My g/f just bought a 96' Celica GT with 65k on it. It sat all day yesterday because it wasnt insured, but today when i went out and started it up it puffed out some smoke. It was white smoke and just one nice size puff came out. I would think that if it was condensation that it would keep smoking for a few minutes until the exhaust warmed up alittle. Anyone else have this happen to them? Do you think it could be valve stem seals? Im just wondering if this may be a common problem or not.

Thanks,
Dan

White smoke i wouldnt worry bout right now. Its generally water.

Water from where? Just sitting in the Exhaust?

its oil that settles on the valves or sumthing to that effect. i read it in a rav4 forum they have the same motor 5sfe. it wont harm anyhting mine does it also. just check ur oil often, i am always a half-quart low after like a few months.

That would be vavle stem seals. Its called Blowby. The oil seeps past the seals into the combustion chamber whenever the motor is turned off. Then once you start your car it burns that tiny bit of oil. You can get a set of vavle stem seals for cheap but its a pain to change them. My girl just bought this car and it has a warrenty on it so maybe we should make the dealer change the seals.

Yeah, actually the 5sfe's stock valvetrain is rather weak in the perspective and you have to live with the fact that it's going to burn a little oil. I guess you could have it fixed and the stock valve internals replaced with new stock ones, but just know that the problem is inavoidable and it something that happens. It's not bad or anything until you start "Shooting the blue" when while you're accelerating you're burning oil...then it's time to replace some things.

my mom has a 92 camry with the 2.2L in it. Is that the exact same motor?? She has 150k on hers and it doesnt burn anything! Runs like new.

Oil isnt white tho, its more of a blue, he's saying white im thinking...white.