RayGT3

About 6K on my '04. occasionally when I start the car, after sitting a couple of days I get a cloud of blue smoke. Can't tell if it's one side or both sides. It immediately goes away and if I restart will not happen again unless I wait that few days and try it again. It seems to be happening more frequently as time goes by. It's not a little smoke but a blue cloud plainly visible. The car uses no oil from oil change to oil change, once every spring. Went to the dealer and they gave me the old "they all do that and is normal". The car does run great with this exception. Your comments please.

Checked current oil level and seems OK, midway between the two indicators.

fhp911

I don't get this on my '04. I never see any smoke.

What I do get if the car isn't driven for a few days is significant clatter for a few seconds upon startup. I am assured this relates to the dry sump and is harmless.

Mr Michael B

Are you familiar with the horizontally opposed engine?

RayGT3

If one fell on me, I'd know what it was.

Mr Michael B

Ha!

Well... The design of the flat powerplant can allow for smoke on start-up. It can be said that this is the "nature of the beast." Just as your dealer noted. If it is only a small puff then drive on & have fun.

RayGT3

I guess it's a matter of definition. A small wisp of smoke, I wouldn't be concerned about. But when it happens, I look in the mirror and see a large blue cloud, embarassing at times. Although it always goes away in a couple of seconds. And the fact that it seems to be doing it more frequently over time is troublesome.

zoomzoom

More likely to happen if your engine was running very hot (higher than normal cruising temp) when you switched off the engine and allowed it to cool completely before restarting. Oil is extra thin and it runs along the valve guides. Nothing to be alarmed of if it goes away after 1-2 seconds or so.

Z06

It's under warranty?? it did not do this when you got it...take it in.

as much as it's no big deal, it is.

996FLT6

On cold days I would see white plumes of smoke at startup but figure it's just condensation. All's fine when it's all warmed up. Mike

RayGT3

Definately not condensation, blue not white and a much larger cloud than one would experience from a cold morning start. Must be sucking a big slug of oil from somewhere. On the good side, very few mosquitos around the rear of the garage.

Went to the dealer today but most everyone was off for training. Will try again next week and make more of a stink. See what happens. That much smoke really doesn't seem normal to me. Just wish I could make it happen on demand.

Camber

This is a common problem with 993tt's, and there are two causes on these cars. One is over-filling the oil and the other is using a Mahle oil filter instead of Porsche.

Obviously, this is a completely different engine, but it's worth asking whether you've recently changed or added oil. If so, might be worth checking to see if either of these could be the cause.

Jim

Mark Dreyer

Mine does the same thing on rare startups. I've not added oil, and the only oil changes are done at the dealer. My previous car (996 TT) did the same thing. I've been told that it is normal. I've never worried about it.

JasonAndreas

Ray,
Next time before you turn the engine off let it idle for 30-45 seconds, allowing enough time for the oil to return completely to the sump tank and see if that makes a difference at your next cold startup.

RayGT3

Jason,
I'll give it a try. The problem is it happens so infrequently it's hard to tell if ones doing any good or not. It could go good for two months and reappear for no apparent reason. I hate problems like these, if it's broke I can fix it. But if it's only broke sometimes, it can be a headache. Tnx

Mr Michael B

Ray,

Chances are its not broken (as you say). You must realize how little quanity of oil it takes to make a ploom of smoke like you describe. This could be no more than a skin of oil film on a cylinder (lubrication is a good thing 'ya know).

I have been getting asked this question about 911 engines for decades.

It happens now & then.