My car will fire right up when cold, but after it warms up and I start it after sitting a while the start is labored. However when it does finally turn over it releases a puff of white smoke. It only smokes for a split second but the puff is obvious. The car also releases a puff of smoke when it is cold started, but not to the same extent. What gives? Head gasket? Somthing in the heads (valve guides?)? Could the hard start be due to a bad fuel pressure regulator? How many problems does my car have?

 

My guess would be valve seals.

 

Sounds ALOT like the valve guide seals. These are small rubber seals under the valvesprings.. It won't hurt anything unless it is really bad..- like hard starting and fouling plugs.. Just wait and change them when you are going for an inside mod!! - it's a good excuse if you need one! My brother-in-law had a truck that did this for over 2 years.. he was real easy on it though and never revved..