Burning oil on start up, Best answer will be chosen?

it smokes at first start up because the valve seals are worn and the oil runs down on the valves overnight and when you start your car it burns the oil off. the oil is laying on the intake probably because of a leaking valve pan gasket.

The Valve Guide Seals; They are worn and or brittle;

What happens is when You have driven awhile and turn the engine off,the oil in the Rocker arm assembly drains past the Rubber valve Guide seals,and in to piston cyl.

You can change these by removing spark plug,and use an adapter that screws into the spark plug hole,Then apply shop air to that cyl,this will keep the valve in the up position when you compress the valve spring remove" keepers"from valve stem and then remove the Seals;Compress spring and install new seals;

intake manifold leaking, sucking some of this oil pool into the chamber and hey presto - smoke.

and/or valve stem seals worn.

fit new Manifold gasket or carry out stem seal replacement.

there's also some oil additives that can add suppleness back to the stem seals... new stem seals are better though and not expensive enough to warrant a quick fix.

I had a car that used to blow a cloud of smoke on start up. I believe it was the hydaulic lifters which operated the valves were worn, but when heated closed the valves properly stopping the oil passing through the valves into the cylinders and burning the oil.

valve seals oil leaks past your valve seals in to cyl then when started the oil burns off witch takes about a min.

Welcome!

Year, Make, and Model; with engine size please?

each engine has different characteristics

Master Tech Lee

Worn piston ring/rings? When cold, will let oil pass into cylinder, as they heat up and expand they make a better seal...