WTF! Smoke from fill cap

[carpetguy00]

Ok so Ive had my 97 5s-fe since feb. its got 99k on it now. anyways, ive changed the oil 2x. the current oil has right at 4000 miles on it. I used valvoline syn blend. heard it was good. anyways, i checked it this morning, engine was hot but let it sit for 3-4 minutes before i checkd it. on the dipstick, it was exactly halfway between the two marks. so when i unscrewed my oil fill cap to put a little in it, i noticed just a little bit of smoke. just a few wisps came out. Im used to seeing this on my crappy F150, but is this normal for my Camry???? Ive noticed a slight rattle, but most japanese cars have this, ive noticed. it runs great. quiet as hell at idle. and smooth.

Im pretty sure it was well maintained by the previous owner. but is there anyway to determine if this is a sludgy engine? are there any symptoms to this?

also, off the topic, I installed new monroe quickstruts in feb when i got it. i have a rattle that does not want to go away. its coming from the drivers front wheel. I have pulled the tire off and looked 3x, and i cant find anything loose. it rattles pretty bad on a dirt road, or just a crappy paved one. I kno its hard to diagnose here, and i kno these cars are known for their crappy mounts, but is there any other problematic pieces on the front end of em?

im about to change the oil again, so any sugestions? mobil 1?

[73sport]

Originally Posted by carpetguy00

anyways, i checked it this morning, engine was hot but let it sit for 3-4 minutes before i checkd it. on the dipstick, it was exactly halfway between the two marks. so when i unscrewed my oil fill cap to put a little in it, i noticed just a little bit of smoke. just a few wisps came out.

Normal that hot oil was just being splashed all about inside the engine, shooting out of tight places and being hit and slung about by the reciprocating parts. That tends to atomize it and suspend it in the air.

Originally Posted by carpetguy00

Im pretty sure it was well maintained by the previous owner. but is there anyway to determine if this is a sludgy engine? are there any symptoms to this? ?

Pull the PCV, look for crud. Look far into the oil fill hole. Lastly, pull the valve cover and inspect.

Originally Posted by carpetguy00

also, off the topic, I installed new monroe quickstruts in feb when i got it. i have a rattle that does not want to go away. its coming from the drivers front wheel. I have pulled the tire off and looked 3x, and i cant find anything loose. it rattles pretty bad on a dirt road, or just a crappy paved one. I kno its hard to diagnose here, and i kno these cars are known for their crappy mounts, but is there any other problematic pieces on the front end of em?

The quick struts were complete right, so if strut top, strut pinch bolts, the ball joint, tie-rod ends, sway bar link are tight than all is good.

Is the engine an oil leaker? Find the steering sheft from the column to the rack & pinion, next to that is the sway bar mount. Is the sway bar mount rubber in place? Is it oil soaked. It could

You could remove the sway bar link on one side of the car so it effectively renders it inoperable and drive through some chuck holes. If its quiet, you isolated it to the anti-sway bar components.

If not, than back to rest of the suspension. Be VERY careful on your test dirve after you remove the short link as the car will lean allot in the corners. So be careful.

[esvipron]

Originally Posted by carpetguy00

Ok so Ive had my 97 5s-fe since feb. its got 99k on it now. anyways, ive changed the oil 2x. the current oil has right at 4000 miles on it. I used valvoline syn blend. heard it was good. anyways, i checked it this morning, engine was hot but let it sit for 3-4 minutes before i checkd it. on the dipstick, it was exactly halfway between the two marks. so when i unscrewed my oil fill cap to put a little in it, i noticed just a little bit of smoke. just a few wisps came out. Im used to seeing this on my crappy F150, but is this normal for my Camry???? Ive noticed a slight rattle, but most japanese cars have this, ive noticed. it runs great. quiet as hell at idle. and smooth.

Im pretty sure it was well maintained by the previous owner. but is there anyway to determine if this is a sludgy engine? are there any symptoms to this?

also, off the topic, I installed new monroe quickstruts in feb when i got it. i have a rattle that does not want to go away. its coming from the drivers front wheel. I have pulled the tire off and looked 3x, and i cant find anything loose. it rattles pretty bad on a dirt road, or just a crappy paved one. I kno its hard to diagnose here, and i kno these cars are known for their crappy mounts, but is there any other problematic pieces on the front end of em?

im about to change the oil again, so any sugestions? mobil 1?

Replace the strut mount as well. Usually that is what originates that rattle.

[93celicaconv]

The Monroe quick struts include the top strut mount as part of the assembly package. I wouldn't think a new strut mount would be defective immediately.

73sport has all the other possibilities I can think of included in his reply.