Random smoke on startup. Should I be concerned? (with video)

[rockyraccoon]

Sometimes I'll start the car after not being driven for a while and there will be no smoke. Other times (like in the video) I'll drive it for a while, shut it off for ten minutes, fire it up again and it will smoke on startup. The time can range from a few seconds to up to a minute.

Oil level is about half way on the meter and on the dipstick. Is this normal? PPI showed good compression and leakdown numbers.

Video - TinyPic - Free Image Hosting, Photo Sharing & Video Hosting

[emac]

Long answer, normal
Ernie 81sc

[Chrisdmm]

My car does exactly the same. Its pretty normal.

[darrin]

that looks pretty normal to me -- You might want to try letting the car idle until, if warm, the oil level gauge comes back up to the half way point -- smoking on startup is frequently caused by oil in the sump seeping by the rings into the combustion chamber -- letting the car idle allows it to pump the oil out of the sump . ..

[boyt911sc]

Rocky,

Many car owners including myself would love to have that amount of 'smoke' during a cold start. If the video was indeed a cold start that's a pretty darn good engine!!!!! That smoke you see is just the effect of condensation in the muffler and most CIS/Motronic engines I know take much longer to dissipate the 'condensation smoke' during a cold start.

Tony

[rockyraccoon]

Thanks. The engine was warm in the video. Other times I will cold start and there will be no smoke at all. Other times it will smoke for a good minute or so. It just seems completely random which is why I was confused.

The oil gauge seems to stay around 1/4 even if I warm it up idling. Only when I start to drive for a bit will it pop up to 1/2 or white.

[JJ 911SC]

As per the other posting, water burning off and would bet that you are dripping water from the muffler during the smoking.

Btw don't trust the oil gauge but that is another subject onto itself...

[pmax]

This vid brings a smile to my face.

Porsche Targa with 911SC Engine White Smoke - YouTube

The soft window SC rocks !

[Gogar]

It's fine!



Everytime you park the car, sit there and idle for 30 seconds or so and let the OEL gauge go up towards the top (wherever it usually sits warm.) More oil in the tank = less in the engine, and less to seep into the combustion chamber.

Or so I heard.

[TheSt|G]

It's fine!







Everytime you park the car, sit there and idle for 30 seconds or so and let the OEL gauge go up towards the top (wherever it usually sits warm.) More oil in the tank = less in the engine, and less to seep into the combustion chamber.



Or so I heard.

Correct, and good for cycling the oil past any hot spots. Read the owner's manual, it specially says to let the car idle for minute after a drive.

[db_cooper]

very normal..911s "wet sump" when parked,, it is a dry sump engine by design.

[emac]

Rocket-- before you shut her down let her idle for a minute , I have found this helps but as I stated earlier -- normal

Ernie

[Gogar]

I've also heard that before you park, you should let it idle for a minute.