2004 Subaru Liberty exhaust smoke

Hi, I have been told my big end bearing is in first stages of failure. Slight ticking/tapping noise and using a little more oil. I am looking into getting a new bottom end asap. Anyway can a big end bearing with on itsxway out cause exhaust smoke? It only does it when the car had sat for 3+ hrs. The smoke is lightbgrey in color and ut takes up to 5mins for it to dissappear