Last week Thursday on the I-15 in traffic heading home I experience a blurb in the idle. I rev the motor a bit and notice a blue cloud behind me. In my head I'm thinking that can't be me. Another blurb and more smoke...it's me. No warning lights or other indications of a problem. I quickly move to the right to prepare to stop. Car runs clean, no bangs/clanks/grinding sounds and no more smoke so I head for the next exit 1/2 mile up the road. Off the exit from a stop car runs rough again and lots of smoke. I pull into the first lot and leave the engine running. No visible oil or ugly sounds. Rev again and a big cloud of smoke now accompanied with a flashing check engine light & check oil light. Shut it down and call AAA. While waiting I check the oil (I topped it 2 weeks prior) and it is full and clean.
Shop called and said the Crankcase Ventilation Value is clogged and the intake manifold is loaded in oil. Isn't the CVV = to the AOS on a 996? Anyway, they are dropping the motor to do the work and noted the water pump looks original so I'm changing that out too along with the coolant hoses of which some are leaking. Car has 145K miles now. Sigh of relief it wasn't a death blow.
I love driving it and hope to keep it for the duration.