mark911928

Hey guys,

Just purchased '87 Carrera Cab w/63,000 miles on the clock. I'm new to this board (have been a 928 owner for 7 years) and have a few questions about my new ride.

On start up, car spits out white smoke, water dripping out of tailpipe, (condensation?). After driving about 10 minutes, smoke is still there, but after running on highway, when I pull in garage and rev motor at idle, no smoke. Previously, when stopping at stop signs in town, slight smoke after running on highway at 7mph. Should I be worried or do all 3.2's smoke a little on a regular basis.

Engine runs great, but not being use to the 911, the engine sounds "whiney" Typical??

Slight rattle or clacking when clutch let out with low revs. If revs or up, no noise. Just my poor adjustment to the 911 clutch? Big feet!!

Sorry for such dumb questions, but I want to make sure if I need to address a problem before it gets worse.

Thanx,

mark <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />

8 Canary

I am aware that in general, Porsche flat 6 motors (regardless of displacement or year of manufacture) commonly do produce small amounts of smoke at start up. As I understand it, the two contributors are; cylinders are in a horizontal orientation and the cylinders are very close to the oil reservior ("oil pan") in the crank case. Unlike the engines with traditional upright- inline and classic V orientation of the cylinders, the flat motor does not provide slope to the cylenders to allow residual oil to drain down into the "pan" when the motor is off. This allows oil to pool in the cylinder while parked. Thus this collection of oil will seep past the rings (in very small amounts) and be ready to burn in the combustion chamber at start up. It is small in quantity and does not occur again till engine sits a while, off.

The smoke you experience while driving down the highway (at "7 mph") is probably due to the burning glares from the eyes of the drivers behind you screaming ..."why is that idiot driving so slow in a @!#*-& PORSCHE!"... . <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Chris Martin

Oil on startup can be anything from bad valve guides, too much oil to the slope of the car when you park it. A commom recommendation for oil burning is to run the oil at or slightly above the min mark on the dipsitck. Obviously, check oil when engine is running, warm on flat ground. Also, keeps close tabs on oil useage, it's a great way to tell the health of your car. Assuming no exterior leaks, 1k per/qt is normal with ~600 miles/qt being trouble.

Juan Lopez

I echo comments on consumption but, Ihad exactly the same problem. Smoke on starting + warm up and then if I let it run at idle for a while.

Cause valve guides. '87 3.2 with approx 65K miles.

Hope this helps.

ploglet

You are saying though that there is "white smoke" coming out of the exhaust. This is not oil getting into the cylinders from what I understand. Have you check your oil level? I am not sure on this one but when you start the car the little smoke that comes out should be light blue not white.

85targa911man

The amount of smoke you describe is much more than normal. I would also be concerned about the white color of the smoke. Could the previous owner have put detergent oil in? The symptoms you describe sound exactly like what happens when detergent oil is put in a car. You might try changing the oil--make sure you drain the engine andthe oil cooler, change the filter and, most important--use a really big (at least 3 gal.) pan to catch the oil, emptying between draining the case and cooler. <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

Stephen Masraum

What's the climate like where you live. If it's cool in the mornings then the white smoke you see is likely condensation. Look around do you see other cars smoking at stopsigns? That would be a good way to see if the weather is a contributor.

And don't worry about the detergent oil. All oils these days are detergent oils unless you buy a special super cheap non detergent oil to run in your lawn mower. Maybe if the PO used marvel mystery oil or ATF or kerosene, but that's probably not the case these days.

Don't worry about draining the oil cooler unless you find something weird in the oil.

3.2L cars can smoke, but I wouldn't expect to see smoke on a continual basis if it was oil smoke and not condensation. Most often the oil smoke problem seen in these cars is a puff (sometimes large) on startup. I've found if I let my car idle for a few secs (10+) as you would when checking the oil I don't get the puff or very very rarely.

ked

You're getting a lot of good advice on the smoking. Determining a baseline is important - what brand & weight oil, consumption rate, etc? Sometimes this takes a multi hundred mile drive.

Relatively speaking (sounding?) all air cooled 911s are "whiney". We like the whine. The best way to confirm whether it is "too" is to take it to an expert and listen together (again, baselining a new type car is valuable).

The '87-89 Carreras have the G50 gearbox & are prone to the rattle you describe when you release the clutch slowly at low revs. Mine does, most of them do it, and I'm told it is simply a signature sound, and one just lives w/ it. I hear it most in R moving slightly upgrade. As you noticed, a bit more revs and you can minimize or avoid it, which most of us do just as a positive feedback, learned behavior. Again, demonstrating the clacking to an experienced 911 (of this ilk) mechanic should confirm this is what it is, & eliminate any serious concern from your conscience.

All together, sounds like you should plan a nice longish day trip to a PCA tech session or to visit an experienced & respected shop-expert. Enjoy!

mark911928

Thanx Guys,

Seems my "paranoia" was unfounded. Drove the car hard and fast today (way fun) no smoke, "whining" seems lower pitched and normal, and rattle eliminated when revs are up and clutch released correctly. Love the car! Bought this for my wife since its a convertible, now will start my search for a coupe with more hp.

Need more horsepower since I was only driving 7mph on the highway!!!!!!!! Sorry, that should have been 70mph in the original post!!

Thanx again for the responses. Lokking forward to participating in more board discussions.

mark <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />