Car has 123,000 miles and only is driven every 3 weeks or so. I start car to let run and engine will be normal and then reave high. No loss of oil
Most common cause of blue exhaust smoke is oil leaking past engine seals and into the cylinders where it then mixes and burns with the fuel. This is most frequently seen in older or high mileage cars with worn seals and gaskets. possible causes of blue exhaust smoke include: piston wear, worn valve seals, a dirty or non-functioning PCV valve, worn piston rings, an intake manifold gasket leak, worn engine oil seals and possibly even head gasket failure. God-Bless!
Testimonial: "Thank you so much for your info. Wish it were better news! Does this happen because it is not driven regularly?"
Blue smoke is burning oil
I gather that you let the engine idle and when you give it rpms that there is a cloud of blue smoke
if that is the case it indicates that the valve stem seals are hard /failed and when the engine is at idle ( 15" mercury vacuum in manifold) the oil around the valves is sucked past the stem seals and into the combustion chamber
AS you have restricted use of the machine (every 3 weeks ) it is not a great problem as when you are on the road it is not happening (Only at idle )
It is repairable without removing the head if you find an accredited service shop that has experience in the procedure.
Testimonial: "Thank you. There was one time after driving it short distance it was hard to start and I lost some power going uphill with air on. What would valve steam seals cost?"
for the loss of power and hard to start,I suggest that you run the fault codes to check for faulty sensors
short starts /runs may be causing a plug fouling problem with the oil being he culprit
change to a hotter range of plugs to burn the oil of the insulator in the plugs will help there
As to the seal replacement cost,I suggest getting quotes from several different service dealers /accredited shops with extensive experience on your make of car (try for a non head removal shop to quote )
I would be expecting around 3 hours labour plus seals for a non removal of the head job or around 5 hours with the head off
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The most common cause of blue exhaust smoke is oil leaking past engine seals and into the cylinders where it then mixes and burns with the fuel. This is most frequently seen in older or high mileage cars with worn seals and gaskets. It only requires a very small amount of oil leaking into the cylinders to cause excessive blue exhaust smoke.
Blue exhaust smoke only at start-up can indicate worn piston seals or damaged or worn valve guides which may also cause a rattling noise. An external engine oil leak can drip onto hot engine and exhaust parts causing what appears to be blue exhaust smoke. Other possible causes of blue exhaust smoke include: piston wear, worn valve seals, a dirty or non-functioning PCV valve, worn piston rings, an intake manifold gasket leak, worn engine oil seals and possibly even head gasket failure.
Oil leaking into the cylinders can cause a rough idle, misfire and fouled spark plugs. In addition, a reduction in power and oil loss can be indicators that the blue exhaust smoke is caused by an internal engine oil leak. Internal engine oil leaks can also allow fuel to mix with the oil in the crankcase which will degrade the oil and prevent it from adequately protecting the engine.
Operating a car with a severely dirty oil filter, air filter or improperly functioning PCV valve can also sometimes result in engine oil blow-by, oil loss and blue exhaust smoke. Periodically checking the engine oil level with the oil dip stick will indicate if there is excessive oil consumption. Higher viscosity engine oil can sometimes temporarily reduce the amount of blow-by; however, this is not generally recommended. Excessive blue exhaust smoke indicates a possible internal engine oil leak that should be inspected by an ASE certified mechanic.
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