Celi started smoking under hard acceleration last week. Definitely oil. Then started smoking all of the time. Shop found the PCV valve clogged. I thought "Sweet! A rather inexpensive fix!". Replacing it stopped the smoke at idle. I was on top of the world. A later test drive by the shop saw higher revs still causes bad oil smoke. They looked inside and said that it was all sludged up. The options given are for a used or manufactured motor. It's a reputable shop.

I Googled this and found some things about sludge buildup common in 98 and 99 Celicas. Right now I am looking at a $3000 bill for a motor and having to tell a wife who is currently out with friends. She is not a fan of the car and will blow a gasket. "That blankedy-blank car!" Not going to be a good weekend.

Is there anything that I can do short of a new motor?

Right now I have nothing to lose short of the car catching fire and being a total loss.

This post has been edited by GTMike: Mar 20, 2015 - 5:46 PM

Generally oil blowby would be due to piston rings or the valve stem seals. If it still runs strongly enough you might just need the stem seals replaced, but you can double check to see what it is by doing a compression and leak down test. Also you should take off your valve cover and look and see how bad this sludge is yourself. This whole $3,000 for another engine nonsense doesn't sit well with me, you could just buy another car for that.

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Dude hell with replacing original engine. Prime quoted me 4k for a 4th gen 3gste swap.. They'll put in new clutch ect. Also they said it'd dyno in 250-270 whp. I'd go that route vs 3k for a 5sfe. I'm assuming you have a gt.

Also if its super slugged up run some seafoam in it. Read the directions and drive roughly 250 miles and it'll clean it out nice and good you just add it to oil and change it after 250 miles. There is a bunch of different recommendations I choose 250. Can is like 8$ maybe. Also your engine may last the way it is for a very long time who knows. I've had a head gasket leak in one of my Hondas for I couldn't tell you how long I still honestly rev banged it because a new engine was 500$ (b20b) it never died on it I sold it and its still running just oil comes out is all.

This post has been edited by Jmk91: Mar 20, 2015 - 9:11 PM

Lol for sure just buy another Celica for 3k

If it runs, sure it can be fixed. Up to the time, tools & patience.

If you can do it yourself, a lot cheaper. Best I can say. Sucks. GL w/the lady

Also if you decide you no longer wanna mess with.your Celica... I'll totally buy your steering wheel haha Id give ya 100$ if its in great shape!

Could try doing Seafoam, Marvel Mystery Oil, or one of the various flushes out there. If there is sludge it could be making the rings stick, so doing a flush may free them up. If it only smokes at higher rpm's, then stay away from there for awhile.

Here is my plan. Make sure there is a clean filter if they did not change it already. Run half a bottle of Seafoam for 30 min. I can't take it on the highway. Basically, I'll drive around the block near an cheap oil change place. Change the oil. Put the other half of Seafoam in and drive 30 more minutes. See how the oil looks and get a flush followed by synthetic. Check for smoke at speed. Repeat if necessary.

Don't have anything to lose.

The car is going if it does not work.

This post has been edited by GTMike: Mar 20, 2015 - 9:28 PM

I think Seafoam is 100 miles or so then change. What you could do is pull the plugs and do a piston soak with the Seafoam overnight before driving it, just divide it evenly. If it's the rings that'll help to get things started.

Was the smoke suddenly bad or did it gradually become worse? You could just have the intake all loaded up with oil from the PCV issue pushing oil into the intake through the breather tube. Pull the throttle body off and take a look in there.

The burning escalated quickly over a couple of days.

I have read anywhere between 20 and 100 miles for the Seafoam.

If it was sudden I wouldn't think it'd be from sludge etc... then. I saw where you have an automatic, but I'm not sure if they're shifted electronically or through vacuum. If by vacuum the shift modulator rupturing will cause the engine to suck ATF and make a real nice smokescreen.

http://seafoamsales.com/using-in-crankcase-oil/

I guess I was wrong maximum is 100. I been doing 250 without issues.

Be really careful anytime you run seafoam in the crankcase. That **** thins out the oil and then you really will have serious problems in the motor.
You can also take it to some Cheapy Lube place and ask them to flush it too.

The Moral of this story is Always Change Your Oil Like a Saint.
Once you let that sludge build up the only way to get it Really Clean
is to take the motor apart and rebuild it.

The Celi is still at the shop and will be until Monday afternoon (the earliest I can pick it up). Taking the afternoon off to try these greatly appreciated tips. It's killing me not to be able to work on it. If the PCV is fine now and I check the hose and that is OK, how would I clean the throttle body?

**EDIT** Found a good video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnrAMZlkSSA

This post has been edited by GTMike: Mar 21, 2015 - 11:20 AM

I had the same issue on my ST (considering your's is GT) Total cost for rebuilding the engine myself was around 600. Here is what I purchased fixed: new connecting rod bearings, new rings, head rebuilt complete from local shop, new OEM gaskits bolts etc. there is no way it should cost $3K.

Where would I pour some Seafoam to clean the intake manifold?

Thanks to all for your help!

I worked a second job for a year and a half to pay for repairs, maintenance and goodies. Don't want to lose her now.

They make Seafoam in an aerosol can you can spray past the throttle body. The best thing to do is just remove the manifold and clean it by hand. I did such when I took the injectors out to flush them and there was a nice solid layer of gunk that no amount of Seafoam would've removed. Took cleaning by hand and with carb cleaner to get it all out. Needless to say it seemed to run better afterwards.

This post has been edited by Box: Mar 22, 2015 - 4:19 PM

**UPDATE**

Picked up the Celi today. Some smoke at idle, lots going down the road. Went to a local parking lot and put in half a can of Seafoam. Let it run for 50 minutes, revving it a bit every 5 min. After 50 minutes, minimal smoke at idle, minimal smoke at speed, some smoke when pedal mashed to the floor. Gettting substantially better. On my second treatment of Seafoam. Going to get another change and flush in a bit.

I told the oil change place my plan for the day. They only charged me for oil and one filter. Gave me more than half off on the final flush. Saved about $40.

Cautiously optimistic.

Hmm, might be lucky and it's recently stuck oil rings. In that case a piston soak overnight with Seafoam or MMO would help break them free.

As long as you can get it to the point it's not throwing a smokescreen I say drive it with some MMO in the case, as it's safe to run all the time, and you should be ok.

**Final Update**

No smoke whatsoever. Burned off the last of it on the highway.

Total cost for the repair:
(2) Synth blend oil changes
(1) Flush
(1) Can Seafoam
$82

Decided new plugs were probably going to be needed. Found new plugs. wires, and cap in my garage that I purchased last fall and never installed.

What a day.

Thanks to all for the advice and support!

Glad it turned out to be something easy. Now you should never ever go back to the shop that wanted $3,000 for an engine flush.

shop = $3000
6gc = free and fixed!

hahaha. glad it all worked out.

As I said, it was likely oil build up in the PCV and intake system from the failed PCV valve.