I have a 95 5sp 3.4 v6 with 80,000 miles

Whenever I start the car a puff of blue smoke comes out. I dont see it after the first/second puff. But I smell it after I stop and get out of my car. So its not puffing while driving I have let it sit and idle and not seen anything. It does not overheat either. It gets up to 215 the fans turn on and it sits at that it I am at idle or about 185ish if I am driving.
Would a stop leak fix this? If not is it a problem I can fix without bringing the engine out of the car?

Thanks any help or insight would be great

 

Most likely the valve stem seals are worn out. Look at the exhaust as you coast in gear down a steep incline. If blue smoke appears, the seals are worn out or damaged. Doesn't damage anything, except fouling plugs if gets really bad.

 

blue smoke always means oil is being burned.
either bad rings or bad valve stem seals
bad could mean worn



with the bad valve stems though blue smoke usually appear while accelerating
with the bad rings you usually have blue smoke and also show signs of power loss, especially when going up hills

what i could think of is that since you dont see it while driving, then its the smallest of leaks... it could be leaking say overnight and when you start your car the next day, that built up oil gets burned off with the start but its not enough to cause blue smoke at any other time

 

I do a lot of driving usually and I only see it after the car has been sitting for an hour or so. What caught my eye was a few days ago I started it and I saw quite a deal of blue smoke come out. I had just moved it in front of my house a few hours eariler like 5 or so (On level ground). I usually park it in my driveway which is an incline. I have not noticed smoke like that come out its usually just a little puff but for whatever reason enough smoke came out that day I saw it in the side mirror.
I dont notice a power loss. And I will have to try to look at my exhaust next time I coast down a steep hill.

I live in AZ where its hot all the time and would using a thicker oil help with my problem or make it worse?
I am using the 5w-30

Thanks for all of your help

 

I thought blue smoke was from too much bleach in your burnout

 

Try 10W40 and it may just fix your problem, and don't put so much bleach on your tires. That chlorine fog is bad for your lungs.

 

Thicker oil might help a little, temp fix though, sounds like the valve seals. Anyone remember the fire burnouts, wonder what they used for that?

 

Thanks yeah I am using 10w-30 the high mileage stuff along with a high mileage filter and I got some engine treatment that reconditions the seals and what not and I have not had any smoke since.

Thanks everyone who posted