Another smoke question!!

vmann7 · 12-10-2007, 08:13 AM

Hi everyone, here's to my first question on the forum.

I have a 1987 911 with 62,000 miles. I did a search first and while there are quite a few smoke related questions none are quite what I'm experiencing.

The car has sat way too much in the last coupe of years. I've probably only put 1000 miles on it during this time. Since I just retired early and turned in my work car I plan on driving this and my other toy, an 1987 jeep wrangler more on a daily basis.

While it was sitting I'd start it every month or so and let it come to operating temperature. Lately I started getting white smoke on startup. I am also getting condensation from the tailpipe. The smoke will start strong and slowly fade away as the engine warms up. There is definitely no odor to the smoke. Once the engine is warm there is no visible exhaust from the pipe. I also think that the time it takes for the smoke to fade away is getting shorter as I keep starting and driving it more. It drives well and performs as it always has.

I don't know if it matters but it is due for an oil change. I use Mobil one and while the mileage is low its been in the car for a while. Regardless of the problem I plan on doing my first oil change later this week and might as well replace the plugs while I'm at it.

Any thoughts on the cause of the smoke? By any chance would the air temp have anything to do with the issue, it has been colder in NJ lately? Thanks

Vince

Rot 911 · 12-10-2007, 08:21 AM

Change the oil and drive the car more.

EarlyPorsche · 12-10-2007, 08:29 AM

Starting a vehicle and not giving it a full warm up cycle, which defined by Ducati motors is 20 minutes of riding (driving) AFTER full operating temperatures, is bad for it. You need to do as Ducati recommends, this allows all the condensation in the engine and oil tank to evaporate and the engine to burn off any sludge. You need to change the oil with some 20W-50 and a new Mahle filter, I would guess that you will have white sludge coming out when you drain the oil, I did too before I started doing full warmup cycles. Don't worry, you didn't do any damage, but from now on when you drive the Porsche, make sure you will keep it on for 20 minutes past the point where the temperature gauge starts moving.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Drive it at night...%^B....kill all the mosquitos in three counties.....

Change the oil first....I like straight weight dino oil.

vmann7 · 12-10-2007, 08:31 AM

Thanks guys!!!

vmann7 · 12-14-2007, 04:49 AM

Just an update

I have been driving the car till the recent snow/ice here in NJ. You guys were dead on. As I've been driving it the smoke is starting to diminish and is gone completely in a few minutes after start up.

Another interesting thing is I just had the NJ state inspection which is relatively tough and it passed with no problem, In fact when I was reviewing the printout on the emissions it was putting out about a third of the maximum allowable in the three emissions categories. Not bad for a twenty old car that has essentially sat for the last year.

Thanks Again.