Hi Folks,

Quick question - I have a 2010 C4S w/like 8K miles. New to me. Car under warranty etc. Love the car - traded from an 08 C4S coupe and love the cab and the 997.2.

However --

Really weird random issue. Upon start-up - say every 10th time or so - after the cars been sitting in the heat (it happens at my work parking lot) - upon start it billows smokey exhaust. It's not black oil-burning smoke per say - it's more like "typical" exhaust smoke - and a ton of it. I'm trying to diagnose the variables when it happens - but can't really put my finger on why it happens when it does. After running and driving for about 1-2 minutes it clears out and stops. Note the car also sounds/runs fine as it's happening.

It's like embarrassingly noticeable though.

I'm going to bring it in but you guys know how hard it is to get a dealer service to focus on it when you can't SHOW them it happening.

Thanks for any input.

 

is your parking spot at work sloped?

this happened one time to me when a hotel valet parked my car on an incline when the car was still hot (nose down, i believe)

 

YES IT IS! I actually thought of that -- but dismissed it. You think that's it?

 

i am inclined to believe it is related.. (sorry couldn't help myself)

seriously, if this only happens at work, then most likely, it is related.

IMHO, certain valve position allow oil to seep in when u park on a hill.. which will burn off as smoke upon start up.

try parking elsewhere (flat) and see if the problem persists

or at least try parking opposite. if u park nose down, try parking with the nose up.

 

hahahah - BA-DUMP! **cymbal sound** that was a good one.

Good call - I'm going to try that. Thanks for helping me trouble-shoot that. Saved me a lot of headache. I'll experiment ...

 

I've had several Porsches and every single one of them has smoked when I leave them parked on my sloped driveway. I remember going to the dealer and asking them, and they said that was typical but didn't have an explanation why.

 

Thank you - this has really put my mind at ease. I love this forum.

 

Happens to mine every now and then, not concerned.

 

2011 c4s

 

Happens with boxer engines - same with Suburu's. Search and you'll find lots of discussion why.

 

My driveway is sloped and this happens to me as well, grayish/white smoke. Went to the dealer and they said its normal when parked on a slope, *** down. It only happens to me when I park it on the slope for several hours then restart it.

Like others said, if it only happens on a slope - no worries, find somewhere else to park.

 

Thanks all for helping me out here -

 

I think it is condensation and because the car is slopped down nose first, the water vapors are trapped and create more smoke than usual.

Try the backwards solution. Most probably you will notice water running down from the tail pipes and less smoke.

 

This is normal, also visible sometimes on cold starts regardless of inclination. I was informed by a Porsche master tech that the engine uses a reverse seal system that leads to the slight smoking upon startup.

 

Just for the record,oil burning is blue.