New owner...smoke at startup

curlesw · curlesw's Garage

Well I finally made it...I'm a Porsche owner (or as someone else put...a Porsche now owns me). I just purchased a 83 SC, completely stock, now the fun begins. I have been reading the Pelican site for a while and am looking forward to learning more about these cars.

My first question is basic, at startup in the morning the car smokes for few moments (no more than 60 seconds) but never again throughout the day. The PPI checked out, no problems, and I've read other threads of similar incidents....I guess I'm just an anxious newbie.

Thanks in advance.

Wayne (not "THE" Wayne, of course)

Planter91C2 · 06-05-2002, 07:45 AM

congrats on the new car.

a little smoke on start up is no problem, don't worry.

thrown_hammer · 06-05-2002, 07:47 AM

My car does this on humid days. In the morning only, and about 20 seconds. I think it is water vapor in the exhaust? Not sure. Mine isn't oil puff it's more of a pure white thick fog.
Anyone else have this happen?

stealthn · 06-05-2002, 04:03 PM

Not to worry, alot of threads here on the issue. Mine too, on start-up then no more. Some have said it's the way it sits in the driveway street, etc., and the way the oil drains, but who knows.

Mine is only a puff at start-up, this is very common, and I have no leaks.....

Congrats on the car.

Groesbeck Hurricane · 06-05-2002, 04:13 PM

My '83 smoked slightly on start-up after relatively humid nights. During the re-build (headstud issue) I noted carbon build-up, but no other negative indicators. Drive and enjoy, I hope to soon be joining you!!

Adam · Adam's Garage

Congratulations on your new car!

According to factory workshop manuals, 911s only really blow smoke on start-up when new owners show off the car to friends and relatives...

Seriously, both of my cars blow smoke, occasionally, on start-up. The 2.7 blows white smoke (pungent!) and the 3.2 blows a little brown... probably fuel...

DANNOV · 06-05-2002, 04:26 PM

Make sure your oil level is no higher than the midpoint mark on the dipstick. Never fill higher than that mark. Because you are new to a 911 make sure you follow the proper directions for checking the oil level, i.e. engine running at idle and hot, car on level surface. If your oil level is too high it drains from the oil tank into the flat six engine while sitting, and gets into places where it should not go. It burns off creating smoke at startup. The real test about whether anything is wrong is oil consumption. About 1000 miles per quart is OK. I have a ball type valve on my oil tank in place of the normal drain plug. Whenever someone else changes my oil I usually find that it is at too high a level. With the drain valve I can drain out the excess with a minimum of fuss.

makaio · 06-05-2002, 07:22 PM

Welcome to the club!

pnzr911 · 06-05-2002, 08:47 PM

83 911SC? hmmmm wonder why I like the sound of that? Good choice! If you are like me you can't leave well enough alone. Since I bought my "perfect" Porsche 4 months a go I have replaced $2,500 worth of worn out original equipment (circa 83) with nice shiny new stuff. She really purrs now! Enjoy and welcome!!! My car doesn't smoke but it does drink!

curlesw · curlesw's Garage

Thanks for the feedback...it puts a restless mind to ease.

pnzr911 (and other sc'ers), I am interested in the improvements you have made. My wish list includes: short shifter, turbo tie rods, sway bar, lowering the car, (anything to improve the handeling) oil cooler improvements, carrera tail...(I'm sure the list will grow). thanks.

Wayne

Sean Hamilton · Sean Hamilton's Garage

Ditto, Ditto all the above responses.

Now......please do a SEARCH before asking about fitting the cup-holders and cool-collars......

Jdub · 06-06-2002, 08:11 AM

Welcome! Is the car an SC Cabriolet by any chance? Love that car!

You might consider the usual new-to-the-car regime. Put 20oz of Techron in the car, run it very hard for a min. of an hour and when the tank is about dry dump the oil to remove the junk the Techron pulled from your engine. This might include deposits that contribute to a slightly stuck oil ring on one of the cylinders. (What was the comp and leakdown on the PPI?) Then, replace the filters: air, gas, oil.

A new dist cap and rotor can't hurt, plus new sparkplugs which you should number and examine for differences in appearance between cylinders. I know nothing about the oxy sensor on the later SCs, but you might perform a Search on this topic. Do make sure to have the CO checked.

Enjoy your SC and do by the SCWDP stickers!

John

Groesbeck Hurricane · 06-06-2002, 08:34 AM

Wayne,

Keep a good eye on the headstuds if not already replaced. Chain tensioner upgrade, oil cooler scoop, CIS pop-off valve, I'm sure others have longer lists/suggestions.

David

Doug E · 06-06-2002, 06:42 PM

Welcome to the wonderful world of P-cars!

As mentioned above, pay close attention to the correct way to check the oil. As a newbie last summer I found myself draining some excess out of the tank after I slightly overfilled her.

BTW, Adam is correct in saying that she'll smoke more when you have an audience at start-up. One humid day after she had been on jack stands a neighbor asked my wife if we' needed to call the fire department because of all the smoke!

Victor · 06-06-2002, 06:52 PM

I heard a new (to me) theory about smoke at start-up. Oil rings gradually rotate as the engine is running. If the ring gaps coincidentally line up at the bottom of the cylinder when you shut her down for the night, oil can seep into the combustion chamber while you are sleeping. It does not take much oil to make a heap of smoke.

I like this theory the best.

Cheers, VC
'89 3.2

curlesw · curlesw's Garage

It is a coupe...bone stock.

I have performed about a 1,000 search already...tons of info...this place is great!

Wayne