Smoking on start

[jac in a box]

I know it's usually nothing to worry about - the couple of seconds worth of smoke occassionally on start up...but my car is doing at all the time!

I had a new engine fitted under warranty around 6k miles ago. It was carefully run in and it has since had a service with an oil change.
Several weeks ago I noticed an infrequent puff of smoke from a cold start. Now it's it just about every start, hot or cold, and only lasts for a couple of seconds.
Is this indicative of something going wrong? - If not it's still embarrassing (sp?) starting in a busy place; not happy[]

Thanks, Jackie

 

[GreigM]

It might be the slightly cooler weather setting in - the problem seems to present itself more when temperatures drop. Conventional thought is that it is ok so long as it clears pretty much straight away and doesn't happen when hot. Might be worth a phone call to the OPC to make sure (if you're still under warranty) and keep an eye on the level to make sure it isn't going down unexpectedly.

If it makes you feel any better, my GT3 also does it but that is somewhat symptomatic of it only being driven every 3-4 days at present. I also seem to remember my boxster doing it more frequently as it got older - might be to do with the parts wearing slightly and allowing more oil through than before when the parts were "tight" - but that is pure speculation on my part and the engine did fail after this...maybe I should stop talking now [:-]

 

[oliver]

They nearly all do it - from 356 to 996 - when they have been left for a while. However, it is unusual for it to happen everytime, especially when hot. Might be worth getting it checked.

 

[jac in a box]

Thanks guys[]

Time to speak to the OPC...still have the security of the extended warranty should it be needed - phew!

Jackie

 

[jac in a box]

Hmm, 2 OPC's have said it's nothing to worry about. I'm not convinced.

Noticed today from a cold start today that there was a big plume of smoke - that reduced quickly, but there was still a light trail of smoke from the left hand exhaust tip only (4 or 5 mins later).... sweet, sickly smell

When I tried holding the revs at around 1200rpm the engine speed would fluctuate between 800 and 1200 rpm quite quickly. Smoke was still evident.

The engine oil level doesn't seem to have dropped and the coolant level is fine. Hubby says temperature of exhaust leaving the smokey exhaust is a lot cooler than the clear one, is that telling a story?

If I remove the oil filler cap there is a lot of blowing out of it and the engine speed increases, yet if I take the oil filler cap off my BM it seems to draw air in and the engine nearly stalls. Anyone fancy tryng this on your Boxster please and let me know what happens.

Approaching the first anniversary of the new engine; the OPC who fitted it told me "lightning doesn't strike twice" I wonder[]

Jackie

 

[Guest]

sweet, sickly smell

Have a look up the pipe and check some jealous Chav hasn't shoved a banana up there!! I did consider sugaring of the fuel, but that wouldn't explain smoke from one pipe only (and I assume the fuel fillers on these are tamper-proof?).

Andy

 

[jac in a box]

All sorted now and nothing to worry about.

Seems the car doesn't like too many short trips and long periods of non use. Hubby taking it out of the garage, stopping it - messing around and then putting it to bed again is not a good idea either.
Advised to get it to the OPC "quickly" after they ascertained it's recent useage...so I did, trailing smoke for a few miles.
Once warmed up and a few aggresively driven miles the exhaust appeared to clear.

A quick check over at the OPC and a free top of oil - not a large amount, I was sent on my way with my purse intact! Seems the exhaust may have got a little oil soaked and my short trips were not sufficient to clear the oil.

Smile and confidence restored!

Must try and drive the car harder and faster it seems[] Shouldn't be too difficult[]

Jackie

 

[dereksharpuk]

Do you know why Boxer engines do that? It is particularly noticeable after a track day lunch.

The reason is simple. The Boxer engine has horizontally apposed pistons. The oil control rings are not continuious. Should you shut down with the ring gap at the bottom, oil may seep past the ring into the combustion chamber. This is more likely after a fast & furious track session followed by a shut down for lunch. As the engine cools, oil is sucked through into the combustion chamber. On start this is merely blown out. It has happened to me and was observed by a very eminent Porsche engineer. He explained it to me and I later verified that this was not bull sh*t. Incidently, I lost almost a pint of oil in the process.

 

[JCB..]

I lost almost a pint of oil in the process.

After how many pints of beer?

Even in the worst cases you will only be burning a tiny amount of oil. You could hide an aircraft carrier behind the smoke from a pint of oil!

JCB..