Polyphobic

Here in colorado we have emissions testing every 2 years. My wife's car is coming up for its test.
The car is as follows:
1991 4 door toyota tercel with 132,000 miles. 4 speed standard transmission.
The problem is that it smokes from the exhaust. Oil seems to be leaking into the exhaust system since I find a splatter of it on the pavement after it starts.
The car is not worth much. In your opinions is this worth fixing? Is it going to cost a lot?
The reason I am asking this is that we were contemplating replacing it with a larger vehicle since we have a 9 month old infant. However, I had not planned on doing this since money is tight. However, the issue may be forced if the repair costs a lot. I am seeking opinions on the cost range of a repair like this. Just trying to get some plans in place.

thanks,
an utterly incompetent car person.

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Cynthetiq

all depends on where the oil is leaking from...

from a couple hundred to over a thousand.

worth it? only if you can pay the least amount to get the most amount of time to save up for another vehicle.

you should take it to a nearby mechanic for a real check, and then take it to a second one.

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Polyphobic

We are definetely planning on visiting a mechanic. I'm just curious what y'all think about it. I'm not even sure if several hundred dollars is worth keeping it going for 4 months. Emissions is up in August and I was planning on buying a new vehicle at the end of the year. My wife's tercel is a piece a junk. Very beaten up and runs crappy.

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Peryn

Look into a fee waiver type situation. I know in CA you can apply for financial assistance basically. You go get it smogged. It fails. You can apply to pay the first $500 or so toward getting it to pass smog, and the state will take care of the rest. This only works if you fail smog first, so getting it taken care of pre-emtively wont help you if you want the cost waiver.

Im sure if CA (the smog nazi's) have something like this, colorado will too. Go to your local smog shop, preferably a test and repair facility, and ask them about it. They should have the information to help you out.

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DEI37

I would bet that the valve guide seals, and probably the piston rings are out of it.

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