Is it normal to have a puff of blue smoke on start-up of a TT? Normally, this would signal to me that there might be a problem with valve seals, but I have no idea of what's normal on a P-car. Thanks in advance, Mark

 

Is it everytime you start the car up? Have you had a recent oil change? Oil level is?

 

Hi Kevin. It's not my car...it's one that I am considering. It apparantly only does this if it's been sitting for a while. The car is well maintained with annual oil changes and very little use each year (approx. 800 miles). Mark

 

If I was going to buy a turbo, that was smoking I'd definately have a leakdown test.. Infact I recently added a 965.. The service records looked good, and I had to pay a shop to do the leakdown and compression test.. They even had a bore-scope and looked at the valves for me..

So, with that said, I would also pull the plastic inlet pipes to the turbo's.. If there is oil in the intake housing, you have a failing turbocharger. If you look at the compressor wheel, if it is brown and dirty you have a situation where the oil has been recirculated through the Bypass Valve, intercooler and so forth. These cars are getting miles and aging and this is common.

You can drive the car, and shut it off, wait for 10-15 minutes, it should not be smoking. A car sitting for weeks at a time will smoke due to oil passing the rings..

 

Thanks Kevin!