Auto Parts: Valve Stems, chevy blazer, toyota sequoia

Question
I have a 2008 Toyota Tacoma pick-up with 24K. I have noticed lately that on start up I get a puff of white smoke. It doesn't happen all the time and there is no smoke while driving.   Is this an indication of oil leaking past the valve stems. Or some other part needing replacing. I had a similar problem with a chevy blazer and the valve stems had to be replaced. I also have an 04 Toyota Sequoia and I have never seen a puff of white smoke at start up. If this is the case I would like the dealer to fix it while the car is still under it's original warranty. any suggestion would be deeply appreciated.
r/Jesse

Answer
    For a Toyota to have anything at all wrong with the engine after only 24,000 miles is unheard of.  A puff of white smoke could be oil but it could also be water vapor.  It's possible that water condenses in the exhaust after shutdown and is driven out as vapor after starting.  This wouldn't happen until after the engine had been running for a few seconds, though.  If it is puffing smoke with the very first breath of exhaust it almost has to be oil.  I would take it back to the dealer and tell them that you don't want it back until they make it stop smoking.  On a hard-to-diagnose warranty issue like this many dealers try to fob you off with something like: "they all do that," or "everything seems to be fine."  Don't take that for an answer and don't let them put you off.  If they can't satisfy you call Toyota directly and pitch a fit (1-800-331-4331).  Don't be afraid to threaten them with bad feedback through your local or national media.  This is one case where the squeaky wheel definitely gets the grease.  If the white smoke turns out to be water vapor, then it's basically harmless.  You do see a lot of that on newer vehicles.  Their exhaust systems are so tight that the remaining vapor condenses in the pipes.  If the system, or the slant on which you park it, causes all of the vapor to end up in one place, then it all gets pushed out at once.  Sometimes a careful survey of the exhaust will reveal the low spot (frequently it is inside the muffler).  If so, you can drill a very small hole in the low spot (no bigger than 1/16") and the exhaust pressure will push the water out through the hole on startup.