jeff sarich

It's a '93 SE w/135k mi, purchased by me new, driven exclusively by my wife. Maintained by the book. ...But the front and rear seal started leaking. I did not fix the problem quickly. I just added oil. I think the oil got too low,causing the oil light to flash on once. Fixed the F&R seal. The blue smoke has been happening for over a year. Blue smoke comes out of the tailpipe from a dead stop, until the oil pressure gets built up, then will clear up. The engine sounds fine, it burns about 1/2 Qt of oil each fill up. My mechanic says the plugs are clean. The oil looks normal when I change it. We love the car, and don't want to sell it. But, we don't want to spend more than the cars' value either. Does it sound like worn valve guides? Or will the bottom end need rebuilding? What test can convince me that I am not throwing good $ after bad by doing half then job? I see a lot of late model cars that smoke like this. Almost always Japanese cars. Has anyone experienced this?
AND... can anyone recommend a really knowledgable mechanic in Austin/SanAntonio who knows these engines? My mechanic seems a little skittish about the whole thing.

Mystical2k2SE

Blue smoke is the result of oil getting into the combustion chamber. The burning of this oil and gas is the blue emission. The oil gets into the combustion chamber through worn piston rings, cracks in pistons, or worn valve guides. Yep, I see an engine rebuild in your future, should you choose to keep your car.

Freedog

Sounds to me like you need valve seals and/or guides.