How long will it live with Bad valve seals?

[previasc96]

I currrently own two toyotas. My 92' tercel has a 5e-fhe which burns oil internally because of bad valve seals (doesn't really let out white smoke on start up, unless I really get on the throttle the first 5min of operation).
the other car is a 94' Camry. The camry is 5s-fe and on start up after sitting for about 8+ hours, it billows out white smoke for about 20 seconds. I know it's most likely the valve seals. Engine runs and idles smooth, dispite an occational hard start in mornings. It seems that this valve leak problem plagues small toyota engines (never had that problem with my 2.0 8vlave VW jetta and I abused that car for sure). The tercel has ran down to a drop of oil on the dip stick a few times, but she still runs TOPs. I don't know too much about the S family engines though. How long can the Camry live like this if I keep up on the oil changes?

[carsrus]

A long, long, long time. Up the oil to 10w30 High Mileage Castrol GTX, or since your in florida 10W40 High mileage Castrol.

It'll slow it down. Its a great oil.

[BMR]

My Camry's been doing that for about 10 years now. It uses about a quart, maybe 1.5 between oil changes (5k miles). I've read that oil burning can foul O2 sensors and cats, but I haven't seen any signs of it yet.

[Rowdyrod]

My 94 V6 Camry has been smoking on start up since I got it at 125,000 miles. I had the valve seals replaced and it still did it occassionally and does now at 183,000. It uses oil too but you don't see it going out the tail pipe during normal use. Just keep adding oil, maybe some Bardahl or STP oil treatment. I have not had a oxygen sensor foul. This is the ONE thing I have always hated about my toyota.

[Zembonez]

As long as you keep the oil topped off and it doesn't get so bad that the plugs start fouling, you should be able to run them until the bearings and rings give it up. It might smoke more and more over time, but the main issue with bad valve stem seals is smoke on startup.

One big reason for valve stem seal leakage is excessive valve guide wear. Simply replacing the seals doesn't solve the problem.

[93cr250]

it will run as long as you keep oil in it

my dads 96 4cyl camry is just starting to use a little oil at 200,000 miles (1/2 a quart every 3000) and smoke for 5-10 seconds on startup after sitting overnight