I have a little problem....

[caeppi]

I have a 92 toyota celica which I bought last year from my roommate...it has now about 176000 miles on it but still drives very well...

But about 3 weeks ago I brought it to the mechanic for the usual oil change and I asked him, why there is always coming so much black smoke out of my car when i crank it up - mostly in the mornings...

He kind of explained to me what happened, that there would be seals within the engine which probably be leaing, and now that the car is getting older oil would be sitting on top of the engine while it's standing all night. And then he said when you turn it on in the mornings the oil simply burns off. I don't really know if I explained that correctly, but I am sure whoever will read this and knows something about it, will understand...my actual question is the following: My mechanic told me that eventually i would have to get that fixed which would be around $ 1000 - which of course I don't have. But then my co-worker tells me it is nothing to be worried about right now, but yes, later on I will probably have to make a decision...does anyone know if that is a serious thing?

Thank you

[Lil GTR]

sounds like a head gasket which will cost around like a hundred bucks get a buddy that likes ta work on cars and have some fun for not a thousand dollars, do-it-yourselfers are a lot cheaper and ya learn stuff! its really not that hard considering its just taking off the cover. it is just a regular dohc 2.0 right? that reminds me i gotta do mine soon.

good luck man!

[Pineapple]

It could be piston ring also. By the time you buy all the tools needed to do head gasket and piston ring, you can pay the mechanic to change it.

[Insanity-74]

It could also be a valve stem oil seal.

[david in germany]

Originally Posted by Lil GTR

sounds like a head gasket [/size]

sorry, not at all.
It is the valve seals, yes it is nothing major to do but tey wll need to pull the head to do it.

look at replacing the head gasket, and anthing that you can afford to do at the same time like new water pump, and timing belt.
good luck!
david

[Snafu]

Originally Posted by david in germany

sorry, not at all.
It is the valve seals, yes it is nothing major to do but tey wll need to pull the head to do it.

look at replacing the head gasket, and anthing that you can afford to do at the same time like new water pump, and timing belt.
good luck!
david

ding ding ding. David hit it right on the nose. If it was your headgasket leaking, you would notice coolant in your oil, oil in your coolant. Also, the smoke would be white and smell sweet, rather than black.

[Cyorke]

I hate to disagree with all of you but if he has black smoke coming from the tail pipe on start up it is probably something emissions related or, plugs, wires, air/fuel mix etc etc. When oil burns it is blue. Well damnit I cant rememebr is it black smoke indicates a lean mixture or rich mixture. Someone else help me out here.

I would hate for him to go chasing burning oil and it be something as simple as doing a good tunepu on the car and that take care of his problem. I am not saying this is for sure the problem but typically blue smoke coming fromt eh tail pipe especially on start up indicates leaking valve stem seals. Due to the fact that oil in the cylinder head has leaked past the seals while sitting for an extended period of time and burns up when you start the car.

As far as it causing a problem it really depends on what you find is actually wrong with it. If it is the vlve stem seals then you will need to make sure that you keep the oil level checked and topped off if it were to start going down. I have seen people drive their cars with leaking valve stem seals for several years and never have any major problems short of having to fill the ol on a regular basis. If it is a tune up situation then it will most likely affect your fuel consumption and depending on if it is rich or lean can cause engine damage.

[MR2Jedi]

I have to agree with Cyorke on this one. oh, and black smoke would indicate a rich mixture. caeppi prolly does have worn valve stem seals, but like Chris said, Ive seen ppl go years with that condition. eventually the issue will have to be addressed. but I think you're OK for awhile. In the mean time, keep up with your oil changes and keep it topped off. keep the engine tuned up.

[Cyorke]

Thank you MR2BAD I was drawing a blank on whether it was rich or lean. I used to work witha guy at Toyota that had a Chevy Truck with a 350 in it and his valve stem seals were bad enought ath it smoked constantly. He kept about 3 extra sets of plugs and ratchet and socket under the hood so he could change them out when the oil fouled them out. He finally got around to replacing them and when he did he said that the seals were literally gone. The only thing that was left of them was the spring that holds them in place. I worked with him for almost 4 years and he drove it like that for probably 2 1/2 years. ALl he did was top off the oil every other day and keep changing out plugs. Nice thing about an old small block chevy is you dont have to pull the heads to do it if you know what you are doing and have some rope and patience.
You could probably do the same thing on any other engine if you have the patience and some mechanical aptitude.

[Snafu]

I've dumped fuel at a cycle duty of 90% on my 450cc injectors at idle and have never seen "black" smoke come out of the tail pipe. Concidering the 4afe stock came with about 170cc injectors, I don't believe that he is running too rich.

[caeppi]

I really do appreciate all your help and infos...well, I guess I can just hope that my car will keep on riding for a little while and I guess he will...

You all have a good weekend....Thank you again