993RS

I drove my car extensively over the weekend, and I had noticed that when the Porsche garage filled up the oil, they were really down to the minimum. So I added half a quart of oil last night. Today, when I drove, I noticed a cloud of smoke coming out of the exhaust and fumes coming in through the ventilation vents. Turned around and went home. Later, I noticed a small puddle of oil near the right wheel. I definitely did not add too much oil! I wonder if when they re-assembled the car, the oil level control somehow was not done right, and resulted in too much oil being added in the first place, so that when I added the half a quart it was too much. Will take it to the garage first thing in the morning, but in the meantime, any other ideas? Thanks! (Rats, it meant no driving around today... <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" /> )

Viken

Sounds like someone (you?) spilled a little oil on the exhaust manifold/heat exchanger. It will burnout eventually.

Bins

When this happened to me it was the lower gaskets that leaked, the oil fell on the exhaust manifold and then burned up causing embarrasing white smoke.

Doubt if its that otherwise they should have noticed it, though if it is, no biggy.

STLPCA

[quote]Originally posted by 993RS:
<strong>I added half a quart of oil last night. ...I definitely did not add too much oil! I wonder if when they re-assembled the car, the oil level control somehow was not done right, and resulted in too much oil being added in the first place, so that when I added the half a quart it was too much.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Phil
Are you judging level by the dash guage <img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" /> or the dipstick ? If the former, you may have inadvertently overfilled. If the later, and your dipstick level is correct, I'd go w/Viken's conclusion, or (hope not) a leak.

BTW, oil smoke is generally a blue tint (& smells like ... burnt oil), water vapor is generally white. A little white smoke is nothing to worry about - unless the garage stuffed a water pumper back there.

Flying Finn

Phil,

I'm with Viken here, how carefully you filled the oil..?

I once did similar thing w/ my veteran 911 (1975) and was worried when I saw smoke outside the car (can't have it inside since I don't have heating, or A/C for that matter ;-), but when I saw oil was dripped to the exhaust, I stopped worrying & drove harder, after that day, no smoking anymore, it had all burned out.

993RS

OK, thanks. I may have spilled a few drops... Will see tomorrow. I admit that I went by the dash guage, but I only check the dipstick once a month. The dash gauge has been pretty reliable. The car was really hot when I first looked at the guage (before deciding to add some oil), and saw that it was really still pretty low (just barely above the red with the engine idling...). <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />
BTW: What I forgot to add, even though I spilled maybe a spoonful, the puddle near the right wheel was about almost an eighth of a drinking glass... So I am still uncertain... Also what would happen if too much oil were added? Does it spill out somewhere?

STLPCA

[quote]Originally posted by 993RS:
<strong>Also what would happen if too much oil were added?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Just like us, when it's overfilled, it feels nauseous & throws up. That's the most likely explanation for your problem. Go check the dipstick.

Randall G.

[quote]Originally posted by 993RS:
<strong>****snip***

Does it spill out somewhere?</strong><hr></blockquote>

When it happened to me (thanks to an in-op oil cooler fan = much higher operating temperature ), it blew the oil filler cap off. Probably happened while I was idling on an incline. Friggin' oil everywhere ....

Kai 96 993

[quote] When this happened to me it was the lower gaskets that leaked, the oil fell on the exhaust manifold and then burned up causing embarrasing white smoke.
Doubt if its that otherwise they should have noticed it, though if it is, no biggy.
<hr></blockquote>

same here, i had mine on the left though

993RS

Well, this morning when I calmed down (I was really excited this weekend believe me... ), I opened up the engine lid and immediately saw that in the lower right hand corner there were traces of oil... My face began turning red, because I saw what must have happened...

I still went to the Porsche garage and had the engine, underside and the tray cleaned out, which solved the problem. I'd rather not say what happened, but I bet you all can guess... (after 20 years 911, but I was really awfully excited... <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[grrrrrrr]" /> )
Thank goodness, I turned the star rating off...

Bins

glad it was only that. DOH! <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" />

Robin 993DX

Phil,

There is no mystery as to what happened. You over filled the oil and you possibilly parked your car on a slight incline and the overfilled oil came out of the oil filler opening in the engine bay and it dripped down to the exhaust and there are probably some left over oil on the engine shroud rubber seal too.

Radar

Perhaps, the oil filler neck should have been painted yellow? One way to be sure and not miss it.

Robin 993DX

[quote]Originally posted by Radar:
<strong>Perhaps, the oil filler neck should have been painted yellow? One way to be sure and not miss it.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Nagh...

That would be way too ricer.

Ray Calvo

Like the others, I think you were just a stupid moron and overfilled the tank. Have done it myself on older 911s; topped it to near the full mark on the dipstick with engine at normal street temperatures, then went to track and promptly got the engine GOOD and hot. There is an overflow on these tanks, it dribbled down on right side of engine creating a nice mess and a 200 point increase in my blood pressure. This was on a '84; feel 993 is similar.

Hopefully, from your description that's all it was.

Probably not a bad idea to do a "recalibration" check of the dipstick (uhhh, the one on the engine?) against the oil level gauge. Good luck, and happy driving with Tweetie!