smoking cayman!

[pauln9730]

Hi new on here so would love some feed back on our recently purchased 2.7 cayman.Its a 2006 with 22k and when left over night it smokes really bad first thing and would like to know if this is normal?
The smoke look's really dark and when stood behind on start up it doesn't have a distictive oil smell but more like its over fueling.
Any feed back/advice would be grateful
paul

 

[berty987]

The flat six engine and low vis oil (mobil 1 0W-40) can mean that oil leaks into the bores when the car is left standing. Check the oil level isn't too high (check using the in dash gauge/ procedure) when the car is both cold and hot , use the avarage value of the two readings. If the car has been driven hard on a circuit its possible oil has got passed the air oil separator, this will burn off but if you do a lot of track days you may want to consider uprating to the motorsport version found on the 911. A few puffs of white smoke on startup are normal. If it gives you an issue try using another of the reccomended oils from the porsche approved oil list such as shell helix ultra, this is 5W 40 so is less prone to seep into hte bores when standing.

 

[mef]

Mines also a late 2006 with 25K on it and it does this too, especially when it's been left in the garage a few days as I dont use it every day. I decided that its normal, it goes away after a couple of minutes idling, I don't think you have a problem. Martin

 

[telford_mike]

1 month old 2.9 - exactly the same - really big cloud of white smoke!

 

[John H]

Yep, mine too. Especially if it has sat for a week, there will often be a big puff of oil-blue smoke on start up. Nothing to worry about, just typical for a flat engine. My old BMW bikes did the same thing.

 

[Alex Postan]

Hate to sound pessimistic but my engine puffed smoke on startup and it resulted in a new engine at 23,000 miles.

 

[pauln9730]

Thanks guys for the response, but really not sure about this still. As its still under porsche warranty i am getting it looked at, although they maintain it is quit normal for a cloud of smoke to engulf your car on start up i am not so sure! I'll keep you posted cheers paul.

 

[Coops944]

Hi. Im new to this site too, and Cayman ownership. Ive recently bought an early 2006 3.4 S, when started up from cold I also get a little cloud of smoke. Nothing too excessive, less if used every day but still not that bad and only lasts for a second. Slightly relieved im not alone!!

 

[telford_mike]

ORIGINAL: Alex Postan Hate to sound pessimistic but my engine puffed smoke on startup and it resulted in a new engine at 23,000 miles.

Hi Alex, do you know for sure that the 2 were related? All men are russians etc....

 

[Alex Postan]

No question about it. The smoke was caused by oil getting in to the combustion chambers. It just shouldn't happen! It is nothing to do with it being a boxer engine, it indicates that the pistons/rings/cylinders are not sealing or that the valve guide seals are faulty. My car exhibited serious damage when dismantled (as you can see from the picture - that is just one of four affected cylinder bores) and yet the actual amount of smoke that it put out at startup was noticeable but not extreme. Since time immemorial, the standard brush off from the motor trade when presented with a problem is "They all do that sir". In my case, the first thing that OPC Swindon (highly recommended) did was to take off the sump to check for bits of swarf in the oil. And they found it, lots of it.

 

[telford_mike]

Ah well that's 5 new engines required just for this thread then! [8|] What prompted you to get it looked at Alex - did it give up the ghost?

 

[Alex Postan]

The combination of the smoke and the fact that it was a bit "rattly" at tickover was an indication that matters just weren't right. So I took it to the OPC who were very helpful and managed the job well.

 

[berty987]

There are a number of threads on smoke on start up on other forums. When the engine is cold the tolerances are greater so there is a bigger chance oil can get past the rings and seals. Worth considering also is that porsche specify mobil 1 which is 0 W 40 viscoscity. Many have cured the smoke on start up issue by switching to another porsche approved oil with a higher value for cold viscosity such as 5 W 40. Shell helix ultra is one such oil , readilly available over here in the UK.

 

[Obijez]

911 and Porsche World Oct 09 issue P94 has an article about failure of the 'breather oil separator' (also see post on an expiring Cayman in the King's Road). I assume a failing AOS would give constant smoke and not just a start-up puff and ought to last at least a few years ? Could well be considered an item to have replaced after n year or y miles (depending on usage).