Car Burns Oil Upon Starting Occassionally

**JakeLasVegas** · 09-18-2015

Hello again everybody. Long time no post.

I had a slight water leak from the corner of the lower intake manifold on my 97 Grand Prix 3800 with 156K miles, and had the manifold gasket replaced and also installed a new upper intake manifold and gasket set. This fixed the water problem, but about a week later noticed a cloud of white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe upon starting the car for the first time of the day. The smoke quickly dissipates and doesn't smoke after the engine is running. It only smokes on about 1 out of 10 starts.

My question is: Could this be caused by something involving the manifold gasket change or is it a coincidence? I am thinking that with the smoke occurring only on start-up, could it be the valve stem seals? If it is the seals, can they be replaced without removing the heads?

Will appreciate any and all thoughts on this matter. Thank you.

**ericspecullaas** · 09-18-2015

well first off dont beat your car. second these cars do burn more oil than you think. thirdly im thinking that your valve guides maybe going that a real good sign for them going

**Bronco Boy** · 09-18-2015

If the smoke is white, then you have a coolant leak.

**CrazyGuy03** · 09-18-2015

Worn valve seals or even a lifted seal. The oil seeps past them while sitting Turn on the csr and you quickly burn off the build up.

I had had one valve seal lift on the exhaust valve. It would smoke at idle and even worse if I was on an incline (rear head)

**CrazyGuy03** · 09-18-2015

X2 on the color of the smoke

**Bronco Boy** · 09-18-2015

Valve seals would be blue smoke.

**FordMan77** · 09-18-2015

So your car is a social smoker, eh? White smoke is usually coolant. Have you check to see if the coolant level is dropping at all? If you just had the LIM/UIM gaskets done then maybe one of them didn't set right and is leaking a bit, or the UIM is cracked somewhere if you are N/A.

**CrazyGuy03** · 09-18-2015

Originally Posted by Bronco Boy

Valve seals would be blue smoke.

OP's title said "burns oil"

**stealthee** · 09-18-2015

I think you guys are overthinking this. He says it only smokes on the first start up of the day. My guess leans more toward normal condensation and it not being smoke at all.

**CrazyGuy03** · 09-19-2015

Yup. Had this thread before too lol

**koRnhead** · 09-19-2015

Originally Posted by SallyBabe03

OP's title said "burns oil"

Except if it's white smoke like he says. It's not oil whether he thinks it is or not.

**CrazyGuy03** · 09-19-2015

Lol who cares. If it's an oil leak then refer to my post. If not , then refer to the other post lmao!

**koRnhead** · 09-19-2015

It matters. Since a valve seal will smoke every time all the time. So if he is just noticing condensation then it's nothing. If he actually has an oil or water leak somewhere then there is still a problem.

**JakeLasVegas** · 09-19-2015

The smoke is white, but it smells exactly like burned oil.

**JakeLasVegas** · 09-19-2015

The upper intake manifold is brand new, plus the coolant level is still full.

**JakeLasVegas** · 09-19-2015

I'll have the cooling system pressure tested to check for leaks and a compression test of the cylinders.

Thak you too all who offered dome advice.

**CrazyGuy03** · 09-19-2015

Originally Posted by koRnhead

It matters. Since a valve seal will smoke every time all the time. So if he is just noticing condensation then it's nothing. If he actually has an oil or water leak somewhere then there is still a problem.

it must really bother you

and FWIW i listed my example for an example. You lift a seal and report back

**koRnhead** · 09-20-2015

Been there done that in my Galant VR-4 years ago. No people like you dismissing what's going on in this guy's car bothers me. He came here looking for help. And you give nothing. Since it's clearly not a valve seal issue.

**CrazyGuy03** · 09-20-2015

Originally Posted by koRnhead

Been there done that in my Galant VR-4 years ago. No people like you dismissing what's going on in this guy's car bothers me. He came here looking for help. And you give nothing. Since it's clearly not a valve seal issue.

I never dismissed what is going on.