Blue Smoke???

[Sprintst]

I bought a used '02 Vue a few weeks ago. I found this site and decided after reading the posts that it was due for a major tune up. I bought all the goodies, timing belt,water pump, plugs, t-stat, filters ect... I took it to my mechanic and when he started it up he noticed quite a bit of blue smoke coming from it at initial start up. It went away after a bit. When he started it the next night he said there still was blue smoke but not as much. He mentioned maybe valve seals??? It has 142,000km's on it or about 88,000 miles. Does this sound like a possibility and any idea on the cost of fixing???? Thanx.

[fdryer]

Not being a Vue owner but sharing the same 3.0L V6 engine, our engines aren't known to burn oil. I've got 45,000 miles on mine, knock wood (my head), I have (0)zero oil issues. As you become more familiar with this site you'll hardly read of any Vue or L300 owners with oil issues when you read the threads. The major issues surround the timing belt replacement and the various ways to perform it from home made (vise grips, tie wrap) devices to rental tool kits to hold the four camshafts in place for timing ease. Perhaps those that did have their timing belts done can have more information with where your oil burning is coming from.

[IMkenNY]

I have owned four 3.0 Vues over the years and noticed more than one of them exibited slight oil burning on startup after 75,000 miles. I dont know why it happened but I didnt have any unusual oil consumption or any other problems with these Vues to justify a tear down.

[Gerry Proctor]

It's not an issue that needs attention. Valve guides and stem seals wear just like any other engine components. A little smoke on start up is not something to be concerned over. The engine will die of old age before it ever causes issues.

[Sprintst]

Thanx alot guys!!!! I was ready to trade it in and I haven't even registered in my name yet LOL. I also forgot to mention that when I bought it, it had been sitting for a year. It was only driven 1000 miles in the last year. I understand that the bit of smoke posses no threat but would it hurt to try an aftermarket additive to lube things back up??? and if so what would you recommend if anything?? - Thanx

[fdryer]

Examine the oil and if it looks used/brown, replace it along with the oil filter, nothing more. The oil may be from the car sitting so long and needs to burn off. Additives will do nothing for such relatively low mileage.

[Bob8081]

I had the same problem when i bought my 2002 Vue 3.0L, it only hav 54000KM on it. Went to a Saturn dealer and they said my valve seals were done, they also told me it doesn't hurt the motor, but you should see if it still covered under manufactures waranty. might be to late though because its more than 5 years old.

[ssicarman]

There is a TSB for this. There are two fixes depending on what is found on an inspection of the valve seals. either the valve seals are replaced or the Valve guides or head get repalced. all depends on what colour of valve seal is found on inpsection.
If the valve seasl are brown replace them (with green ones). If they are green then it is the valve guides or head that need doing.

[YourMainParadox]

wow good catch. that is some usefull info for most of the owners of that model! I doubt many know that.