Rover 214si

[BigDogsWang]

Smokes a lot when started from cold, but seems to clear after a minute or so. Smoke seems blue (like the way Oil burns), but I always thought cars with knackered rings or valve guides burn Oil all the time, cold or warm. The engine has only done 53K.

Could it possibly be the choke is too rich?

[DaveW]

It's your valve stem oil seals.Once the car is left, the oil drains into the cylinders slowly ie.overnight. When you start the car in the morning you burn off the small amount of oil in the cylinders causing black/blue smoke for a short period.To prove this you can leave the car for a few days, then start it and it wont smoke! It's not a serious problem but it does need sorting.

[BigDogsWang]

Thanks DaveW, I did suspect it might be that. I was selling the car at the time, and my neighbour was interested, but I didnt want to sell him a pup (for obvious reasons), so I told him it smoked a bit when started. Still, he took it off me for �1200.