Smoke At Start Up

[moorlander999]

I have a 1998 rav4 GX petrol. Owned since new. 120,000 on the clock....

When its been stood for a day or so ( flat cold etc) it smokes initially on start up. Not an oily smell...but smells like its running really rich...like and old manual choke on full etc......not burning any oil. It doesn't do this when I have it in gear and slip the clutch on start up to reduce the revs......

This only happens when the engine is flat cold.

Also it sometimes races when hot.......so I remove the electrical connector( I think ) to the throttle position sensor then reconnect it returns to normal idle.

Get 350 miles to a tankful....still has original exhaust and cat'

Any ideas

[MacaPittuck]

could be the valve guides! Not 100% sure but it's possible

Mac

[anchorman]

Perfectly acceptable for that age and mileage.

[CharlieFarlie]

Valve stem seals can wear or harden... When the car sits overnight a wee bit if oil seeps down into the combustion area which gets burned on start up.. Quite common and will do no harm ..

[moorlander999]

It doesn't smell of oil it smells like very rich mixture like the choke is on full... And if I put it in gear and Ali the clutch as I start it up to reduce revs it doesn't smoke .... Is it a rich setting fault ?