blue smoke on start up

[donm]

My car doesn't burn any oil to speak of but I notice on start up after sitting for a half hour or so, it will emit blue smoke for a few seconds. I had done a compression check and all is good there, so I can assume the rings and valves are ok, right?

So I'm guessing this means oil in the cam boxes is leaking down past the valves. Are there seals or guides I can replace? I've never had the engine apart so I'm not familiar with the details but Is this something I may be able to fix myself? Or do I have to send the head out to a shop?

[bradartigue]

It may simply be the rubber seals, though even those don't leak too much when bad. You're looking at pulling at least the head regardless of what you find, so you can have it inspected, replace the seals, replace the head gasket. This will likely solve the issue.

[fiatfactory]

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[redcars]

As SteveC said you can replace the valve stem seals with the head in place. I did mine two years ago and went from a qt of oil in 500 miles to a qt in 2500 miles and no blue smoke on start up. If you want to work on it go ahead and pul the head and take it apart. My car has 106000 miles on it. I have run other engines to over 300000 miles with out taking them apart and they where still running good.

[yap123]

I have an 82 with 53,000 miles. After sitting overnight, I get gray smoke the next morning when I start the car. I guess I consume about a quart per 1,000. I only drive about a 1,000 miles per year.
If I want it corrected and done right, what do you recommend?
Would you suggest other work be done at the same time to save on costs or prevent future failures?
What is the rough estimate on cost?
I'm not tech savvy, so I have to hire someone. Thanks

[131]

A quart a year? Don't touch it, a waste of money if you're not using it regularly.