Smoke on startup: "Normal" for an SC?

[Plecostomus]

I notice in my quest for a nice SC that most owners will state that, yes, their sc does produce a "little" smoke upon startup. Is this phenomenon par for the SC? Thanks,

Kurt

[DRACO A5OG]

is it grey or blue in color?

If grey, normal, even my 3.2 with DME will smoke on the initial ignition then clear up immediately.

As I recall it has to do with it being primed rich for initial start and warm up mode for 45 seconds on the 3.2

[db_cooper]

Pretty much normal..all 911s, all displacements (2.0-2.2-2.4-2.7-3.0.3.2) with some miles on them will give a puff when starting after sitting for a while.

I think it has more to do with the oil tank draining down into the crankcase when the engine is off for a few days..or maybe even overnight.

The crankcase will flood (if it were a British motorcycle with an oil tank...we would call it "wet sumping") and the high oil level in the crankcase gets above the exhaust valve guides and behind the rings and pistons.

When you start the engine..the scavenge side of the oil pump empties the crankcase very quickly (it has over twice the volume of the primary side) but any oil that crept in behind the rings or valve guides goes out the exhaust..as smoke.

The best indicator of the engine's health is oil consumption. How many quarts in how many miles? Don't worry about the smoke..unless it will not go away or you are using a quart every 600 miles.

Air leaks in a 3.2 engine around the breather gasket or vent hose will cause the engine to smoke more often too.

[DRACO A5OG]

I found if I let her sit at idle for a minute after a drive then shut down the next morning will have less smoke and start a bit better to boot.

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Are we talking about continual smoking or just a puff?

My SC does not puff all the time but will on occasion (cold, long time between starts, overfill of oil).

Best of luck in your search!

[Scott R]

My SC never puffs anything, cold or warm, however they engine is near new.

[timmy2]

I get water and gas vapor from a rich start when starting cold but no smoke on mine. Clear exhaust after a couple of minutes.

[Plecostomus]

Thank you guys. I meant the small amount of oil smoke on first-day startup. Just wondered if it indicated engine wear.

Regards,

Kurt

[Plecostomus]

Thank you guys. I meant the small amount of oil smoke on first-day startup. Just wondered if it indicated engine wear.

Regards,

Kurt

[tazzieman]

Originally Posted by Plecostomus

Thank you guys. I meant the small amount of oil smoke on first-day startup. Just wondered if it indicated engine wear.

Regards,

Kurt

A little blue fart first thing in the morning is within normal limits.

[VaSteve]

Any SC you find will have some engine wear. The newest is nearly 30 years old. Buy a good car and enjoy it already.

[brads911sc]

Geez. are you still looking? JHC. Buy a car already. Whatever needs restored or repaired you can then do. its why most of us own the cars anyway. if you want one you never have to work on, buy a brand new one. there have been 2 dozen SC's that were solid mecahnically and physically but not perfect that i would have bought in the last couple years while youve been dicking around... mine was the "cleanest 3 litre they had seen in years" according to two mecahnics that looked at it.. yet look at what ive done to it in my signature line. no such thing as a perfect 30 year old car... even a clean car will have tired suspenhsion, brakes, fuel system components and maybe need a top end at some point... and various other components that are just worn out... the only perfect car is one that you will never find...

[isldtime]

Originally Posted by brads911sc

Geez. are you still looking? JHC. Buy a car already. Whatever needs restored or repaired you can then do. its why most of us own the cars anyway. if you want one you never have to work on, buy a brand new one. there have been 2 dozen SC's that were solid mecahnically and physically but not perfect that i would have bought in the last couple years while youve been dicking around... mine was the "cleanest 3 litre they had seen in years" according to two mecahnics that looked at it.. yet look at what ive done to it in my signature line. no such thing as a perfect 30 year old car... even a clean car will have tired suspenhsion, brakes, fuel system components and maybe need a top end at some point... and various other components that are just worn out... the only perfect car is one that you will never find...

Ha! I totally agree. Mine went abroad because all the players wanted a "New" 30 year old car for $9000 on this side of the pond.

By the way, mine puffed oil smoke once in awhile on a cold start.

The guys at P.O.C. said normal.

I don't think 45K. miles was in the worn range

[Joe Bob]

Only the black ones smoke....the others use 'dip'.....

[timchar]

Db coopers explanation was the most informative I've ever heard regarding this. I learned from one of Dracos older posts to let car run a minute or so before shutting off, seems to help some. My 86 3.2 gives a white/greyish puff on start up on occasion. Seems mostly moisture, never smokes when driving. Tim

[theFONZ]

I started mine last week for the first time in several months, and HOLY CRAP did it belch some smoke. It went away after about 5 minutes, but you almost couldn't see the car for a bit.

Normal?

[VaSteve]

I run mine about once a week, on Sundays, really. I occasionally get a good puff of smoke when I miss a week or two. I have a mark outside the garage where its a little sooty. . Once in a while I rub the soot off, but it makes me smile in some odd way. I have a BMW R bike with a Boxer motor. I dont ride it often, when that thing starts up you can see the plume from space. Have fun, life is short.

[db_cooper]

Originally Posted by theFONZ

I started mine last week for the first time in several months, and HOLY CRAP did it belch some smoke. It went away after about 5 minutes, but you almost couldn't see the car for a bit.

Normal?

Normal..engine had "wet sumped"..all the oil in the oil tank had drained into the crankcase. Five months is a long time. The engineers did not plan on the cars sitting that long. If it were routine to park the car for an extended period..drain the oil tank and put a tag on the steering wheel..DO NOT START-NO OIL

Better still..go start the engine once a week. Not the best solution, but better than no start for five months.

[theFONZ]

I'll be starting it regularly from now on. I'm actually planning on driving it a bit before the snow starts to melt and the roads turn to soup.

[brads911sc]

If I drive mine every day. no smoke. If I let her sit a week.. i get some at startup and then its gone within 2 minutes.. none while driving..