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After a few days of sitting my 2002 GS430 will run like crap on initial startup, makes ticking noise from the head, and blows blue smoke from the tailpipe for a few seconds (up to 10), then smooths out and runs completely fine.
Again it only does this on initial start up after the car has been sitting for several days. If I drive the car every day I have no issues on start up whatsoever. Anyone know what could cause this? Could it be anything to do with the VVT system? I currently have no check engine lights on the dash. Thanks!
Last edited by GS430man; Aug 16, 2021 at 04:46 AM.
Bad valve seals. Oil getting into your cyls and affecting the combustion until it blows it all out. That or a head gasket letting oil in, maybe a little coolant too. Likely valve seals though from what you explain. Change your oil with a can of "Restore" and move to a thicker high millage engine oil. Restore brings life back to seals and can help control oil loss internally.
Normally valve seals would be the obvious culprit, however, I have learned that u can get the same symptoms from a leaky Idle Air Control Valve in the power steering system. It’s an easy thing to check and certainly much less expensive to repair. It would suck to do a full valve job only to learn that it wasn’t the problem.
There is a vacuum port located on the top center of the intake manifold that is all alone, and has a 1/4 vacuum line running to the right (when seated in the car) front corner of the engine and then it goes down to the pump, and right next to it is another 1/4 vacuum line that goes to the intake duct after the MAF. These 2 vacuum lines should be dry and clean, inside and out. The seals inside the valve get hard and allow P/S fluid (ATF) to get sucked into the intake and it tends to pool up after u shut the engine off. So when u fire it up, all the fluid gets burned and caused the same symptoms as worn valve seals. U will have fluid inside the vacuum lines if you inspect them. I made another thread recently on how to rebuild the valve, but it can be replaced for $100 or less. If the vacuum lines are clean and dry both inside and out, then it’s likely the valve seals. You can usually confirm it’s valve seals by having someone follow behind u while going down a long steep hill. Just downshift it until the engine is slowing the car down and if the seals are bad your friend that’s following should see a good amount of smoke billowing from 1 possibly both tailpipes.
I am attaching a photo of the Ia
dle Air Control Valve that is the possible culprit you should investigate.
Normally valve seals would be the obvious culprit, however, I have learned that u can get the same symptoms from a leaky Idle Air Control Valve in the power steering system. It’s an easy thing to check and certainly much less expensive to repair. It would suck to do a full valve job only to learn that it wasn’t the problem.
There is a vacuum port located on the top center of the intake manifold that is all alone, and has a 1/4 vacuum line running to the right (when seated in the car) front corner of the engine and then it goes down to the pump, and right next to it is another 1/4 vacuum line that goes to the intake duct after the MAF. These 2 vacuum lines should be dry and clean, inside and out. The seals inside the valve get hard and allow P/S fluid (ATF) to get sucked into the intake and it tends to pool up after u shut the engine off. So when u fire it up, all the fluid gets burned and caused the same symptoms as worn valve seals. U will have fluid inside the vacuum lines if you inspect them. I made another thread recently on how to rebuild the valve, but it can be replaced for $100 or less. If the vacuum lines are clean and dry both inside and out, then it’s likely the valve seals. You can usually confirm it’s valve seals by having someone follow behind u while going down a long steep hill. Just downshift it until the engine is slowing the car down and if the seals are bad your friend that’s following should see a good amount of smoke billowing from 1 possibly both tailpipes.
I am attaching a photo of the Ia
dle Air Control Valve that is the possible culprit you should investigate.
Thank you for that response! So where exactly should I be looking? See attached photo. Is there any way you could circle the lines I need to look at? Thanks!
I have had 7m, 2jz and 1uz motors do this at start up only to clear up in less than 1 min maybe 30 seconds.
My 1998 GS400 beater that I've owned for 12 years with over 340k miles does this once or twice a year. It always clears up and runs perfect.
Nothing scientific just my personal experience with Toyota cylinder heads.
I attributed this to sticking lifter buckets at the valves; till oil and heat break them loose, then it runs perfect.
I do think that maybe dirty oil MAY have something to do with this...
GS430 Issues on Startup
