Smoke puff on startup, occasionally. 2003 LE 4 cyl
 

I'm brand new here. This is my first post.
A friend loaned her 2003 Camry to me for a couple of weeks to make some long drives. What I nice car. She told me she might sell it.

I'm looking at buying a 2003 Camry LE 4cyl automatic from a dear and trusted friend. It's been given very good care and regular maintenance.
And it has inly 82,000 miles!!
But I've noticed that every once in a while it sends out a puff of grey smoke when I first start it. It happens immediately at startup and then it's gone. It happens completely randomly. Hot. Cold. No rhyme or reason. And then it won't happen again for another few days.
What is this? Shall I be concerned? Is it expensive?

The next time this happens try to smell the smoke. Does it smell like oil, coolant (sweet) or have no smell?

Any connection between the smoke and time the car sat with the engine off after being driven for length of time (coolant is now hot)?

could be hardened valve stem seals

they can be replaced with the head on the engine


a compression test will check valve and rings condition under compression

I agree with Joey and Dirty Hands.
Check the tail pipe first and go from there.