Bought used a year and half ago, have all paperwork for all maintenance ever to done to it. Had catalytic converter cut off 2 weeks ago. Last Friday, got in it, drove it a short distance and parked for about 4 hours. When I got back in it, it started fine and then acted like it wanted to die. Gave it a little gas and it was fine. That same night, I got in it again after it had been parked for quite awhile, started it and it smoked like a sieve, after it warmed up, it was fine. It smokes now everytime I start it when it's been sitting for awhile and once it gets warm, it stops smoking. Asked around, said it sounded like the valve gasket was bad. Has the normal Toyoya rattle. Checked all fluids, they are fine. just been changed a month ago. Any suggestions? Thanks
1991 Toyota Previa LE
Jan 20, 2007
2 Replies
If the smoke at startup is blueish or grey, then oil may be leaking past the valve stem seals into the combustion chamber while the vehicle is parked. At startup, the oil gets burned off and everything is good until the next time it is parked. Check the oil level with the dipstick under the driver's seat.
If the smoke at startup is steamy white, then coolant may be leaking into the combustion chamber, possibly from a leaking head gasket, and it gets blown out of the exhaust as the engine warms up. Check the coolant level.
Cutting the catalytic converter off is unlikely to have caused the problem, although the vehicle will not pass emissions tests without it.
"Peach" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@11g2000cwr.googlegroups.com:
Sounds like valve seals leaking, oil seeps past the seals when the engine is off. When you start it the oil is burned off, once the oil is gone, no more smoke. Hope that helps good luck
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