Hey guys, I need you help on diagnosing what is happening with my 02 C4S. So i was driving back from taking photos of my car to post here, and i was driving my pcar aggressive. As i got onto the onramp of the 57 i nailed the pedal, and when i looked back there was a huge cloud of white smoke! I let off and the smoke disappeared but i dont know if it went away as i was at freeway speeds. When i got home i check under the car to see if anything was leaking and it was fine, no hoses came off, no engine lights were on, etc. I let her sit for about 30 minutes and started her back up and a pillow of white smoke came out of the exhaust again. I shut off the engine and left.

Anybody have this problem before?? I hope it's not the coolant mixing with the oil, if it is do i have to replace the engine??? I bought her 2nd hand and its an 02, is there still any warranty coverage?? Thanks again guys for any input or advice!

Dean

 

check the oil dipstick, or under the oil cap, look for white residue (sludge). If present you have water/oil mixture...

 

Might also check coolant level to see if it is dropping. White smoke can be a sign of water/antifreeze getting in to the combustion chamber; leaking head gasket or even cracks in the head.

 

I know a guy, every time he takes it to the track for a drivers ed, and lets it sit for 40 min between run groups and then starts it a white puff of smoke comes out for a few seconds. He spoke to the dealership and apparently under hard cornering some oil goes somewhere and then when its sits it seeps down and then gets burnt on the next start-up. This guy has done this several times and has seen this from a few others.

 

puffs of white smoke on startup isn't a big deal. my dealer says it looks like london fog in the morning when they start moving the cars around the lot

however, i would be a little more concerned to see it after the car has been running for a while.

 

Hope its not a cracked head, or leaking gasket. Shouldnt that affect the idle, or set off the OBD? Is there a way to easily check?

I looked under the oil cap and there was no white suds, but i did notice the coolant low. I will add more today.

BTW i should be able to finally post pictures of my p-car tonight. Sorry this Newbie has be laggin but finally had the time and the weather was right. Stay tuned.

Dean

 

Photos of the C4S right before she started smoking.

http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t223/dhrecon/

 

I love C4S's... GL

 

Actually, if you had a head leak into the water passages, you'd see a huge buildup of pressure into your water lines, plus some bubbles back into your coolant tank. (Water hoses would be rock hard). Typically when you have a head leak, it does not go away, and you'd always have white smoke from the evaporation taking place. (Do you see any "smoke" after the car is warmed up, at all?)

 

Sound like you have the typical cracked cylinder wall at 2nd or 5th cylinder. Check your coolant level, if you're low and there are not leaks, start saving for a new engine. If you're still under warranty, check with the dealer.

 

Yea coolant is low, and the car still smokes after it is warmed up. I talked to a Porsche dealer, Indie shop, and GMG about the symptoms and it seems it can be any of the following:

(Listed in best case to worst case scenario)

1. Faulty oil separator

2. Leaking head gasket

3. Cracked head

4. Cracked cylinder chambers

None are good, but i am hoping its not #3, or #4. Thinking about those two scenarios makes me wanna smoke crack! I cant believe these design problems exist in a car that cost 90K new? And this car only has 35K miles! Anybody know how much an engine costs, with installation?? This sucks!

Dean

 

I would start preparing for the N4, it appear to be the most common etiology of what you described. Eventually your engine will just seize.

I think your dealer is the first and prolly only place to inquire about the new engine. The price will vary depending on how much slack PNA will give you. But ~$10K is what other people are paying

 

Try to get some kind of warranty then claim the engine. Did it years ago with a ranger rover I had. Can't remember the company....Sorry.
Just an idea.

Aloha

Byron

 

Why not have someone pressure test your cooling system? Its a quick, low-cost proceedure and if your engine has a failed head gasket or developed a crack this test will most likely tell.

 

Damn, that sucks.
Definitely try to get a warranty if you can hang on for the waiting period. Here are a few I was researching a while ago.
good luck and please post what happened when you finally have an answer.

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