White smoke on startup only - AOS?

[Guest]

I would be very grateful if someone could provide some advice.

Recently when starting my Boxster (3.2S 2001), I get a large puff of white smoke from the exhaust. It dies down after a a few seconds and then doesn't seem to appear again until I start the car the following morning.

No engine light or drop in oil pressure yet. Just wondering if these are early symptoms of more serious conditions if I do not get the issue addressed.

Many thanks in advance.

Shuaib

[RFM]

If it happened every morning after the car has made a longer drive ( approx. 10 Km. ) it could be that the AOS is defective. If the car is only moved over short distances ( in and out of the garage or till the end of the street ) it is a rather normal behaviour.

[ABQautoxer]

What RFM said. Otherwise that can happen on Boxer design engines and is even explained in the owners manual.

[coleta]

Where does it say that in the owners manual? I can't find it. Thanks

[logray]

I'm not sure about the owners manual but a puff of white smoke on startup for any car is normal. Even normal for it to persist for some time as condensation burns off... some of that is dependent upon moisture in the air.

If the smoke persists until the car is warm and/or is a different color then there might be cause for concern.

If you are concerned about your AOS, do a search - there are plenty of threads describing the techniques you can use to determine if the AOS might be going bad.

[ABQautoxer]

Where does it say that in the owners manual? I can't find it. Thanks

I can't seem to find it though I swear I thought I read it there. I know had read about it here as well:

http://www.986faq.com/10-0/problems.asp#013

[sasha055]

To check if your AOS is going bad, after a drive, when the car is warmed up and running, try to take oil cap off.

If you can take it off, your AOS is good.

If you can not.. or you are really strong(and I mean REALLY) and after taking it off you car almost stalls, you have a bad AOS

Thanks

Sasha