Sub

This is a car I'm looking at. See how the tips are black? I saw dripping when the car was started. Is this normal? Is it an oil burner?!

Dave07997S

Tips are black because they have never been cleaned..it's carbon build up. That's normal..the water you see upon startup is water, also normal when the car is cold.
Dave

Edgy01

What you see there is normal for these cars. In fact, the color you are seeing does not indicate whether it's an oil burner or not. A friend with the same engine and tailpipe discoloration as mine uses no oil while I use quite a bit. Fear not. If you were seeing a SUBSTANTIAL amount on one side vice the other that can indicate an oil separator problem. Happens,--but fairly rare.

JMA

I have that same car 997S GR with PSE and my tips looked just like that. My car has not burned any oil in 6K miles (zero). I bought for $2 at Target some Turtle Wax chrome polish and the black soot (which took 1.5 years to accumulate) was gone in 5 minutes of cleaning....easy fix and cheap.....did not need to spend $$$$ on fancy chrome polish...I bought the cheapest one I could find at Target (and they had lots) to test and it worked like a charm. 5 minute job.

uzj100

0000 steel wool helps the process, if you've got some stubborn areas.

Sub

Ok, thanks guys.

mjsporsche

Sub,

Tell us more about the car. Interested in knowing the pricing which you can PM if you feel more appropriate.

Thanks,

Mark

JFScheck

And yes - when she first starts up some water will come out as well - part of the reason why "short trips" are not suggested as you want the car to warm up fully and burn all that condensation away...

And yea - I wipe mine every few washes - comes right off.