# Smokes upon startup, but not while running **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 19, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317 "2007-08-19T14:32:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![baloo4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@baloo4](https://community.cartalk.com/u/baloo4)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317/1 "2007-08-19T14:32:37Z")
I have a 98 Avalon (175k miles). When I start the car, it smokes out the tailpipe. After a minute it stops. It only smokes after sitting for a while. If I turn the car off and an hour later I start it back up, no smoke. A few weeks ago, I put in 10w30 instead of 5w30 by accident. A week later I had an oil change and put in 5w30 at a dealer. A few weeks later I noticed that my oil was very low. I assumed the dealer put in the oil?? I do not notice any oil leaks on my driveway… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 2:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317/2 "2007-08-19T14:43:50Z")
It sounds to me like the classic symptoms of worn valve guide seals. You might want to get an estimate of what this job will cost, but I suspect that after you get that estimate, you will decide to just keep adding oil, rather than getting it repaired. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Riviera\_1990](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/big_riviera_1990/32/43_2.png) [@Big\_Riviera\_1990](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Big_Riviera_1990)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317/3 "2007-08-19T18:44:43Z")
Yeah, VCD got it. I second. -Matt ---
**Author:** ![baloo4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@baloo4](https://community.cartalk.com/u/baloo4)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317/4 "2007-08-19T19:59:40Z")
Thanks. I am assuming it would cost $500-$1k to fix? If so, and I don’t fix it, just keep adding oil, is there any long term problems by not fixing it? I would like to keep this car at least until 250k miles…++ ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 9:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317/5 "2007-08-19T21:03:49Z")
While I agree with the prior two comments, could you tell us what color the smoke was? Black, blue or white? ---
**Author:** ![raddude62896](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@raddude62896](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raddude62896)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317/6 "2007-08-19T21:11:25Z")
blue smoke??? never seen that!!! lol ---
**Author:** ![Tbird251](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@Tbird251](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tbird251)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317/7 "2007-08-19T21:20:14Z")
You mentioned that your oil was low right after shutting down. This make me think you have a stopped up drain passage back to the crankcase. This causes to oil to build up and flood the valves and then burning the oil. I found this on many engines but I don’t know what an Avalon is. A remedy is to take a length of stiff cable like an old hand brake cable and cut off a 12 inch length to fir an electric drill. You can rod out the passage with this setup. LEE ---
**Author:** ![raddude62896](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@raddude62896](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raddude62896)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 9:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317/8 "2007-08-19T21:29:37Z")
did it start smoking before or after the oil change??? ---
**Author:** ![baloo4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@baloo4](https://community.cartalk.com/u/baloo4)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317/9 "2007-08-19T23:39:22Z")
White smoke. It started smoking right after I put in 10W30. I then had an oil change at a dealer. A week later, I checked the oil and it was empty. I assume the dealer actually did put in oil… I then put in 3 quarts 5W30. It only smokes after sitting for over an hour or two. If I drive it and then turn off the engine and then start the engine anywhere from immediate to an hour --no smoke. Once again, I do not notice any oil leaks on my driveway. Thanks everyone. ---
**Author:** ![raddude62896](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df788c/32.png) [@raddude62896](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raddude62896)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2007, 11:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317/10 "2007-08-19T23:48:52Z")
how much 10 did u put in??? ---
**Author:** ![baloo4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@baloo4](https://community.cartalk.com/u/baloo4)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2007, 1:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/smokes-upon-startup-but-not-while-running/3317/11 "2007-08-20T01:59:16Z")
2 quarts