Completely Rebuilt 3.2 - SMOKE!
 

I just had my 3.2 Carrera engine completely re-built and got it back last week. The entire engine including the lower end was opened....All went well at the initial start up, not a hint of smoke...then yesterday after accumulating just over 400 miles on the engine, I started her up in the morning and a large plume of blue smoke came out! I drove the car for another 4-5 hours yesterday and did not notice any smoke on start ups through out the day...I had driven the car everyday before that for a week straight and had no sign of smoke. I have not yet started her this morning....

Is this smoke a normal part of the break-in process, do I need to be concerned, does the engine need to be opened up again...do 3.2s smoke often?

How have you been driving it for break in?

A puff of blue is not uncommon when one starts a 911 motor....

Cheers

You didn't rebuilt it at Motormeister, did you?

Excellent first question when diagnosing a problem with a motor that was "sent out" for rebuild!

What oil are you running? Many run 30W for break-in, which I'd assume could sneak past the rings easier when the engine sits.

Had the car sat for a longer period of time when the start produced the smoke vs when it didn't smoke?

Heck NO! NO MOTORMEISTER...Thank goodness!

....I started it yesterday morning and then again this morning and NO smoke at all this time....

I'll double check the oil type when I get home later today and let you know...Thanks

Jeff,

Thats what I've been told...but didn't know if that pertained to a motor with any number of miles on it, or brand new...I started it yesterday morning (no smoke) ran it for 4-5 hours yesterday (no smoke)....started it this morning (no smoke)

Thanks bud.

i worked for the dealer in the 70s and when they started the new 911s on the showroom floor, they waited until there weren't any customers around if possible. they all smoke on startup to some degree.

Well your oil-rings maybe didn't seat yet and some oil got into combustion chamber. Or some oil seeped past valve seals. As long as car doesn't smoke while running, I wouldn't be alarmed.

How much was replaced? New oil-rings? New valve seals? Old jugs? You are still in "break-in" mileage so wait until everything is seated.

and make sure you break it in properly to seat the rings - who did the rebuild?

Yeah....I'm going to wait and put another 100 or so miles on it (500-600 total)...then change the oil, and adjust the valves.

Thanks fellas!

Don't panic, like I said, from time to time, the 911 motor can fire up with a big puff of blue. This can be totally normal and it can happen all the time, sometimes or once in a blue moon....

What is your oil level like?

Cheers

Some cars do this every morning and some never. I think alot depends on how much oil drains into the bottom of the engine from the tank. Some cars keep the tank pretty full when parked. Others (like my 72) drain almost all the oil into the engine when they sit for a few days. The ones that drain into the sump make alot of smoke when you first start them because oil bathes the back of the pistons and some leaks past the rings. Not really a problem either way.

-Andy

Oil level on the stick is at 1/2 to 3/4 up towards the highest mark....

Sounds good...Thanks Andy

You checked this level when it's RUNNING and HOT right?

As others have said, some smoke on startup is normal and once in a while when the starts align you'll get more; or sometimes none.

Absolutely...always check it running and full operating temperature...

So far, last Monday (Christmas Eve) was the one and only time it has smoked...knock on wood...

Thanks

Just an update....no problems with smoke...hopefully was a one time deal during break-in period...

Now the question is "what brand of oil to use?"..AMSOIL...Castrol Syntec for classic cars (air cooled)?....

I do love this stuff!!

Do a search here on oil. I'd go with Brad Penn before Syntec. Oh wait, I did already!

Glad to hear that all seems to be well with your re-build. Like JWW stated about the new cars at the dealership, I too have seen this happen many, many times at the dealer. I have just about begun to believe that almost every Porsche will give a little or even larger puff of smoke at times. I think it is built in to them. Good luck!!

I've heard about Brad Penn too...I believe I can get some here in the Tampa area as well...

thanks for the tip

I guess it's just something you have to get used to....I have to keep reminding myself that I'm dealing with older engineering technology....I keep thinking it should run like my 2006 Acura TL....it's a labor of love.

Thanks

Christian, I certainly know what you are talking about. I know when I start mine, that it will smoke a little, till the little bit of oiling, due to the time in between me starting it up. I don't really get to drive mine much anymore, have only put about 1800 miles on it since 2003, when I had the speedometer/odometer rebuilt. The smoke clears up in just a few seconds, and I know that it will do it, more times than not do it, but this is only on the initial start-up, after not being started for days or even weeks or longer. My car still only has about 49,000 miles on it, and runs like it is still a new car. I also have to remind myself that the car and engine is not as "refined" as my V12 750iL BMW. The BMW runs more like a sewing machine, while the Porsche is like a thrashing machine, brute force, and power, but handles like a really fast, giant go-cart, and like it is on rails. Awesome! I am just afraid that I will be having to sell the Porsche at some time in the near future. Good luck!! Tony.