nfernandez

Sometimes when I start my 97 ls400 (182000 miles) It spits white/bluish smoke from the tail pipe which smells like gas(after sitting for 2-3 days), at first I though it was the sensitive steering solenoid and it is broken but thats not the issue(I disconnected the vacuum lines and plugged them ) and I haven't broken either head gasket(no bubbles from coolant and no coolant in the oil), and Im not losing oil so I am kind of at a loss as to what it could be. Lexus gurus please help.

LScowboyLS

coolant does not appear bluish when run through the engine and out the tail pipe nor does it smell like gas - so coolant is very doubtful

it could be leaking valve stem seals (nothing to worry about) - that would definitely be bluish smoke (oil) and be especially noticeable after sitting a few days and having a chance to leak down

leaky injectors would give you a gassy smell on startup, but the smoke color would be black

PS fluid which is really transmission fluid which is really just oil, would also give a bluish smoke but not really gassy smelling

AtlasLS400

iTrader: (1)

What about a power steering leak? My car use to blow white smoke on startups for about 30 seconds. I dont remember it being blue though

nfernandez

It's like an off white with a blue tint.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

local temp?

nfernandez

around 50 degrees.

YoshiMan

If it smokes for just a little bit after sitting for a few days, then i will add a +1 to LSCowboyLSs comment about the valve seals.

As far as it smelling like gas, how strong is it/ howlong does that hang around for? If it's only a little i wouldn't be terribly concerned, since its a cold startup and it will be dumping a rich fuel mixture for the first few minutes for warmup. MY 89' 4runner always has the slight smell of gas for the first few seconds if it sits for a few days when it's cold, and even with newer fuel injectors, i'm sure it's not nearly as precise with its fuel mixture as it was 280,000 miles and 23 years ago.