Sonic'

This isnt my Scoob, but a Toyota Previa

Admittedly it has done 170k miles, and im only using it at weekends now, its a 1996 N reg 2.4i Auto

When I start it up, plumes and plumes of smoke come out of the back (James Bond stylee ) now once the engine is warm it dies off and no more smoke

It isnt using any more oil than usual, mostly the smoke is white, and some of it I know is condensation, but it is a bit concerning when no one behind me can see where they are going till my engine gets to temp

Is it on the way out ? I might have thought Pistons/rings etc but it only does it from cold, and even after a short 3 mile trip and stood for two hours no more smoke

Only happens after being stood for a few days

Cheers

ste sti

if its white smoke its your headgasket it is burning water with your fuel check to see if it is using water

Sonic'

Cheers Ste

Hadnt thought of that, any reason why it would only do it after standing for a few days when completly cold, and not when warm

Or is it because everything expands once warm

ste sti

yep that is another reason why it dosent do it when warm ,when cold does it take a few turns to get it started like bit of missfire? if so its leaking water on to piston when stood still so it is flooding it when you drive after a while it burns the water away quicker than it can build up so hardly noticable also the fuel is burning more than water.it sounds like it is a very minor water leak and thats the reason it is taking few days to drip and build up

Sonic'

Yes thats the exactly the symptoms, misfiring when starting up

I guess it isnt completly terminal at the moment, and hasnt gone completely, so could be a relatively straightforward fix with new head gasket

widman

It it is water, the oil will be milky and the water level will go down. If no water is going down, and water does not have oil, that is not where it is coming from.
In any event I'd run a compression check before replacing the gasket.
It may just be sticking rings. Get a bottle of AutoRx or something similar and do the 1000 mile treatment. Not one of the quick flushes. The good stuff will take longer but will bet back behind the rings and get out the deposits that are sticking the rings.
Also make sure your oil is not too thick. Thick oil will pass by the rings instead of being scraped back down, especially when rings are slightly worn.
Richard's Corvair

Selection of the Right Motor oil for the Corvair and other Flat Tappet Engines

Sonic'

It took 3 litres of water to top it up earlier, and the oil is still very black, on the dipstick, the resevoir and the oil filler cap

Next door neighbour is taking into his garage tomorrow to give it a check and a price if needed (or I might just sell it on first )