91 cold start smoking

jaymar91 · 10-02-2009, 03:54 PM

i have a 91 na and when it starts on cold start, it
idles at 2000 and starts to drop to 1200, w=once it warms up,
but it smokes alot.
gray smoke, with a smell to it.

i used to have a 93 automatic non-turbo, and it did the same thing.

i have heard that its normal for mr2's to smoke, at cold start, but a buddy of mine told me his doesn't. idk if he fixed his, or if he bought it like that.

is their a fix to it?

any help will do.

flarteri · 10-02-2009, 04:35 PM

The smoke (as I have come to know) is a result of a defect in the valve guides. If left sitting for a while, oil can leak past them and drip into the cylinders thus causing the typical 5S-FE smoke on cold start-ups. I am not sure if this affect the turbo 3S-GTE as well, but I do know that it is a well publicized issue with the 5S-FE.

jaymar91 · 10-02-2009, 07:02 PM

i know this has nothing to do with smoking or not, but how can you tell if your car is a 3S-GT or a 5S-FE. i just got the mr2 so idk what kind it is.
its a 91 non-turbo t-top, na.

also, you said it runs in the family of 5S-FE. i do you know if their is a fix to the problem, like say a valve job?

flarteri · 10-05-2009, 11:32 AM

Well, assuming the car has the original engine if it's an N/A then it has the 5S-FE...turbos get the 3S-GTE. But regarding the fix for the 5S-FE problem, replacing the valve guides would for sure fix the problem, but while you are there it might be a good time to just recondition and replace other engine head parts as well...it just depends on your budget and amount of time you have. but for most of us, the smoke issue isn't a SUPER huge deal. its just some annoying smoke on start ups for the most part..although it can cause some problems later with emissions systems such as plugging catalytic converters. but overall unless your car is having really bad problems you could (like the majority of us here) just live with the smoke for a while and fix it when you have extra disposable money or it starts to affect the car's overall driveability

jaymar91 · 10-05-2009, 08:55 PM

thats cool
thanks for info.
ill fix it up late when have some side cash.
not affecting my performance, so y bother.

patholiar · 02-05-2010, 01:03 AM

Are there any products that can help eliminate some of the oil buildup? Mine smokes at startup too.

I am about to change my oil soon, will any of those additives/cleaners help with the smoke?

ArashiShozen · 11-11-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaymar91

i know this has nothing to do with smoking or not, but how can you tell if your car is a 3S-GT or a 5S-FE. i just got the mr2 so idk what kind it is.
its a 91 non-turbo t-top, na.

also, you said it runs in the family of 5S-FE. i do you know if their is a fix to the problem, like say a valve job?

open the engine bay and look at the engine lid cover (( is it still call a hood bc it covers the engine ??)) and there is a sticker on the driver side, bottom of it, that is white, that should say what engine you have.

SW21-3SGTE · 11-12-2010, 01:02 PM

ArashiShozen call it a bonnet lol. As for me no smoke YAY! 150K an ticking! and greyish/white smoke means coolant/water and blue is oil.

ArashiShozen · 11-12-2010, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SW21-3SGTE

ArashiShozen call it a bonnet lol. As for me no smoke YAY! 150K an ticking! and greyish/white smoke means coolant/water and blue is oil.

my coolant level is always good though. and it only does the smoke on cold days like 30 degree weather or so untill it warms up, how come it only does it on cold mornings and not on everytime the engine starts cold? and were would the coolant be leaking at? wouldnt it be obvious if it was leaking alot?

SW21-3SGTE · 11-15-2010, 06:25 AM

If there smoke that would mean internal leak for the most part so there would be no visible leak. As for "Why only on cold mornings..." metal contracts when its cold so could possibly cause an internal leak til it warms up and the metal expands to seal itself. Like how bad valve stem seals cause blue smoke on start up and fine once engine is warm for example.

ArashiShozen · 11-15-2010, 10:09 AM

Ahh right, thanks.

View Poll Results: Does your mr2 smoke, when it is cold?
yes, non-turbo	15	45.45%
yes, turbo	4	12.12%
no, non-turbo	10	30.30%
no, turbo	4	12.12%
no, turbo- got the smoking problem fixed	0	0%
no, non-turbo - got the smoking problem fixed	0	0%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 33. You may not vote on this poll

10-02-2009, 03:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
jaymar91 No Skills Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: California, Temecula Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	91 cold start smoking i have a 91 na and when it starts on cold start, it idles at 2000 and starts to drop to 1200, w=once it warms up, but it smokes alot. gray smoke, with a smell to it. i used to have a 93 automatic non-turbo, and it did the same thing. i have heard that its normal for mr2's to smoke, at cold start, but a buddy of mine told me his doesn't. idk if he fixed his, or if he bought it like that. is their a fix to it? any help will do.

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10-02-2009, 04:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
flarteri No Skills Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 19 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	The smoke (as I have come to know) is a result of a defect in the valve guides. If left sitting for a while, oil can leak past them and drip into the cylinders thus causing the typical 5S-FE smoke on cold start-ups. I am not sure if this affect the turbo 3S-GTE as well, but I do know that it is a well publicized issue with the 5S-FE.

10-02-2009, 07:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
jaymar91 No Skills Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: California, Temecula Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	i know this has nothing to do with smoking or not, but how can you tell if your car is a 3S-GT or a 5S-FE. i just got the mr2 so idk what kind it is. its a 91 non-turbo t-top, na. also, you said it runs in the family of 5S-FE. i do you know if their is a fix to the problem, like say a valve job?

10-05-2009, 11:32 AM	#4 (permalink)
flarteri No Skills Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 19 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Well, assuming the car has the original engine if it's an N/A then it has the 5S-FE...turbos get the 3S-GTE. But regarding the fix for the 5S-FE problem, replacing the valve guides would for sure fix the problem, but while you are there it might be a good time to just recondition and replace other engine head parts as well...it just depends on your budget and amount of time you have. but for most of us, the smoke issue isn't a SUPER huge deal. its just some annoying smoke on start ups for the most part..although it can cause some problems later with emissions systems such as plugging catalytic converters. but overall unless your car is having really bad problems you could (like the majority of us here) just live with the smoke for a while and fix it when you have extra disposable money or it starts to affect the car's overall driveability

10-05-2009, 08:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
jaymar91 No Skills Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: California, Temecula Posts: 28 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	thats cool thanks for info. ill fix it up late when have some side cash. not affecting my performance, so y bother.

02-05-2010, 01:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
patholiar Some Skills Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 72 Thanks: 15 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Are there any products that can help eliminate some of the oil buildup? Mine smokes at startup too. I am about to change my oil soon, will any of those additives/cleaners help with the smoke?

11-12-2010, 01:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
SW21-3SGTE Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 204 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	ArashiShozen call it a bonnet lol. As for me no smoke YAY! 150K an ticking! and greyish/white smoke means coolant/water and blue is oil.

11-15-2010, 06:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
SW21-3SGTE Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 204 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	If there smoke that would mean internal leak for the most part so there would be no visible leak. As for "Why only on cold mornings..." metal contracts when its cold so could possibly cause an internal leak til it warms up and the metal expands to seal itself. Like how bad valve stem seals cause blue smoke on start up and fine once engine is warm for example.

11-15-2010, 10:09 AM	#11 (permalink)
ArashiShozen Cage Fighter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Readyville, TN or Rockvale, TN Posts: 700 Thanks: 96 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Ahh right, thanks.