Engine overfilled with oil, could this cause blue smoke at cold start if truck sits for a few days?

[meatloaf]

My 04 has been seldom used in the past year, it sat for a while since the steering rack needed to be replaced. I replaced the rack, radiator and fixed a few other things about three months ago. Since then I started noticing blue smoke at cold starts after it sits for a few days, it never did this in the past. This weekend getting ready to drive it out of town and checked the oil level, I noticed that it’s at least 2 inches above the full mark on the dipstick. Could this be the cause of the blue smoke? Or could the valve seals mess up since was not started for a few months ? I have no clue how this happened? Maybe I was too tired/drunk when I did my last oil change …I am going drain all the oil, refill and monitor.

 

[suprarx7nut]

I'm not sure about the 2UZ, but in other Toyota motors from the 90's you could overfill by a TON before anything bad happens. I've commonly done an oil change, filled the prescribed amount and found it well over the full mark.

I'd change the oil, fill a little under the spec amount, check level and see if the blue smoke remains.

 

[Mauser]

It could be overfilled oil, but a lot of times the blue smoke at startup is caused by the little vacuum valve on the power steering pump going bad causing ATF to get sucked into the intake.

 

[meatloaf]

It could be overfilled oil, but a lot of times the blue smoke at startup is caused by the little vacuum valve on the power steering pump going bad causing ATF to get sucked into the intake.

This would make sense since smoke issue started when I replaced steering rack and cleaned reservoir, etc.

 

[nissanh]

Most likely it is worn valve seals.

 

[meatloaf]

the thing is it only does this if I don’t start it in a few days

 

[nissanh]

the thing is it only does this if I don’t start it in a few days

Correct, valve seals: it drips oil on to the piston via this seal.

 

[awesomeissquid]

I am going to agree with @nissanh on this one. If it is only doing it after sitting for a few days it is likely the valves. Could be that some carbon buildup caused the valves to not be sealing correctly. A leak down test would let you identify which cylinder has the issue and then a borescope camera would let you take a look down the spark plug.

 

[meatloaf]

I should’ve been more clear with my last statement. If the trucks sits overnight and I start it on a daily basis in the morning, it will not smoke, if it sits for 2 to 3 days without starting that’s what I see the smoke.

 

[meatloaf]

So truck had not been started since Saturday… I drained enough oil to fill up a 5 quart jug and now dipstick is a the full mark. Started the truck, NO SMOKE! I will continue to monitor and update in a couple of weeks

Seems that my son just swapped the oil filter and forgot to drain the oil at the last oil change, filled it with new oil and did not check the dipstick.

 

[suprarx7nut]

So truck had not been started since Saturday… I drained enough oil to fill up a 5 quart jug and now dipstick is a the full mark. Started the truck, NO SMOKE! I will continue to monitor and update in a couple of weeks

Seems that my son just swapped the oil filter and forgot to drain the oil at the last oil change, filled it with new oil and did not check the dipstick.

Well, there are worse things your child could do to your car. You got off easy... for now.

 

[meatloaf]

Happy to report that after ten days, I have started the truck three times, and no blue smoke!!!