Smoke on startup ?
07-14-2014, 10:13 PM
#16
Rennlist Member
Every car is different. My 3.6 never smoked ever ever not even a little. When I built my 4.0, it smoked every now and then, but not much. My 997.2 3.8 ranged from zero smoke to complete garage white-out. I hassled the dealer into doing a complete engine diagnostics under warranty (leak down, compression, etc) and it came back with a clean bill of health.
Chuck - what you're experiencing is what Porsche considers completely normal. I think it's kind of unacceptable, but it's an inherent trait for GT3s.
Chuck - what you're experiencing is what Porsche considers completely normal. I think it's kind of unacceptable, but it's an inherent trait for GT3s.
07-14-2014, 10:19 PM
#17
07-14-2014, 11:56 PM
#18
You're probably right, sounds like it's burning a tad more oil than common. Especially if you need to drive 3 blocks. The manual usually has a oil/per mile consumption rate listed. I'd keep track of this for a warranty claim. As you know every engine has tolerances, yours might be on the bigger side. Porsche certainly pushed these mass produced engines to the very edge of OEM performance & reliability. 125hp/liter with 9,000 RPM redline to last more than 100k miles is quite the accomplishment.
The 991 GT3 engine is very unique (not based on any past GT3 engine - not Metzger design,etc) - so the real question is, does this particular engine/tolerances tend to smoke more. Only 991 GT3 people can help answer this one vs. past 911 engines etc.
The 991 GT3 engine is very unique (not based on any past GT3 engine - not Metzger design,etc) - so the real question is, does this particular engine/tolerances tend to smoke more. Only 991 GT3 people can help answer this one vs. past 911 engines etc.
07-15-2014, 12:13 AM
#19
Race Director
If you have concern bring it back to the Dealer and have them look at it. They no what they are doing. A piece of mind is important and if there so happens to be a problem they will get it rectified. I think you are fine but no problem being extra cautious.
07-18-2014, 12:00 PM
#20
Pro
Who is getting significant startup smoke?
On the replacement engine, I get a visible belch on about 1/3rd of startups. The size of the belch varies, ranging from 'normal 911' to significant. It has to sit for 1/2 hour or more or there will be no smoke.
On the original engine, it was worse. More frequent and generally a larger belch.
Today I had a first time experience in that the smoke was more than a single puff on startup. It smoked heavily as I drove off, and continued for about 3 blocks. It was a lot of smoke.
This is now two engines, behaving similarly. I am plenty familiar with 911 engines giving a little puff on startup. This is way past normal for a new car.
On the replacement engine, I get a visible belch on about 1/3rd of startups. The size of the belch varies, ranging from 'normal 911' to significant. It has to sit for 1/2 hour or more or there will be no smoke.
On the original engine, it was worse. More frequent and generally a larger belch.
Today I had a first time experience in that the smoke was more than a single puff on startup. It smoked heavily as I drove off, and continued for about 3 blocks. It was a lot of smoke.
This is now two engines, behaving similarly. I am plenty familiar with 911 engines giving a little puff on startup. This is way past normal for a new car.
08-07-2014, 02:41 AM
#23
Former Vendor
Thread Starter
A few weeks have passed since I started this thread. I've been monitoring the startup smoke very closely.
Things have improved markedly. While there is an occasional small puff, the big bug-spray incident has not repeated. Now a visible puff happens every 10 starts or so, and much smaller in scale.
This may be a function of break in. The new engine has over 700 miles now.
I do note that if the car is parked for any significant time on a slope that goes cross car (passenger side lower/higher than driver side) a smoke puff is going to happen. I imagine that with the slope, some oil not scavenged from the case migrates to the bottom of the rings and weeps into the combustion chamber. When parked level the oil migrates to the sump and not the rings.
Things have improved markedly. While there is an occasional small puff, the big bug-spray incident has not repeated. Now a visible puff happens every 10 starts or so, and much smaller in scale.
This may be a function of break in. The new engine has over 700 miles now.
I do note that if the car is parked for any significant time on a slope that goes cross car (passenger side lower/higher than driver side) a smoke puff is going to happen. I imagine that with the slope, some oil not scavenged from the case migrates to the bottom of the rings and weeps into the combustion chamber. When parked level the oil migrates to the sump and not the rings.
08-07-2014, 11:41 AM
#24
A few weeks have passed since I started this thread. I've been monitoring the startup smoke very closely.
Things have improved markedly. While there is an occasional small puff, the big bug-spray incident has not repeated. Now a visible puff happens every 10 starts or so, and much smaller in scale.
This may be a function of break in. The new engine has over 700 miles now.
I do note that if the car is parked for any significant time on a slope that goes cross car (passenger side lower/higher than driver side) a smoke puff is going to happen. I imagine that with the slope, some oil not scavenged from the case migrates to the bottom of the rings and weeps into the combustion chamber. When parked level the oil migrates to the sump and not the rings.
Things have improved markedly. While there is an occasional small puff, the big bug-spray incident has not repeated. Now a visible puff happens every 10 starts or so, and much smaller in scale.
This may be a function of break in. The new engine has over 700 miles now.
I do note that if the car is parked for any significant time on a slope that goes cross car (passenger side lower/higher than driver side) a smoke puff is going to happen. I imagine that with the slope, some oil not scavenged from the case migrates to the bottom of the rings and weeps into the combustion chamber. When parked level the oil migrates to the sump and not the rings.
08-07-2014, 04:55 PM
#25
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Totally normal. Everything in the engine needs to worn in and seeing some blue smoke on start (especially for an engine like the 991 GT3's) is nothing to worry about. Now, if it didn't go away.. then it might be cause for concern! Glad you got it figured out 
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Porsche Performance Specialist
John@Fabspeed.com
215-618-9796
Fabspeed Motorsport USA
155 Commerce Drive Fort Washington, PA 19034
www.Fabspeed.com
08-10-2014, 10:20 AM
#27
300 break-in miles so far, car sat for 4 hours after morning run, and upon start-up 5 seconds of thick white smoke!
Concerned me because it brought back bad memories of my previous blown BMW E92M motor (white smoke from a mixture of burning coolant and oil).
Concerned me because it brought back bad memories of my previous blown BMW E92M motor (white smoke from a mixture of burning coolant and oil).
08-19-2014, 02:19 AM
#30
ONE episode thick blue smoke at start-up with new engine (indeed, seemed like it "belched" ... caught my attention) resolved within 10 seconds ... mileage on new engine (present 770mi - redelivered @ 273mi) = 497mi. Engine runs great. Attributed it to oil ... ?seating of rings during run-in period. Have now decided to run to 9000 rpm after putting 400+ miles on new engine.
For this engine, I think I'll just follow the rule book. Keep it below 7000 rpm to 2K miles, which at this rate will be next Tuesday, then I track it. I've never been one to use the rev-limiter as a shift light and my last two PDK cars were given token launch control hole shots just for the fun of it (frankly the Panamera Turbo S is the best launch control car ... that thing is just insane ... and launch control in any 911 including the 997.2 GTS or Turbo S is more of a Teutonic non-event than some intoxicating top fuel drag car quarter mile explosion that involves arc welder ignition lightning storms with 7000 degree flame fronts across pistons compressing near solid fuel and all those mind-boggling equivalences of each injector having milliseconds per power stroke, but flowing as much fuel as a wide open garden hose running nonstop, or catching a passing Lingenfelter Corvette at 200 mph from a standing start and passing it at 300+ mph before the quarter mile mark.)