2001 Toyota RAV4 blowing smoke at start up

JCHERIN

MEMBER
2001 TOYOTA RAV4
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
44,000 MILES

Hi,
We have noticed that the RAV4 has started to blow smoke when first started up in the morning. It is getting worse. And now it appears to me that the smoke is slightly bluish. We changed to synthetic oil about 5k ago. We have had the car since new and nothing has gone wrong with it before.

thanks
jc

5 Replies

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

HI there,

This is normally faulty valve stem seals, in the cylinder head, what weight oil are you using, this may affect it if to light.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Sunday, November 30th, 2008 AT 3:15 PM

JCHERIN

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3 POSTS

Mobil 1 -- 5w-30

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Sunday, November 30th, 2008 AT 5:19 PM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

Try the 10W-30 see if that helps.

Mark (mhpautos)

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Sunday, November 30th, 2008 AT 6:13 PM

JCHERIN

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I will do that. If it doesn't work, what is the best way to go about getting a diagnosis? Will a compression test let me know that a valve is bent, or warped in some way? Is the only fix for that a 'valve job'. And is the dealership the best place for that?

Any other words of advice? Thanks for your input already.
Jeffrey

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Sunday, November 30th, 2008 AT 7:11 PM

MHPAUTOS

MECHANIC
31,937 POSTS

Hi there,

You wont have a bent or warped valve, what is wrong is that the small seals that the valve stem runs in has lost its tension and the hot thin oil will bypass it when the engine stops, this small amount of oil sits in the inlet and is burnt on start up, check pricing before having any work done, and any qualified mechanic should be able to do this exact diagnosis for you on inspection of the car.

Mark