2002 GT blue smoke mid-day only.

[sadpontiacdriver]

This one is kind of weird. My Grand Prix 2002 blows blue smoke out of the tailpipes but only AFTER I get off work.

I drive off TO work at 4:30 am every day. NO blue smoke at startup.

I get off work at around 2:00 pm every day. Blue smoke, lots of it, at startup.

Once I get home, IF I start the car again to go somewhere there is NO blue smoke.

I can see some dark sludge buildup when I look inside the valve cover. Also, as a general note, I live in California so the weather is not extreme in either direction.

Anyone got any ideas?

[aleekat]

You're burning oil. You need to be checking your oil level regularly.

[MikeCStig]

You probably have a valve seal problem or an oil ring problem.
Usually when valve seals go bad, the oil starts burning immediately after starting the engine and the smoke stops a few minutes later. There are some random times when the smoke comes back, but the smoking at startup is pretty much a constant.
If it's oil rings, it's kind of unpredictable when the smoke will start and end, which seems closer to what you're dealing with here. One concern I would have is compression. If the oil rings are bad, the compression rings might be wearing out too. Look up the compression for your engine and test it to see if it's low.

[sadpontiacdriver]

Dammit... Alright guys thank you for the answers. I guess it's time to take it to Old Jim the mechanic.

[Tech II]

As mentioned, the usual places for oil burning are the valve seals, oil rings, and the PCV system.....

My money is on on the valve seals...the intake and exhaust seals are different colors...I have seen the rings around them break, causing the seals to leak...also check the oil drains in the head...

[Firstymer]

The blue smoke coming out of the exhaust is an indicator your engine is burning oil. What happens is that the valve guide seals or piston rings are worn out, and oil is leaking past from where it should be lubricating the moving parts.