97 GSX smoke leaving stop light

[denny mcglone]

Hi everyone, quick question. My car does not smoke when driving but I have noticed twice when leaving a traffic light it blows blue smoke. Only when I take off. Last winter when I got the car, it sat in the garage a while and when I started it it smoked pretty bad because of the valve seals. After it ran for a little while it stopped and I really don't have a problem when I drive it regularly. This has only happened twice that I've noticed, only after driving around awhile.

 

[LiquidX]

Did you replace the valve seals?

 

[denny mcglone]

No valve seals don't seam to be the problem. It doesn't smoke when I start it. Both times it has happened it's been a really big puff of smoke. The car has been up to operating temp.

 

[BogusSVO]

The oil is thinner at opt temp than when cold, so the oil is thick enough not to be going past the seals when cold.

 

[denny mcglone]

yes, oil is thinner, but the valve seals tend to swell a little and they don't leak as much when warm. Usually when the seal is bad they leak oil onto the piston when it sets for awile. This not the case.

 

[BogusSVO]

yes, oil is thinner, but the valve seals tend to swell a little and they don't leak as much when warm. Usually when the seal is bad they leak oil onto the piston when it sets for awile. This not the case.

Unless the seal is old and hard......

 

[JusMX141]

No valve seals don't seam to be the problem. It doesn't smoke when I start it. Both times it has happened it's been a really big puff of smoke. The car has been up to operating temp.

It's your valve seals.

That oil would have to be a large volume which runs a long way to get to the piston at cold startup. The reason you're not seeing it at cold startup or is the oil seeping past the seal is remaining in the exhaust port and it's not burnt until the temp in the head raises enough to do so. At that point it's blending with condensation from the exhaust and you don't see it until it's gone.

Once the oil's warm and thin, it's seeping past the seals during extended idling. Try using a thicker oil like 10W40 or 15W40 and your problem should be temporarily cured.

 

[stuckwithgsx]

I've heard of another test to see if your valve seals are bad. (other than leakdown) If I remember right you just keep your car in say 2nd gear at 4-5k rpm's then let off the throttle and once down to say 2k rpm's (without braking) you get back on the throttle. If you see more blue smoke then it's bad valve seals.

Someone please correct any bad information there, if there is any. And before you try this do some searching to confirm this theory works.

I've personally never tried this, so I can't confirm.

 

[doubleclutch]

I've heard of another test to see if your valve seals are bad. (other than leakdown) If I remember right you just keep your car in say 2nd gear at 4-5k rpm's then let off the throttle and once down to say 2k rpm's (without braking) you get back on the throttle. If you see more blue smoke then it's bad valve seals.

Someone please correct any bad information there, if there is any. And before you try this do some searching to confirm this theory works.

I've personally never tried this, so I can't confirm.

If I remember right, smoke under load is intake seals and smoke under lifting is exhaust...could be reversed but there are two different times it happens based on what seals are toast.

regardless, sounds like seals and if you go in to do them you might as well do them all.

 

[acc1079]

Agreed.

Sounds like new seals are in your future. Be glad it is something as simple and cheap to fix. There are definitely worse things that could happen.