Hey everybody, I'm new to the forum. I have a 1996 3.5 RL with about 151k miles on it. Lately when it sits and idles for a minute or two we begin to smell smoke, then notice it coming out pretty thick from the tailpipe, a bluish color. When I take off it leaves quite a cloud and a trail of smoke. Seems to mainly happen after idling, clears up after normal driving, though it may still be faintly smoking then too. Any ideas what is causing this? Thanks.

internal engine seal damage.

aka bad rings or valves.

but.

befor we doom this vehicle fire up the engine. let it run at idle till it starts to smoke.then open up the hood, and unscrew the oil cap and take it off the engine. (with it still running) this will make a mess i promice.

but doing this will releave the buildup of crank case pressures and this pressure could be part of the cause of your blue smoke.

now watch the smoke output of that exhaust does it go away or almost go away?

and is there a lot of air pressure coming from that oil cap hole?

if yes to either of these them i would get that p.c.v. system restored befor replacing that engine.

p.s. watch that oil splatter from the removed cap it will be VERY hot. and possiably flamable. do this outside and with a friend near AND with a method of putting out a small oil fire. (better safe than sorry)