on start-up every morning - white smoke

[CodyjCA]

Every morning when i start up my car (97 camry with 75k miles) a white poof of smoke comes out the exhaust. I am speculating this is water leaking in the engine, maybe i need a new head gasket?

What do you guys think?

Also, is it difficult to replace a head gasket on this model car?

thanks !

[uibalnme]

Is it a 4cyl or a V6? My 95 4cyl does the same thing. Every morning, a quick puff of thin, bluish-white smoke. I found out that it's oil in the cylinders. The valve guides are worn a bit, and allow small amounts of oil to leak into the cylinders over night. When the engine starts the oil is burned off, and makes bluish-white smoke.

FYI:

Water would be thick, white STEAM, and would continue to puff steam as you drive.

Oil is a quick puff of thin, bluish-white smoke on the first start-up of the day.

Incomplete combustion is black smoke.

[95PimpingCamry]

x2 for valve guide seals. I have the same problem.