White Smoke

[gjdavis76]

I just purchased an '82 911 SC with 165k miles. I had to completely clean the fuel system, new fuel pump etc. as it had been sitting for three years. I finally got it started and it runs well with good power. After I drove it to operating temperature it started smoking an amazing (so much it loked like the engine was on fire) amount of white smoke from the exhaust. Is it burning an excessive amount of oil? Any thoughts on what to look for? I have worked on many cars, but I am a complete newbie on the Porsche.

Thanks,
Greg

[Walter_Middie]

Greg,

Welcome to the forum - we need pictures from all newbies.

After sitting for a while, you may have just accumulated a bunch of oil in the exhaust / heat exchangers. Once up to temp, the oil will slowly begin to burn away. I'd suggest putting your pride away, and just driving it around for a while to see if will eventually clear up. Maybe a few late night mosquito killing runs. This smoking is nothing new for a car that hasn't run in a while.

[gjdavis76]

Thanks for the advice. You don't have to tell me twice to drive it! I am really excited because I paid $2,000 for this car... title and all. By far the best deal I've ever seen on a car. The best thing it was about two blocks away. My buddy spotted the whale tail under a torn, leaf covered cover.

I will get some more photos when my girlfriend gets back in town with the camera.

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by gjdavis76

I paid $2,000 for this car... title and all.

$2000? Gosh, your car has big problems with that white smoke. I'll tell you what, I'll double your money and haul it off for you.

Seriously, white smoke is not usually oil but water (as in condensation). I do agree that you should drive it a while and see if it clears up BUT you need to do an oil change yesterday if it hasn't been done in 3 year. In reality, you should baseline the car: Fuel filter (prob done when you did the fuel system), air filter, plugs, cap, rotor, brake flush....

[tctnd]

White smoke in copious quantities can result when a leaky master cylinder dribbles brake fluid into the booster. The fluid will eat through the diaphram, enter the vacuum chamber, and be drawn into the intake. Pull the vacuum line from the booster, plug it and drive (very carefully as you will now have non-assisted brakes) and see if the smoke stops. If it does, you need a new/rebuilt master cylinder and booster.
regards,
Phil

[Eagledriver]

You may have overfilled the oil. There are hundreds of threads on here about how to check the oil level.

-Andy

[livi]

Welcome!

What Andy said.

Drive it until it is real hot - operational temps. Leave idling and step out of car. Open rear lid and oil cap. Check oil on stick. Should preferably read somewhere in the middle between high and low. If it is close to max or beyond, that could be the culprit.

[azasadny]

Wow! What a great deal you got on that car!!

[Paulporsche]

Nice deal! Since you are new to these cars, read up here on the proper oil checking procedure, as others have said. It seems to be the most common mistake people make with their "new" 911.

[gtihop]

Nice looking car

[disfin]

Sounds like a bad flux capacitor. They run about 10k each and you'll need two. I tell you what, since I have a couple spares I'll drive up to GA and take that car off your hands. I'll even give you twice what you paid for it.

No seriously, what a great deal, and the car looks great too. Congrats! Oh, and I hate you.

[JoeyD911]

2k for the car, what a deal. You either found the biggest idiot seller, or the white smoke is something really bad and the PO knew it, but didn't have the 10k or so to fix it. Either way, even if a total rebuild is in your future, you're golden on that deal. Congrats, and I also hate you

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by disfin

I'll drive up to GA and take that car off your hands. I'll even give you twice what you paid for it.

Not so fast. I offered to double his money back on 9/6 so I'm first in line (yeah right)

[gjdavis76]

Thanks for the advice (and offers)! My biggest problem was too much oil. I got the car out yesterday and drove it a good bit while taking out most all flying animals (by smoke inhalation) in the state! I drained some oil and most of the smoke is gone now and it runs great with good power. There is an oil leak on the right side of the engine that drops directly on the exhaust. I guess that is the right muffler (not catalytic converter?). I think the location is about the middle of the engine going forward to aft. I am going to do a bit more investigation about what is leaking on that side of the engine. Any ideas of oil leaks in this area? I am out of town this week, but I will get the car up in the air to investigate when I return. I will post what I find.

[Walter_Middie]

Greg,

On the Tech Info Center of pelicanparts.com you'll find many good articles on maintenance and upgrades. One of these articles looks at the usual oil leaks:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/911_oil_leaks/911_oil_leaks.htm

[RichF]

make sure one of your spark plugs didnt foul out. I had the same problem with white smoke cause a spark plug i put in fouled out. I changed them out and it runs fine now

[Zef]

Welcome aboard...this 911 has a soooo beautiful color...