change.

alright thanks i'll try that.

[Taskbot]

I'm going to try the auto transmission fluid thing.
Is there any particular type I should aim for or is it all the same ****. I remember when I did my co-op at Acura we had 3 different types that all basically did the same thing but since its my car I don't want to risk putting the wrong **** in.

[slow_yota]

Hmm..Question, Mine doesnt puff blue smoke but at start up it for like 10 secs it will blow white smoke..Is there a big difference ?

[Taskbot]

I think it might be the same thing. I'm almost certain that this is a problem with most 7A-FEs since it was one of the first questions I asked on this forum.

The color thing is pretty moot unless you are blowing a lot of smoke. (than you can see the "color" easily)
A better thing would be to go by smell. If you know what burning oil/burning coolant smells like, let the car sit for a bit to make sure its dead cold... Get in, start it up and slam it into reverse. Back through the smoke that comes out of your tailpipe and inhale.

Thats how I figured out I was burning oil

You shouldn't really need to go to that much effort, but putting effort into redundant things is hilarious.

[Bitter]

its going into your engine, so it doesnt really matter what kind of trans fluid you use. just grab some cheap universal stuff.

[Remy]

its a known issue with MANY engines as they age and rack up miles.

start adding about 1/2 quart of Automatic transsmission fluid to your oil at oil changes and it'll slowly do two things.
1. clean the engine gently
2. soften and renew the seals slowly.

i no longer have any oil leaks, burn only the tiniest puff on startup, and dont loose more than 1-2mm's off my dipstick between 5000 mile oil changes. though i did also seafoam my crankcase, 1/3 can and 20 minutes idling followed by an oil change.

alright thanks i'll try that.

Make sure you change your oil within 200 miles after you put in the A/T fluid.

Hmm..Question, Mine doesnt puff blue smoke but at start up it for like 10 secs it will blow white smoke..Is there a big difference ?

White smoke is coolant and in rare cases fuel.

[Bitter]

nah, you dont need to change again within 200 miles. just run that it for the duration of your normal oil change interval. use some with every change until you notice less smoke burning then use every other change if you feel the need.

[Por2geezcelica]

so adding a half quart of ATF to the engine will actually benefit it, and stop small oil leak by softening the seals? This wont shorten the life of the motor, or cause damage over the long run will it?

This post has been edited by Por2geezcelica: Aug 23, 2008 - 1:49 AM

[Bitter]

no, its an OLD mechanics trick. trans fluid has additives to keep the countless rubber seals inside the transmission soft and supple for decades on end as well as alot of detergents to keep gunk from building up on the insides of the transmission.

inside your engine it will do the same things, soften old seals and gently clean up gunk. its a pretty common trick to run some atf in with engine oil for a couple oil changes to help quiet noisy lifters on engines.

[Remy]

nah, you dont need to change again within 200 miles. just run that it for the duration of your normal oil change interval. use some with every change until you notice less smoke burning then use every other change if you feel the need.

I like to flush that stuff out as soon as possible, its like flushing the toilet when your done.

[slow_yota]

Hmm..Question, Mine doesnt puff blue smoke but at start up it for like 10 secs it will blow white smoke..Is there a big difference ?

White smoke is coolant and in rare cases fuel.

Well..does this mean i have a BHG then..?
My car isnt overheating since the relay fix...
and it does only do it when i let the sit car for
a while and just right at first.

[Remy]

Hmm..Question, Mine doesnt puff blue smoke but at start up it for like 10 secs it will blow white smoke..Is there a big difference ?

White smoke is coolant and in rare cases fuel.

Well..does this mean i have a BHG then..?
My car isnt overheating since the relay fix...
and it does only do it when i let the sit car for
a while and just right at first.

Just keep an eye on your coolant, most likely it is from condensation.

[SlickRick]

Ok i aint gonna read all the replies but if its only on start up it has to be your intake valve springs, hey r worn and not sealing the combustion chamber and letting in oil through the valve. I would take them out and check the valve spring free length and spring pressure, i am almost 100% sure thats it. Bucz once u heat up the spring and valve it expands and then seals properly.

[Bitter]

no


valve seals, when the engine is off oil pools around the valve stem since the spring seat is a depression in the head. the pooled oil then seeps through onto the backs of the valves and stays there till the first startup. or it goes right into the combustion chamber, depends what position the valve is in.

[SlickRick]

no


valve seals, when the engine is off oil pools around the valve stem since the spring seat is a depression in the head. the pooled oil then seeps through onto the backs of the valves and stays there till the first startup. or it goes right into the combustion chamber, depends what position the valve is in.

I have no idea what u just tried to explain. u mean guides? seals r just at the top of the guides and even if the seals were bad the oil would have to pass the through the valve guide still. And if the seals were letting oil pass it would do more often then just start up.

sorry i got mixed up i thought he meant no compression as well. But i dont think its just the seals might be guides too.

This post has been edited by SlickRick: Aug 23, 2008 - 8:21 PM

[Bitter]

no, seals. the guides are not a seal, the seal seals. the guide is more of a bearing that keeps the valve straight as it travels... its an umbrella type on these toyotas which hardens and does not seal well over time. the valve seal sets down by the spring seat, which is a lower area of the head, so oil pools there when the engine is off. the hot thin oil leaks past the valve seals, down the valve guides, and into the combustion area. if the valves are closed it pools ontop of the intake and exhaust valves, or if the valves are open, it leaks into the combustion chamber.


i dont know how to more clearly explain this, beyond with pictures.

[SlickRick]

no, seals. the guides are not a seal, the seal seals. the guide is more of a bearing that keeps the valve straight as it travels... its an umbrella type on these toyotas which hardens and does not seal well over time. the valve seal sets down by the spring seat, which is a lower area of the head, so oil pools there when the engine is off. the hot thin oil leaks past the valve seals, down the valve guides, and into the combustion area. if the valves are closed it pools ontop of the intake and exhaust valves, or if the valves are open, it leaks into the combustion chamber.


i dont know how to more clearly explain this, beyond with pictures.

ok i see what u r saying but if its the seals that r bad would it not be burning oil all the time?

[Havok1997GT]

wait.


Blue smoke. Wouldnt that be gas? burning oil is white smoke.

[Bitter]

no, seals. the guides are not a seal, the seal seals. the guide is more of a bearing that keeps the valve straight as it travels... its an umbrella type on these toyotas which hardens and does not seal well over time. the valve seal sets down by the spring seat, which is a lower area of the head, so oil pools there when the engine is off. the hot thin oil leaks past the valve seals, down the valve guides, and into the combustion area. if the valves are closed it pools ontop of the intake and exhaust valves, or if the valves are open, it leaks into the combustion chamber.


i dont know how to more clearly explain this, beyond with pictures.

ok i see what u r saying but if its the seals that r bad would it not be burning oil all the time?

no, when the engine is running the oil doesnt collect because the valve train is splashing it all around. but yes, you do burn a little when running all the time, but its such a small amount its not seen in the exhaust color. because it trickles down and collects when the engine is off, thats why you see the puff.

[Remy]

wait.


Blue smoke. Wouldnt that be gas? burning oil is white smoke.

Burning gas is greyish/black and like I said earlier sometimes in rare cases white, and burning oil is blueish smoke and green smoke is Nos yo....lol

[Add45]

lol this is weird i have the exact same car and year and my friend told me my car was puffing bluish white smoke today

then i saw this