Ok on start up what can cause blue or white smoke to come out the exhaust?

 

Blue smoke is normally worn valve guides or piston rings letting oil into the combustion chamber and thus out the exhaust, whereas white smoke is normally a blown headgasket or coolant somehow getting into the combustion chamber.

 

^^ x2

blue smoke = burning oil
white smoke = burning antifreeze
black smoke = running rich

 

if blue smoke does it need to be rebuilt? i know stupid question but.......

 

Not necessarily, it could just be some worn valve guides. If you get a compression test kit with a compressed air valve hold you can replace them on the car.

Edit: pull your spark plugs and let us know what they look like, make sure you mark which one came out of which cylinder as you'll need to know where the problem is exactly.

 

I8ASaleen, I think you are confusing valve guides for valve seals. Seals can get old and harden and leak, and they can be replaced on the car.

Valve guides however cannot be replaced with the cylinder heads still on the motor or the valves still in the cylinder heads. Replacing valve guides or putting in guide liners requires machine work. Guides can become worn and get excessive play, causing the valve stem to rock back and forth and let oil by the seal.

 

Beat me to it :\ Ferg's da man!

 

Yep I knew I had it wrong couldn't remember. Thanx Fergy

 

is pulling the plugs the best way to check it?

 

Yes. Pulling the plugs and seeing how they are is a great indicator of just exactly what is going on internally.

 

isn't it normal for smoke to come out on a cold start? I could be wrong, what do I know, I'm just a kid