Was looking at an '05 997 recently. Smoked a bit on firing up the engine, bluish but could have just been water (condensation) from the exhaust. Seller quickly said "they all do that" but I'm thinking they don't. Car has 37k miles and has been well maintained, but is a daily driver year-round. Once it had turned a couple of revs and got some heat into it, no more smoke (and it was minor to begin with).

So, do they always do that?

Obviously I'm new to Porsches, appreciate any input...

While I'm at it, what do you all think of "s" versus "non-s" for a daily, year-round driver in a snow climate. I'm thinking life is short, why not go for a GT3, but I do have a limited tolerance for punishment and a wife... Discuss.

p-cardriver (that's actually my wife!)

 

Under certain circumstances ie; cold start then within a minute or two turn off car, then upon restart you may have some unburned gas and a bit of oil cause smoke...some P-cars are more affected by this than others.

 

Years ago a 911 Porsche would exhibit a fair amount of blue smoke on start up particularly when the car has not been driven for many days (like a week or longer). The reason for this was that the oil would settle in the engine over time and then burn off immediately upon start up. I recall being gone for many weeks on business and returned to the car to about 2 minutes of blue smoke until it all burned off,--but that was a real 911 with a dry sump system. Today's more modern boxer engines shouldn't have this problem.

 

The only time my car smoked was during break-in when it was consuming a little oil. I used about 1/2 liter during break in and not a drop since. That's with 7500 miles and 50% on the track.

No, they don't all do that, in fact few do from what I can tell. I would never buy one that drank oil and smoked.

 

I sometimes notice this - usually when I have started the car for a few seconds only, stopped it and then re-started later.

With me this usually happens when I start up to move my car a few feet if I'm going to wash it. When it's done, I'll get a puff on re-start.

 

My 05 did it every once and a while, my 993 does it all the time. The turbo hasn't done it yet.

 

Even GT3s..

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-gt2-gt3-forum/385115-finally-the-cause-of-engine-noise-at-cold-start-up-explained.html

 

I've seen both 996's and 997's do this, primarily at the track. I've seen mine do it once, and it uses VERY little oil. The story I've been told is that if you shut the engine down after spirited driving without letting it run for a minute or two, it will blow some smoke. That is exactly the condition in which mine blew smoke the one time. I'd have the car checked, but would not eliminate it as a choice right away.

 

+1 It's normal to get the P-car to smoke if start up for a couple of seconds and turn off quickly. Upon re-start, the puff of smoke is always visible.

 

Mine does it when the oil is overfilled.

Don't buy a GT3 if you are going to drive in snow (you need stability control)

S is worth the money; be sure to get the sport chrono.

 

Why sport chrono?

 

No, I think he means do NOT get the sport chrono, the "do nothing" eye candy bling option debated to death here at RL.