Metro Smokes at startup

[crxcte]

Just bought a 2000 metro that smokes out the exhaust at startup. 1.3 liter engine. There is no or little oil use after driving 400 miles. It does not smoke when running only at startup. Noticed the oil on the stick is completely full and wondered if it may have too much. Looked for the PVC valve but not sure where it located. Check engine light comes on and off occasionally and has been off for the last 200 miles. Have not compression tested the cylinders do to not having the tool.

Any body experience similar problems? Any help is appreciated.

Chris

[Old3banger]

Try to determine the color of the smoke. At start up a puff of white smoke is usually antifreeze-blue smoke oil. A leaky head gasket or cracked head can allow some coolant to leak into the combustion chamber at rest. Similarly, marginal valve guides or worn valve seals allow some oil to leak in. Sometimes the Snake Oil remedies can temporarily revive stiff seals.

Originally Posted by crxcte

It does not smoke when running only at startup.
Looked for the PVC valve but not sure where it located.

Note that "PVC" means PolyVinylChloride, what you're looking for is the PCV valve, which stands for PositiveCrankcaseVentilation. Sorry, don't know where they are on 1.3 motor.

If you had "too much" oil it would tend to blow out while running & you'd have seen the level drop.

[crxcte]

The smoke is white at startup, it only smokes for 5 seconds then clears up. If its antifreeze leaking in how much would it take to create white smoke?

How long would it run like this?

PCV, PVC, OK, I work a lot of home construction. lol

[Old3banger]

Very little.

Originally Posted by crxcte

If its antifreeze leaking in how much would it take to create white smoke?

One of the difficulties in quantifying the loss is that such leaks often allow combustion gases to leak into the coolant, creating a bubble that displaces coolant. While losing coolant the level may actually appear to rise! Often antifreeze will smell of exhaust.

No telling how long it might run IF it has a leaking head gasket or cracked head. Of course such leaks do not mend themselves & tend to worsen, resulting in fouling the plug affected & ultimately overheating. Look for signs of coolant overflow/over pressure.

[Johnny Mullet]

Could just be condensation buildup and nothing to worry about.

[igya]

Originally Posted by crxcte

The smoke is white at startup, it only smokes for 5 seconds then clears up. If its antifreeze leaking in how much would it take to create white smoke?

How long would it run like this?

PCV, PVC, OK, I work a lot of home construction. lol

You can bet your life savings that it's leaking valve guide seals. A very easy and cheap fix.

[forsa87]

While "white" smoke does usually indicate water geting into the Combustion-chamber, if it's actually more like light grey, it "might" mean that you're fuel-mixture is just a little rich at start-up which is fairly common ...you might want to pull your plugs and have a look at color of deposits and whether they are heavier in one cylinder.

Originally Posted by crxcte

The smoke is white at startup, it only smokes for 5 seconds then clears up. If its antifreeze leaking in how much would it take to create white smoke?

How long would it run like this?

PCV, PVC, OK, I work a lot of home construction. lol

[hvdragon]

Originally Posted by crxcte

The smoke is white at startup, it only smokes for 5 seconds then clears up.

it's normal. don't worry.

[Metro Mike]

If you have antifreeze in the oil or exaust you will also get oil in the antifreeze. So check the radiator and the overflow bottle for oil droplets floating around or brown sludge. If it is bad enough you will notice that your cooling system pressureizes (with exaust) apon startup even when cold. If its that bad you will have all kinds of other problems too. Just don't ask me how I know this.

[igya]

Originally Posted by igya

You can bet your life savings that it's leaking valve guide seals. A very easy and cheap fix.

So, what's the quickest way to install new guide seals in the 16 valve engine?