Blue smoke from exhaust

WINFRED16

MEMBER
2002 LEXUS RX 300
227,000 MILES

Valve cover gasket replaced. Blue smoke comes from exhaust only after sitting 10/12 hours from work, and not everyday.

Saturday, May 25th, 2019 AT 7:12 PM

1 Reply

SCGRANTURISMO

MECHANIC
4,897 POSTS

Hello,

Blue smoke is usually an indication that engine oil is being introduced into the combustion chamber somehow. Given the mileage on your vehicle and the fact that it is intermittent with a lot of "soak time" before it's present, I think that this might be a problem with your vehicle's valve oil seal. These will wear out over time from normal wear and tear and when they do they will let oil seep into combustion chambers around the valve. From the intermittent nature of your problem and the fact it takes some time for the oil to get into the combustion chamber your valve oil seal(s) are probably just barely starting to fail. Get back to us if you would like instructions on how to replace these. Help is available.

Thanks,
Alex
2CarPros