Oil Burn at Start-Up

[vt993]

1996 993 Cab with 39K. A weekend car so it sits in my garage for days. Car sat for about 2 weeks, cranked over fine but during warm up in my driveway i noticed "blue" smoke from the tailpipes. Drove it for about 30 mins and no blue smoke afterwards. Should I worry about this? Any recommendations?

[midnight993]

I have a 1996 C4S with 39K, and it is driven the same as yours and after 10 days or so it will smoke the same way, then it's fine. It doesn't happen all of the time sometimes after it sits it's fine. I assume it may be how I drove it last and how long ago it was but I don't know. Sorry I don't have any answers, I'll just join your question.

[Martin Schmitt Germany]

The same thing with my '97 Carrera S (approx. 35k mls).
I found out that it has to do with way the car was
driven before the start. If the car wasn't heated up, like if you just pull it out of the garage to wash it, and some days later restart it, there is an awful oil burn.

[Midnight 993]

Thanks Martin I suspected it was something like that but good to hear the confirmation.

Another subject - Have you ever gone to the Porsche Museum? And is there an easy way to rent a 911 and drive it around Germany/Austria for a week or so? Sorry to switch subjects but my girlfriend and I have been considering staying near Salzberg next spring, and we (OK mostly me) would love to have one to drive around while we are there.

[Martin Schmitt Germany]

I've been to the Porsche Museum.
It is nice but very small (15 cars).
You'd rather go to the Technik Museum in Sinsheim which is an 75 min ride from Stuttgart.
Never rented a Porsche. There a lots of small
companies that rent sports cars like Ferrari and Porsche.
Just search the web.

[midnight993]

Thanks for the info Martin, I hadn't heard which Museum to visit, I'll get on the web and find my way around. Thanks again for the help.

[Tech Bullitin]

There is a factory bullitin regarding a very similar problem in the 96-97 993 and 993 turbo. The problem is the 03 oil filter (the little oil filter that has a part number ending in 03). This filter must be the factory Porsche part and it must be inserted until finger tight and then turned an additional 360 degrees. There is a small nub on the 03 oil filter that requires a fairly precise pressure to prevent leaking. OEM filters don't even have the nub, and factory filters are difficult to get right with a recommendation of "finger tight" then 360 degrees. The leaking only occurs after 2 or more days without use and the smoke only comes out the driver's side exhaust pipe. After 5 minutes, the smoke goes away and will not return until the car has sat for another 2 or more days.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Hi:

That bulletin really applies to the TT more than the N/A cars.

All Porsche horizontally opposed engines will smoke a bit on startup after sitting for a few days from oil being siphoned back into the engine from the tank. The cylinders accumulate some excess oil and its drawn into the combustion chambers when cold and the ring seal is not yet perfect.

[midnight993]

Thanks Steve,

Based on what I've heard about your high level of expertise I will not over worry about the small amount of smoke that I sometimes see at start up. I often drive the car about every third day which would account for the occasional small burn off. Thanks again, this thread could have gone the other way and I would have run to the mechanic wanting to open her up for no good reason.