99 Solara V6 engine smoke - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Loss4wrds · 11-06-2008, 12:50 PM

Newbie here got a question...
I have a 99 Solara V6 5sp I just bought last week that has 146k on the clock.
Twice now when I have tried to start the car but it didn't start first try (probably my fault my truck has a high torque starter and I barely have to bump it for it to start not exactly used to the Solara yet) I gave it a 5 count and tried to start it again. Both times it started no problem but the exhaust belched a pretty impressive ammount of smoke for 5-10sec.
Anyone else have this happen or know what it is?

I have taken a peice of white paper and held it at the exhaust and revved the motor and didn't see any noticable oil blow by thru the exhaust.
I haven't seen any smoke any other time from the car. I changed the oil immediately after I got the car and have been keeping an eye on it but I haven't noticed any oil loss or consumption (only put 500mi on it so far)

Do I need to run a particular oil filter? I know that some filters have some sort of check valve in them to keep it primed with oil. I am currently using Mobile 1 oil and filter since Advanced had 5qt+filter for $30 special last week.
Anyway sorry for the long first post and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Brian

***toyomoho*** · 11-06-2008, 03:01 PM

Is this smoke unburned fuel, oil or coolant?

The oil filter check valve issue and drain back would cause valve train noise at start up not smoke.

Mobile 1 oil/filters are very good and you should not have a problem.

The fuel pump should not run if the engine is not cranking and not allow excess fuel into the engine.

Watch the exhaust at engine cold start. It is possible for the valve stem seals to harden with age and cause blow-by at cold start.

Loss4wrds · 11-06-2008, 03:41 PM

So far I have not noticed any smoke at start-up except the few times it didn't start first try.
The smoke is white and there is quite a bit of it when it happens. Smells more like oil than than gas or coolant. Reminds me of when I seafoamed my truck but doesn't smoke for near as long. Maybe 5 seconds it smokes and quits but it is a thick large cloud when it happens.
I pulled the plugs in the front side bank and they look like the original factory plugs but in overall decent shape. Decent ammount of off-white/light brown ash but that is to be expected if they are the original plugs. Haven't pulled the back ones was waiting till I had new plugs before I tackled that.
Haven't pulled the valve cover yet to check for sludge, haven't seafoamed it yet. Both are on my to do list.

Loss4wrds · 11-06-2008, 03:48 PM

I'll do the paper test again when it is cold one day this week and see if I have any noticable blow-by when cold

***toyomoho*** · 11-06-2008, 05:06 PM

Wonder if excess fuel is being dumped into the manifold by the cold start fuel system as the engine cranks over. Then burning off once the car starts.

TacoTrukker · 11-06-2008, 05:13 PM

^^ I agree with this wondering. It sounds like fuel. Was the smoke black or white?

Gadgetjq · 11-07-2008, 07:44 AM

Worn valve guides and/or seals are the most frequent cause of white (or blue) smoke when starting the engine and at your mileage I wouldn't be surprised especially if the previous owner(s) didn't change oil at recommended intervals.

With worn guides or seals, oil flows down the valve stem and drips onto the piston top (or just sits on top of the valve). As soon as the engine starts the oil is burned producing the smoke. You'd notice more smoke after the engine sits overnight than after a quick stop and go.

If it's black smoke, it's fuel.

Cheers

Loss4wrds · 11-07-2008, 07:59 AM

Smoke is white when it happens.
I had someone else I trust tell me that they thought it might be unburned fuel from the false start also.

I would think if it is the valve guides that it would at least puff a little on every start-up. But the thing is it never happens unless it fails to start first try. Then there is a car sized puff of thick white smoke that smells like oil more than fuel to me and everything runs fine.
But maybe the cumbustion pressure is keeping the oil from passing the guides when the motor starts and sucks some into the motor when it doesn't?

Shouldn't fuel smoke be dark?

Loss4wrds · 11-12-2008, 09:05 AM

Well changed the plugs over the weekend and there were 2 with major ash deposits. (Almost closing the gap on the stock 2 prong NGK plugs, and deposits chipped and broke off when backing out the plugs since the deposts were larger than the threadded plug hole) So I am leaning twards valve guide issue on a couple cylinders.
Nothing much I can do about that. Not worth the time and effort to fix at this point.
I am still getting 24mpg out of the car so as long as I can keep that up I will just keep an eye on the oil consumption.
Going to SeaFoam it when it is time to change the oil. That will either help it out by getting rid of the carbon deposits (getting that trash out of the way) or it will make the problem worse by removing the carbon deposits (that were keeping the leak small). Not really sure which will happen. I have seen both happen on older cars.

Side question... Will it hurt anything to spray down my throttlebody with TB & Carb spray. Looks like all the sensors are further twards the air box. I saw some light varnish/carbon deposits on the blade and in the throat of the TB but didnt' want to ruin any big $$ sennsors by just hosing it down without asking.
Thanks,

Gadgetjq · 11-12-2008, 10:50 AM

Decarboning the throttle body throat is (supposed to be) an annual maintenance item. You won't hurt a thing spraying some throttle body cleaner into the throat and cleaning it. If you already have Seafoam just use that. Dip an old toothbrush in it and scrub the carbon out out of the throat, also off the edge (very carefully) of the butterfly.

Cheers

Loss4wrds · 11-12-2008, 01:14 PM

OK thanks. Wanted to check. Every car is diffrent and I have only had the Solara for a couple weeks and can only read so many threads each day.