I've been having this problem for several weeks now. I've tried searching about it here on the boards and what I understand from that is it's probably bad valveseals or valveguides. Usually they say their cars smoke on startup after standing unused for a little while. But mine is the opposite. When I leave it for a few days and start it up there's no blue smoke, but when I use it alot there's almost always smoke at startup.... does this mean it is something else that is the cause of this problem???


Please help, I'm worried it's something bad!!

 

Valve stem seals.

When it sits for a short time, oil seeps down into the cylinders and burns blue when you start it up. When it sits for a long time, there is only so much that can seep past the seals & guides into the cylinder, so the oil that had done that continues to seep on past the rings out of the cylinders so it doesn't burn blue at startup.

 

is it costly to get new valve seals/guides put in from a mechanic.....or is it hard to install yourself? I was basically told by a friend that if I was gonna go through all the trouble to replace them I might as well buy a 350 (which I plan on doin next summer)

 

It's one of the easier things you can do yourself, you'll need an air comressor or a bunch of rope to hold the valves up, and a valve spring compressor.

 

For the seals, that is.

Replacing the guides is a remove-the-heads-take-to-machine-shop deal.

 

For the seals, yes.

 

i thought someone said to go to a thicker oil, that that would solve any smoking problems right off the bat

 

I doubt it.

 

From what I'm learning about certain members here, this could cause flamage......

I just have to offer my advice, because it's happened to me on 4 3rd gens of mine, and 6 of my friends to date, and I think I can help.
Very true the valve seals may be worn out, BUT, the heads seem to also collect a hard carbon buildup around the middle of the heads, and the ends, right over the oil drain holes. If this carbon gets excessive, the drain holes get plugged. When this happens, the heads fill with oil, sometimes above the valve seal level.

After a short trip and soon after startup, oil seeps through the valve guides and into the cylinders, and burns at startup. If left overnight, the oil seeps into the cylinders, but then seep past the rings, and you don't get smoke in the morning.

My advice; take off your valve covers, and see if there is a buildup of carbon sludge in the heads. If there is, try to pry the big pieces out, and clean out as much of it as you can. Then, rinse both heads with transmission fluid or thin oil. Change the oil immediately.

Drive it for 2 or 3 days and see what happens. All your risking here is some time, 2 valve cover gaskets, and a oil change.

I've had a 100% success rate with mine and others too!

 

Sorry for the late reply.... been too busy worrying about this I guess
My friend is a mechanic and said that if there's carbon buildup you should be able to see it just by removing the oil cap and check inside. And it looked fine and clean... or is the carbon located only in the drainholes??

Thanx for all your help.