Valve Stem Seals, White/Blue smoke when I start up Options

[Manny]

Hey Everyone....

I noticed some bluish white smoke coming from my exhaust in the morning after my car has been sitting overnight... This goes away within 30 seconds and doesnt happen again until i let it sit overnight again....

In my experience this has usually been a ring or valve stem seal issue.

How difficult is it to replace the seals myself on a 5SFE engine? Ive done similar work on older cars (pre 1980), but I am a newbie on working on anything like this.

I can get the seals for less than 40 bucks new, but I dont want to have to spend hundreds on labor.



Also, How important is it that I replace the seals right now? The car runs fine and I have no issues with engine temp or even burning oil, its just the smoke in the morning. I dont know enough about toyotas to say if it can wait or not... I had an older car that lasted years with a similar issue, and after I sold it.. the new owner ran it for another 2 years before the water pump went, so he replaced the seals and the water pump since he was already workin on it.

[alltracman78]

See this thread.
It's for a 7A, but the same thing goes for a 5S.

http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=44346

As long as it's not a massive cloud, and is only on startup, I wouldn't worry too much about it right now.

[Manny]

See this thread.
It's for a 7A, but the same thing goes for a 5S.

http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=44346

As long as it's not a massive cloud, and is only on startup, I wouldn't worry too much about it right now.

Thanks for the info....

[bindertch]

If you want to replace just the seals then you are looking at removing the timing belt, head and other parts around those. It would be easy to just do a top end rebuild at that point. If it is just a small amount of smoke and you aren't filling the oil up every week then you should be ok. Just watch out for it smoking continualy because that usually means rings.

[alltracman78]

You don't have to remove the head to replace the valve seals.
Guides yes.
Seals no.

[bindertch]

You don't have to remove the head to replace the valve seals.
Guides yes.
Seals no.

Yes there is a tool that can hold the valves in place with air but you still have to remove the timing belt to remove the cams so you can remove the springs and change the seals.

[alltracman78]

Well yes.
That is all covered in that thread.

[Manny]

I changed out my oil last night and used some high mileage oil....
Its only got about 87k miles on it, but if the prev owner didnt do a good job with the maintenance, I guess I have to take better care of it....

hopefully the new oil will make a difference....