Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options

Camry intermitant smoking after sitting overnight

pronigierpronigier Member Posts: 19
edited March 2014 in Toyota
My 4 cyl 1997 smokes sometimes after siting for 12 hours.Smokes only at startup.It has 65000 miles with Toyota Extra Care, 100k warrenty. I have all my receipts for oil change. I usually bought my own, Castrol, because I wasn't sure what the bulk oil was. I have used Toyota oil filters ever time except once when I used a Champ at a chain. The Champ filter was installed at 60,000 miles. At 60,000 miles the trans was flushed. Now the car smokes at 65000 sometimes. Was the constant idleing of the engine to have the trans flushed the cause of the smoking. Was the Champ filter the cause of the smoking ? Is Castrol an acceptable oil 10w30. The dealer tells me its probably valve seals. The dealer tells me that it is covered in extended warrenty. From reading these posts I am now concerened with sludge and improper maintenance. The dealer is nice enough but I don't trust them and I can't afford to have my car stuck there with a 3000 dollar bill. Can this wait for a month ? Is Champ agood filter ? Is Castrol good oil ? Thanks for any opinions .
Tagged:

Comments

  • Options
    lokkilokki Member Posts: 1,200
  • Options
    armtdmarmtdm Member Posts: 2,057
    Sorry, filter not the cause or oil or tranny flush etc. Causes are coolant leaking via head gasket and white smoke from exhaust. Or, the valve or valve guides are worn and passing oil and or in combination with sludging. Get the dealer to perform all tests and go on record now with the problem!

    Do not trust any dealer to make it good!
  • Options
    isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Valve stem seals...have it checked.

    Castrol is good oil and the filter couldn't have caused this to happen.
  • Options
    Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Yep, valve stem seals get hard with age and so a small amount of oil drips down from the head, through the seals, along the valve stem and into the combustion chamber. This is burned off during start up and further oil doesn't leak fast enough through the seals with the engine operating during the day for you to notice any more burning (but there probably is a little oil burning going on, especially on deceleration when high engine vacuum can suck oil from the cylinder head area through the hard stem seals.).
  • Options
    2k1trd2k1trd Member Posts: 301
    Toyota has a updated valve seal to correct this problem.I have done this repair on a 97 also with the same problem and is pretty costly.The cylinder head must be removed to replace the seals.
  • Options
    pronigierpronigier Member Posts: 19
    I have the 97 Camry that smokes. I have noticed gunk on the oil cap. Is this a sledge problem. You say expensive. How do I get the extended warrenty Extra Care people to pay for this. How much does it cost ?
  • Options
    armtdmarmtdm Member Posts: 2,057
  • Options
    Mr_ShiftrightMr_Shiftright Member Posts: 64,481
    Gunk on the oil cap is pretty normal. It could just be some condensation mixing with the oil. This may not have anything to do with the smoke from your engine, which could be valve stem seals, head gasket, bad rings, etc.

    First you'll need to determine what is going wrong (if anything) with your engine before you can make a warranty claim. Just "smoke" isn't enough for a claim.
  • Options
    ravvie4meravvie4me Member Posts: 110
    The 3SFE (2-liter) and 5SFE (2.2-liter) are famous for leaky valve stems, usually at higher mileage. My 1988 Camry, a 3SFE, does this as well. It has been since I bought it in 1997 with 153,000 miles on it. The car still only loses about 1/8 quart between oil changes (3-4k miles). I wouldn't worry about it. Just check the oil every once in a while.
    Oh, I have 203,000 miles on the engine. All original.

    -RAVvie4me
  • Options
    pronigierpronigier Member Posts: 19
    NOw the car only smokes three times a week. Consumer affairs office says they have adjusters that are trained to deny claims. Dealer says 1500 to 2000 dollars and it sounds like they might try an engine flush and then EGR system and then the car will still have the problem and I will have to shell out 2 grand . The dealer also says the receipts are worthless if there is sludge because sludge means that an oil change was missed. Why keep receipts ? If I just ignore it can I damage the engine ?
This discussion has been closed.

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles