White smoke on startup

[katblakeslee]

I have a 2002 Boxster s and it has white smoke from exhaust on startup but then it goes away...is it a leaky head gasket into my exhaust or could it be something else like it just needing a tune up which is what the shop is telling me...i read one where the radiator cap is leaking also..BTW no coolant in my oil

[JJ 911SC]

White smoke in Air Cool is usually condensation in the Heat Exchanger/Muffler burning off...

[ronster]

Originally Posted by katblakeslee

I have a 2002 Boxster s and it has white smoke from exhaust on startup but then it goes away...is it a leaky head gasket into my exhaust or could it be something else like it just needing a tune up which is what the shop is telling me...i read one where the radiator cap is leaking also..BTW no coolant in my oil

The Boxer motor, by design, will allow oil to seep into the cylinders especially if the car sits for a day or more and will burn off as white or gray smoke on startup. Not saying there isn't something wrong with your car but that is typical. Don't know what they mean by a tuneup fixing that, you might check to see if you have any codes.

[59coupe]

Depends on how much white smoke...I had the same issue on my 02 S. Replaced the AOS unit, which solved the issue. Fairly well documented fix here on Pelican and not too expensive.
Best Regards, Z

[Steve986]

Mine does it about once every six or seven startups and quickly goes away. From everything I've read from other Porsche owners this is considered normal because of the flat six design. I would only worry if it does it every time you start and or if it continues to smoke while it's running.

I tell you, I hate it when it happens in front of my buddies! Lot's of teasing ensues.

[Alphaboy1]

I also have a 2002 S with 45,000 miles and drive it 1 to 2 times a week in the summer. It may puff 1 little cloud once every 5-10 starts and then I do not see it for a month. I think it depends how it was driven last. But like Ronster stated it is is by design.

[Dale_K]

Mine does this pretty regularly. The car has 111k miles. I talked with my local indy about replacing the AOS and I was willing to spend the money if it was going to solve it but he said the AOS was either good or bad. In other words the AOS doesn't get "weak" with partial oil consumption/smoke issues. When it fails it's always a full blown total crap-out.

I think he's trying to give me advice to control the cost of ownership based on his experience but I don't know if he's actually correct about the AOS not being susceptible to partial failure.

[Steve986]

needing a tune up which is what the shop is telling me

In the old days that meant set the timing and change plugs, points, condenser, rotor and cap! Those days are long gone and, so I thought, was the expression "tune-up". That's obsolete language. Cars are always tuned-up these days... can't really get out of tune. I'd find a shop that doesn't say that BS.

[Meirschwartz]

Ok guys, this is what I found on my car.
I don’t drive it every day so I also wasn’t sure why sometimes it smokes and sometime it doesn’t.
Then I read in one of the forums that it is not recommended to start the engine, let it idle for a bit, and turn it off.
In other words, if you start the engine, drive the car.
It makes sense that if the engine is cold when you turn it of, more oil will be left at the cylinders
(just like Ronster mentioned), since it is more viscous.
Now, I don’t know if my theory is 100% precise but the fact is I haven’t seen a single puff of smoke in the last two months, and I drive the car once a week or so.
If I start the engine, I drive it.

[59coupe]

Dale K, I am not so sure about that. My car did it occasionally...at first...then it became more frequent. We are not talking about a small puff of smoke at start up. A failing AOS in my experience produces a large amount of smoke. If it seems excessive consider the AOS as the problem. It is not TOO difficult or expensive to do yourself.

Katblakeslee, let us know what you end up doing to solve your problem.

I concur with Steve986. I wonder what a "Tuneup" costs at this shop and what they might be doing to tune it up?

[katblakeslee]

Thanks for your help... Well my cars liquid cooled so i assumed it was a head gasket...turns out it seems like an oil separator which continues letting oil seep onto the valves which then burns off... it still worries me that the smoke was white not blue or black but hopefully this will fix the preoblem issue...should cost $700 with spark plugs being replaced at the same time.

[WVBlackbear]

I've notice that every time mine "puffs" a bit, it has been parked at a slight angle towards the right and front.
Anybody else?
Btw. It happens 1 out of 10 starts or so.