98 Camry 4-cyl / Puff of Blue Smoke after not running for two days???

My 99 does this too. I believe it's the valve stem seals. My understanding is that these cars will act in this way. My mechanic is familiar with this problem and told me to just live with it rather than fix it. In his opinion, it ain't worth the trouble.

Maybe try an oil filter with an anti-drainback valve, if you aren't already?

How come 10W-30 instead of the recommended 5W-30, just curious?

Michael

If it only does it briefly, after sitting for a couple of days, don't worry about it. If you can't not worry about it, you can try a 'high mileage' (odometer, not fuel economy) oil, which will swell the seals slightly. I wouldn't do that, though, unless it starts to burn oil while on the highway.

Its probably the valve stem seals are a little worn. I wouldnt worry about it as once the engine warms up the seals will expand and prevent any burnoff.

If it starts to burn oil continuously (which I doubt will happen considering your oil change intervals) I would try some sort of seal softener that can be added to the oil. this will soften the seals and allow them to prevent burnoff.

Its an expensive proposition labour wise to replace the seals if you want to go that way.? I would listen to your mechanic.

If you dont consume much oil dont worry, 1 qt in 3000miles is what I do and mine smoked for 10 years

This is very typical of valve stem seal wear. Often you see the puff after oil has had the time to drip down the valvestem overnight. But, after you get started up, often the oil loss is not so great.

You could try a high mileage oil. They no longer have the aromatics which swell seals. The new technology is polymers which do not damage the elastomers (any more than they are already damaged).

This is not such an expensive job if you DIY. BUT, you need to be clever with your hands, and you need to know some basics to do the job...like how to keep the valves from falling into the cylinders when you remove the keepers. (It isnt a hard trick to learn.)

They say 50% of engine wear is on startup, so that puff of smoke should make these motors last 500,000 miles, it lubes, when you need it most, at start up. I say leave it alone my plugs burn clean.

This would involve getting a spark plug adapter to attach to your compressor. :-)

That is one way...there are others. In many engines you can just raise the piston to TDC and that will prevent the valve from falling...or you can feed a small diameter rope or a heavy cord through the spark plug hole to fill up the space on top of the piston.

You can beat the ceramic out of an old spark plug, thread the bore, and make your own adaptor.

What you really DO need, IMO, is a decent valve spring compressor.