Ask an expert

Hello. My wife has a 1996 Toyota corolla with 200K on the clock (engine was rebuilt supposedly) and only recently we have noticed that and only after a long decent (we live in Dunedin) it will blow a small amount of smoke when taking off from the intersection of said hill. It only seems to do this after coming down long hilly roads but never on the flat. This one has me lost on why it would be doing that?? Do you have any ideas?

Thanks

This sounds like the valve guides and seals are worn, as it's smoking after idling for a while at an intersection.
It could also have worn piston rings and/or glazed or worn bores etc.
Either way, it's unlikely that this engine has been professionally rebuilt recently.