Great to find this site as I just picked up a 94 Bonneville (with all intentions of keeping it for a long time) that has just started blowing a small amount of blue smoke at start-up.

Have done a search here but thought I'd inquire as a newbie as well..

Details translated from metric to standard as everyone will have a better feel for the numbers.

My late step father bought the 94 new and put 36K miles on it before passing away 3 years later in 97. Mom kept the car, running it very infrequently, putting an addt'l 11K miles on it since that time. I bought it off her, drove it 2100 miles home at no more than 75 mph ( I no longer have "the need for speed"). Had the oil changed before I left, tranny serviced, etc. and now 2 weeks later at first start-up in the morning or after it sits for any length of time (say 4-5 hrs) there is a noticeable shot of blue smoke that exhausts at start-up. Goes away from that point. Two days ago put in some "Restore" treatment but that doesn't seem to have done much if anything.

As a side note I bought a 91 Park Ave with the same engine in it 6 years ago off another family member with 70K on it and the wife drove it another 20K before I recently sold it and narry a puff of blue smoke ever...

I started to think valve guide seals, rings but a quick review here in the archives indicates that the seals are not typically a problem.

Any idea as to whether something like Slick 50 would do the trick? All comments and ideas provided are received with most sincere thanks. I want to keep this wonderful, truly minty and sentimental car but I am fearing big expenses down the line...

My thoughts lean towards the valve guide seals. Oil will slowly leak down and build up just enough to cause some blue smoke at startup.

i agree, your most likely cause would be leaky valve guides, there isnt much else that could cause this problem..

however, if its posslibe that it is black, not blue smoke, you could have a leaky injector that is making it run rich at intial startup

Slick 50 BTW will not help this type of problem.

I'd aim toward a seal reconditioner product.

Welcome to the family, you should be able to find plenty of help on this site

I have a lot of luck using the Dino Oil Valvoline Max Life oil. My leaking valve guides stopped almost 100% after two oil changes. The synthetic Max Life did not solve the problem.

This is on my 91 GMC Sonoma!

Thanks guys so much for the welcome and quick responses. Will try a seal conditioner and the Valvoline oil at next oil change and with fingers crossed my worries will be eased...

Hey, another Albertan! Welcome!

I would try Lucas Oil Stabilizer in place of the Slick 50. I worked as a mechanic for about a year, at the people that used that stuff seemed to swear by it. You can get it at Crappy Tire for about $20 or so.

Where in Alberta are you?

Thanks for the tip!. Located just south of Calgary in Okotoks