I have a 1997 Camry LE. When I start ( cold weather or warm) blue smoke
comes out of the exhaust for a few seconds and then goes away. It has about
55K miles.

My son has a 1992 Camry with a similar problem and it has about 120K miles.
Any suggestions? Thanks.

This must have been covered over a thousand times...
Use Google and search the newsgroup for the words
"camry smoke" You will get 2,670 hits with your answer.

What I find odd is that these low mileage cars start to smoke from valve stem
leakage at all. That's what it is Rao. My '96 started at about the same
numbers, and I don't think it fits the image of Camry's "relaibility". Because
of that and other, what I consider, early failures in oil leakage, I just
traded in for 2004. That only because, for the price, if I can keep it another
7-8 years at that cost, it's all one can expect these days. Definitely not
like the older toyotas.

"Rao Vadapalli" rvadapal@cisco.com wrote:
<< I have a 1997 Camry LE. When I start ( cold weather or warm) blue smoke
comes out of the exhaust for a few seconds and then goes away. It has about
55K miles.

My son has a 1992 Camry with a similar problem and it has about 120K miles.
Any suggestions? Thanks.>><BR><BR>

Sue M.

Did someone say smoke? where's it at? I'm going after it. It has to be
"big tabacco! And its hard on the environment. I'll ban cars soon. Maybe
I'll get Al Gore to be my running mate, afterall, he gave me his
endorsement. We both think the automobile is the most dangerous think
known to man!

Rao Vadapalli wrote:

Don't look in the mirror until the car warms up. Keep a check on your oil. If
oil consumption is excessive have the problem fixed. I would suggest looking in
the valve covers. If you see a lot of black goo in there, you might think about
pulling the valve covers and making sure the oil drain holes are no obstructed.

Blue smoke at start-up is often a sign of slight oil leakage past the valve
guides. If the oil consumption is not excessive, I' just keep driving. You might
also try some of the new high mileage motor oils (Valvoline Max Life is one of
these). Supposedly they include chemicals to soften and "recondition" valve
seals. I have no personal experience with these products.

Ed

If it were an American car (one of the big 3) everyone would say it
was junk because of the smoke problem in these low mileage engines.
But since it is Toyota its ok............



"Sue milham" <suemilham@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20040106225215.09564.00002501@mb-m17.aol.com...

SPECULATING as usual, Art.
--

- Philip

"The ONLY good Ford is a Ford still on Warranty or an old Ford
restored"


In news:xi_Kb.15120$6B.8706@newsread1.news.atl.earthl ink.net,
Art Begun <begunaREMOVESPAM@mindspring.com> being of bellicose mind
posted:

Actually, I would have said a little smoke at start-up is OK whether it
was American or not. But your point about US cars is well taken. I had a
friend who ditched his Expedition with around 50k miles because it
sometimes puffed a little blue smoke on start-up (and I do mean sometimes
and a little). His concern was that it was going to get worse. In his case
the problem was there almost from day one. The dealer kept jerking him
around (at least in my opinion) and never made the maximum effort to fix
the problem. In the end, he blamed Ford and traded it off for a GMC. I
blamed the dealer for not fixing the problem (most likely a bad head). I
know of other cases, with the exact same symptom, where the dealer
replaced the entire engine without even being pushed. I complained about
an unmeasurable oil leak on my Mustang and the dealer yanked the motor to
fix it. I can assure you if I had been spending the money, nothing would
have been done. My infamous Cressida often blew a little blue smoke at
start-up. It never bothered me - well except when the ex started the car
with the garage door closed and I was in the garage working on something.

The fact is, valves seals have to let a little oil by, or the guides would
not be lubricated. In some cases a little more oil than desirable escapes
past the guides. Some of this may leak after the engine is shut down and
pool up in the intake and is burned when you start the motor. If it is a
little more than usual, you get that puff of smoke. If your engine is not
using a measurable amount of oil, it is nothing to worry about. If the car
was new and under warranty, I'd ask to have it fixed. However, if I was
paying the bill, the amount of smoke would need to be significant, and the
oil usage measurable. At some point, it might be necessary to pull the
head and get a complete valve job done, or you could just replace the
seals without removing the head (Mitsubishi dealers are good at this).

Ed

Art Begun wrote:

Really Philip?

In the last few years, Toyota's have been plagued by rattles and
clicks (you took your dash apart to fix yours, if my memory serves me
right), blue smoke from engines at start up, and front end clunks,
yet sales growth continues. Check the latest Consumer Reports Buyers
Guide. The new Camry only has only an average frequency of repair
record. Compare it to Buick's? You'll be surprised. I know I was
when my brother-in-law told me how reliable Buick's had become. (He
drives a Mazda 626). I wonder when reality will catch up to Toyota.



"Philip®" <1chip-state1@earthlink.net.invalid> wrote in message
news:mJ_Kb.43406$Pg1.10554@newsread1.news.pas.eart hlink.net...

"Plagued" is subjective. I very rarely see any car brand emitting a
belch of smoke on start up. And when I do, seems to me these are
older vehicles or Chrysler mini vans. So far as plastic interior
panel rattles, I suggest you go to your Toyota dealer and inquire how
frequently a car is brought in for rattles. While you're at it, check
with Honda, Nissan, etc, etc in comparable quality cars. If you find
such rattle complaints in prestige cars, lets hear about that.
--

-Philip

"Whatever is a choice will become chosen"


In news:5b0Lb.32313$IM3.17958@newsread3.news.atl.eart hlink.net,
Art Begun <begunaREMOVESPAM@mindspring.com> being of bellicose mind
posted:

Art Begun wrote:


No, we'd tell them it need "valve stem seals"., DUH! I think Art is in
bed with Mike!


Art, go away.



--





Inasmuch as the Democrats are complaining on how long the war is taking,
consider this:

It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the
Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.

It took less time to find Saddam's sons in Iraq than it took Hillary
Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.

It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to
destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Teddy Kennedy to call
the police after his Oldsmobile sunk at Chappaquiddick.

It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in
Florida! TWICE!!!!!

Damn our military is GREAT!!

Art,

For what its worth, I own a 2001 Buick Century AND a 2002 Toyota Camry LE
V6. Both vehicles are working great and have had 1 or 2 issues on both cars.
As these vehicles have about 25,000 miles each, I will find out how the cars
fair. My idea is to change cars every 10 years or 200,000 KM (124,000
miles) and if these cars give me good service, I will probably keep using
them or trade it in for a newer model.

"Art Begun" <begunaREMOVESPAM@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:5b0Lb.32313$IM3.17958@newsread3.news.atl.eart hlink.net...

Car Guy wrote:

Car Guy, here is a neat little project for you. Figure in the mileage at
the end of the 10 years (just a guesstimate) then list see what you paid
for them new vs what they will be worth then. Be interesting to see
which holds the value better. Report back with your findings. ;D

--





Inasmuch as the Democrats are complaining on how long the war is taking,
consider this:

It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the
Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.

It took less time to find Saddam's sons in Iraq than it took Hillary
Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.

It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to
destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Teddy Kennedy to call
the police after his Oldsmobile sunk at Chappaquiddick.

It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in
Florida! TWICE!!!!!

Damn our military is GREAT!!