Toyota Repair: 98 Camry 4cyl valve guide seals, valve guide, car drives


Question
I think I need valve guide seals as I'm noticing some blue smoke that only occurs briefly on a cold start (after sitting overnight) and quickly goes away.  The car drives & runs fine.  If that sounds right, then I'm curious as to how involved this is (ie does the cylinder head have to be removed?) & if you know an approximate cost at a dealership?  Also, are any other services typically recommended with this procedure?  Last question, it's also due for an LOF & cooling system service.  Would oil & coolant have to be drained & refilled as part of this repair?  Or should I plan on paying an additional fee for these services?  Thank you in advance for any insight you can give me.

Answer
The cylinder head does not have to be removed to replace the valve seals, it is labor intensive and requires special tools and someone that knows how to do this. Oil and coolant do not have to be removed to do this. The total cost at the dealer should be around $1,000 parts and labor.