Heavy Smoking after long sit

Mike O'Meara · Mike O'Meara's Garage

It's been sitting for over two years without running for more than a minute or two several times. It's smoking like a mosquito fogger now, and it didn't before the restoration began (no motor work at all) I did have the oil tank out, but I believe it is reconnected properly. Could that much oil be sitting in the cylinders? It runs fine, even on two year old gas. Do I just drive it and burn it off? Any suggestions?

Mike O'Meara · Mike O'Meara's Garage

By the way, here's whqt it looks like without the smoke.

keagy · keagy's Garage

I have been wondering myself what is the longest you should let your porsche sit without driving it. My mechanic told me you should drive it at least one a week but that seems conservative to me (he talking about you need to do for your soul). Lots of owners put their cars in storage for the winter for a long period of time and don't seem to have problems (although they prep their cars for winter storage). Two years seems on the long side to me unless you prep the car for long term storage (i.e drain fluids etc).

Steve87-911 · Steve87-911's Garage

If it sat for two years and also had a few quick starts, yes, it'll smoke like crazy at first. As far as driving on 2 yr old gas, I'd be wary of that. I'm sure the experts here will chime in with details.

Nice looking car BTW.

Paulporsche · 03-17-2006, 03:13 PM

Nice. What brand/size tires are you running and on what size wheels?

Your smoking is probably normal, although it's hard to tell from just a description. If it goes away, then most likely you're OK.

Running 2 yr old gas isn't a good idea, although some induction systems seem to handle it better than others. If you have CIS it's probably best to drain it and start w/ fresh. Some Techron would be a good idea.

midlife · 03-17-2006, 04:05 PM

Your muffler could be full of oil. I had a 911 once that had sat for years.
I finnally took off the muffler and flushed it out to cure the smoke.
I did not want to draw attention by driving until the oil burned out.

midlife · 03-17-2006, 04:18 PM

Nice Car by the way.

You need to drive it more!

Mike O'Meara · Mike O'Meara's Garage

Thanks for the replies. It sat while I redid the body. I started it occasionally, but it's just taken me that long to finish it and I'm just now getting it ready to drive. I'll fill it with fresh gas (it's MFI) right away, but I took it on it's maiden run around the block today hoping the smoking would stop after a block or two but it didn't. I'll do some more driving this weekend to give it more of a chance to burn it off. Paulporsche, the wheels are 7s and 8/15s, and the tires are Bridgestone S03s, 225/50 and 205/50. I'm not happy with the fronts, though. I should have gotten 205/55 to keep the fronts and rears the same height. I don't like the look of the fronts, but I'll live with them for now. And yes! midlife, I want to drive it more, and now is the time, finally!

Por_sha911 · Por_sha911's Garage

What does the oil look like? Have you changed it? I suspect that you may have a stuck ring from sitting. It may free itself after a nice long drive at temp. Looks like a case for Italian tuneup time!
Drain the fuel. Put in a quarter tank of the highest octane you can find along with one or two bottles of Techtron. Run the snot out of it til its almost empty. Fill it up and run it down to about half a tank and do an oil and filter change.
Oh, BTW, very nice car!

randywebb · 03-17-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by keagy
I have been wondering myself what is the longest you should let your porsche sit without driving it.

2 weeks.

Drive the car - it should clear up in 10-20 miles or less.

I just went thru this too...

Dantilla · 03-17-2006, 05:40 PM

I just started mine (twenty minutes ago!) for the first time in several months. Just changed the oil, and ran around the block a bit so it won't smoke so bad when I show up at tomorrow's autocross.

The smoke is normal. Thanks for the mosquito abatement.

johnnyo · 03-17-2006, 07:08 PM

Funny you should have tis problem, just today I started my 3.2L 911 after sitting for 3+ years and it smoked up the neighborhood I drove it around exactly as Randy said and after 6-7 miles the smoking cleared up completely, I also had just changed the oil prior to starting also added a bottle of tehron for good measure, you will feel relieved after the 5-10 miles of driving guaranteed, Good luck, Johnny O

johnnyo · 03-17-2006, 07:09 PM

Also to add don't bother draining the gas my car ran fine, run it through and add the techron

wcc · 03-17-2006, 07:45 PM

If you are going to leave if sit for more than 6-8 months then you should consider some of the procedures of long term storage. If you didn't and you let the car sit for two years, the first thing I would do is get the fuel out there (unless stabil use used) and change the oil. Even if you don't drain the fuel as soon as it gets to a .25tank fill up. Drive, drive, drive and keep putting in fresh fuel and your problems will clear up quick.....

livi · 03-17-2006, 09:46 PM

I will start up mine after four months winter sleep today. I guess I can relax since some of you guys happily started up after two to three years. Yippee !!