96 Camry Burning Oil... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Camry LE 94 · 03-30-2008, 09:50 PM

Hey thanks in advance for lookin at my post. I have a 1996 Toyota Camry LE which seems to be burning oil... Once I start my car, put it in Drive then take off, a large cloud of grayish blue smoke comes billowing out of my tail pipe. This happens maybe 2 or 3 times out of say 10 per day. Can someone give me tips on how I can solve this problem? I'm thinking that I have to rebuild the engine... Not too sure though. Thanks.

95PimpingCamry · 03-30-2008, 10:11 PM

It is possible that your valve stem seals are leaking, mine are. If it only really does it right after startup then it is probably the valve stem seals. How is your compression? Do you feel a loss of power? If so it may be your piston rings, or head gasket. If it is your piston rings it would probably smoke after it has warmed up. Also check your coolant level. If your head gasket is gone you may also be burning coolant. Also check your oil, if it is your head gasket your oil should look milky from coolant in it. I'm guessing that it's your valve stem seals, and if so then it most likely is not a major problem. No matter what the problem is, to properly fix it you will need to do major work, or spend at least a few hundred dollars. If it is your valve seals some oil additives may temporarily help.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Camry LE 94 · 03-30-2008, 10:21 PM

thanks buddy. yeah i think the oil is starting to look milky. i just bought the car 5 days ago.. it still has 25 dealer warranty days left so im thinkin of bringin it back. when i drove it home from where i bought it, about 2 hours away, i checked the oil and it was at the low mark. i got an oil change the other day because the oil wasnt lookin too new. i checked it again today and it was about 3/4 full and milky looking. also yes i do feel a loss of power. when i start the car, it seems to rumble and shake abnormally, even when im stopped at a light. i had a similar problem when i had my 94 camry, so i recently did some research online and put 2 and 2 together and figured that it was probably losin power due to the spark plugs probably being dirty because it was shaking when i started it.

95PimpingCamry · 03-30-2008, 10:36 PM

loss of power + milky oil + burning oil = blown head gasket. If you can confirm it is the head gasket ( I may be wrong) then see if the dealership will fix it under warranty, otherwise that repair can get costly and I'd advise you to try to return it. Before you go and try to return it check with other people because I may very well be wrong and I don't want to give you bad advise. Good luck.

ONE_to_HATE · 03-31-2008, 12:11 AM

Be sensible and RETURN IT; that's why you have 30 days to do so. Coolant in Oil isn't something anyone would wanna deal with. Good Luck.