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YOUR RESEARCHWhite smoke at redline
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Check guage it will read higher and vice versa
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Suggestion
This is based on the fact that if the *** is lower when you check the guage it will read higher and vice versa.
Leading evidence: 'Check guage it will read higher and vice versa' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check guage it will read higher and vice versa' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Suggestion
There is a TSB which has the dealer reset the guage to read for lower levels of oil as well as changing the dipstick.
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Suggestion
There is a TSB which has the dealer reset the guage to read for lower levels of oil as well as changing the dipstick.
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I was coming home when I noticed a brand new TT with no plates in my rearview mirror. The streets around my house are deserted so I stepped on it and he kept up (I guess he did not want to break the car in). I live on a hill so we were going uphill, when my car belched this cloud of white smoke from the exhaust. It must have looked scary because the TT just pulled over and stopped. I was either in 2nd gear on redline, about to shift into 3rd, or on third right after shifting. My car just came back 2 days ago from 15K service and the oil level shows full with the electronic gauge.
Should I worry, or is it just some excess oil burning?
it was becuase your oil level was full and you were uphill I would imagine. This is based on the fact that if the *** is lower when you check the guage it will read higher and vice versa. As that guage is very accurate maybe that's it. I wouldn't worry too much. Most people myself included don't like to fill it all the way but a bar low as I drive the hell out of it. Oddly enough though I have never seen the white smoke EVER even when a bit overfull. My car also is said to be for some reason faster than any 3.4 my friends have been in. But that slowed a little when I put the 295's on the rear from 265's. I wouldn't worry about it.
It sounds like a valve oil control problem if it occurred at the shift point. Oil smoke at shift is a typical indicator of worn guides or seals allowing excessive oil past the valve stems and into the combustion chamber. It occurs at high vacuum which happens when you reduce throttle to make the shift. Oil is sucked in at that instant and then burned.
Check the oil on the dipstick. If the sump is overfull it will cause excessive oil in the valve area that may not be adequately controlled by the seals. If the sump is not overfilled, it indicates a wear condition, most likely in the valve seals but possibly in the seals and guides. It is not "normal" on any engine in good condition for this to occur. On the other hand, it is not an "engine-destroying" kind of problem. It will just slowly get worse until it is too embarassing to be seen in.
Again, an overfull oil sump can overwhelm the seals. Hopefully, that's all it is.
Hmmm, you just had your service and it smokes oil, I bet it's overfilled. Wouldn't be the first time, check the oil on a level surface with the dipstick and gauge.
Leon, I think there may be more to this then oil level.
I haven't searched the posts but you may want to for info on difference between 3.4L and 3.6L engines. I have never seen a 3.4 blow any smoke, but have seen the 3.6L {non-turbo} engines do it quite a bit. The first time I saw it, I asked the owner if everything was all right, and he told me something about the rings or cylinders walls ... or something they did on the 3.6 engines that made them more prone to blow this cloud of smoke. In general I think he said the 3.6 was a much "looser" engine than the 3.4.
I know this is a lot of hearsay, so hope it helps more than hurts.
I've had a '00 and '02. The '00 (3.4l) blew smoke occasionally at cold startup.
My '02 (3.6l) never did until I had an oil change and then when it read full, it did it alot!
It eventually stopped when it burned out enough oil. Now I just keep the oil level lower. There is a TSB which has the dealer reset the guage to read for lower levels of oil as well as changing the dipstick. I haven't bothered with it yet, but I plan on doing that soon. In the mean time, I just keep the oil at about 4 to 5 bars and it's fine.
It sounds like you had a similar issue. When the dealer fills the oil to 'full' it will be slightly more than the car needs.
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by C4C_Leon:
<strong>No, not steam. It ws a billowing white cloud. Too thick to be steam. must have been oil</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Excess fuel smoke is black, steam is white, oil smoke is a blue/grey in color. Did it leave a greasy residue on the back of the car or in the tailpipes?
Regardless, not what you want to see from your 996.
Sloth,
No, not what I want to see at all!
It happened again on cold startup 3 times after that, each time it smoked less.
How do you take oil out of the engine anyhow? Is it something easy or should I just let the engine burn the excess?
Have an 01 with 3.4L. White smoke on start up after agressive driving or from overfilling is common. There is a TSB which recommends a longer dip stick and reprogramming of the dash gauge. Lowers the oil level by about a quart.
Mike
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