JoeMX82

Dd

Wonderdan

what temp was that video shot in? Your assumptions are correct that first puff is normal, if it wasn’t summer I’d just assume the ongoing was water vapor… but I’m assuming you think it’s actually smoke and not early morning?

JoeMX82

Thank your for reply - Car is in Clifton Virgina and video is from last week - temps were overnights 50 to highs 72. Not sure time of day in video..... but I tend to see a good amount of light blue in the white too?

Robocop305

It looks normal.

JB911

Yeah, first thing that comes to mind is what's the outside temperature-
It seems to be condensation but the video moves on and it's not possible to tell-it could even be a head gasket leak, a video like that raises more questions, but a PPI no doubt will give you the answers. In my opinion, the factory 0W-40 oil viscosity contributes to the puff of smoke many cars exhibit on a cold start especially after sitting for some time. Personally, I switched to 5W-50 from the first time I bought my car. I can't recall the last time mine did the puff of smoke. The oil level could be too high, which is certainly not a good thing. It could be the oil hasn't been changed in over a year-oil gets diluted with condensation and blowy gases, in the normal process and 1 year interval for change regardless of mileage is good practice. The cars can also do the "death rattle" chain/tensioner sound on occasion-not sure if .1 cars are less prone to it than the .2 cars with both variable cams-still, it's considered normal since it rarely happens but it does.

You could ask for another video from a stone cold start- and keep the camera there if there is smoke once again, to time how long it goes on. If there's a complete list of maintenance that's been done, see if it can be provided.
Ask which plugs were put in, the stock OEM Bosch is now extinct and in my opinion the NGK is the only acceptable replacement.
On an oil change discussion I brought up the fact that a "reputable" indie shop overfilled a friend's 996 turbo by almost 1 quart, and it was smoking. He drove it back and the shop drained out 1 quart 🤦‍♂️
If I could remember the name of the shop I would certainly name it, it's unacceptable incompetence. It doesn't take a few blocks to damage a car, so even a 20K mile car can be abused or neglected. But, it could be that it was a cold day and the vapors dissipated, something like this has to be observed in person. It could be that the car is fine, so an independent PPI at a P dealer would be my recommendation, full PIWIS VAL and Vehicle handover, complete inspection, maybe leak down and compression test. If it was a CPO, there would be less to worry about. The video should have included the inside, with close up of oil pressure gauge and a live check of the oil level and as much detail as possible-

JB

RAudi Driver

Normal

JG 996T

ha thats nothing! i love the big smoke show early morning….

BryanCO

Agree, based on a few assumptions, normal and certainly not a concern to keep from going to the next step of the buying process (PPI).

powdrhound

That's water vapor...

Spyerx

thats vapor. some of these will puff more often than others, mine only a couple times a year at most... its pretty rare. if you're really worried about it get a compression and leak down test done

8Lug

Normal (even minor) puff at startup and what comes a few seconds later is water vapor. You can tell it’s just vapor because it dissipates into the air Immediately. If it was smoke, it would slowly blend in and go up. What you’re seeing is normal water vapor which every gasoline powered car will have upon cold start.

deutschmick

Looks normal. Initial puff of smoke then water vapor,

Marv

Hold a white handkerchief over the exhaust tip and see what gets spit out.

JG 996T

Real smoke show

GlenGT3

haha. Been there, done that. Once my wife asked me if the car was on fire. It’s crazy how random the smoke is. Sometimes doesn’t happen for 5 starts, then does it the next 5. No relationship to how long it sits. Started it in the spring after sitting for 2 months and no smoke at all. Then next time it smokes after sitting for a day.