...smoking. And not from lack of a LSD. I didn't see it but a flagger did. Had to pull off and this after only 4 laps in the final session of a 3 day DE where I missed the other 2.5 days due to PS problems. So pretty frustrated to say the least.

I wasn't going fast or pulling a lot of Gs imo as I am a novice and this track is relatively new to me. My frustration with my week and my car was such that I did not have the presence of mind to ask Pit Control which corner and at what point (ie left or right, braking or accelerating). I also run street tires. I've read the other posts and added my name to Caygirl's petition.

But this is what concerns me. I went to the pit, shut off the car to pack up and head to visit a client in the area. It puffed some smoke on start up. After a gentle 10min drive I parked the car and visited with my client for 45min. Then when I started the car back up it belched a cloud of smoke that would make a '70s burnout enthusiast proud. I was parked on a tree lined country road and it blocked both lanes and lingered 15-20 seconds. No engine light came on however. I drove home 2hrs and have driven it around town once since without a puff.

So what do I do? I was planning to do a lapping day this week. But it would be a hard day at a track I know and am fast on. Likely 3-4hrs of track time. I think I have to bail on it and get the car in to see the dealer. Any ideas what would cause such a large cloud of white smoke? My car is a '07 CS with 6,000miles, PASM, SC, 19" but OEM Bridgestones. No mods.

I'd love some insight before I head to the dealer so I can have an intelligent discussion with them. I'm concerned about valves or rings. But I really don't have a clue.

Thanks!




Chris

You mentioned a power steering leak, could what black flagged you at the track been some residual PS fluid burning off?

Porsche startup puffs have no rhyme or reason - sometimes a hot start, sometimes cold, sometimes small, sometimes big, the only consistent item is that it's inconsistent. I wouldn't worry about it until it did start occurring frequently.

__________________
2008 Cayman 2.7
2006 Mercedes-Benz CLS500 (Wife)
2007 Jeep Commander (Son)
2000 GMC Sierra Truck

Chris - disappointing week all around - sorry to hear it... I'm not sure you should take it to the dealer - since you've read the posts on this subject, you obviously know what it it is - it's the oil ingestion problem, and the dealer will tell you the car is "not a track car," or something to that effect. I'm not sure why it waited so long to give you such a large plume, but that's what caused it, has nothing to do with the valves.

Go to the lapping day - have a good time, if the schedule is set up where you get a cool-down lap after your session is over, take advantage of it and use it to cool down the car and drive the line exactly - no more than 40 mph or so... then let the car idle for about 5-7 minutes before you shut it down after the session... this has worked for me. The only time I've had a big plume on start-up is when I've had to shut the car down quickly to jump into a student's car for the next session and not had time to let the car idle for that amount of time.

As for being black flagged - it happens, and it stinks. Although this hasn't happened to me. If it's just a very small puff, talk to the people in race control and let them know this is something that the cars do, and you're not having a mechanical problem (I guess that's open for debate) and you're not oiling-down the track with a fluid leak or anything like that when this happens... they're trained to throw the meatball flag when they see anything like this for the safety of the others on track.

brad

__________________
21-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

Chris,
I suggest you try Brad's advice before other more expensive options. I now have several track days at Sebring and Homestead in my CS and have not had any problems.

Michael D.
Go Vols!

Thanks for the supportive advice Beez. I'm was surprised by the on track puff as I really wasn't pushing at all compared to the 5 hard days I have done recently on the other track I frequent and am much more comfortable (ie overconfident and driving faster than I likely should). At those days I have always let the car run 2-3 minutes afterwards (though not for oil ingestion reasons, I was just letting it cool slowly). Now I will let if run longer to cool down. And hope that helps.

I would think that the slow 10min drive I did before the big belch would also be a good cool down (very bumpy country road kept me slow even though I frustration level was HIGH). But the cloud of smoke on start up was huge. I'm not a nervous nelly exaggerating type. It really did fog the road. That freaked me out. I haven't donr a lot of track days yet but after 20+ days in the pits with Porsches I have yet to see any car belch like mine did and that includes all the old 911s, the home mechanic beaters and the hyper tweaked cars. I sure hope you are right though. I'm not confident my dealer will do much of anything unless it explodes. I'm afraid if they aren't helpful and this persists I'm going to be inclined to sell and get a 996 GT3 so I have a car that I don't have to worry about oil and PS issues.

Any chance that I had no issues at all my past track days because I was running ELF 15W50 and switched to Mobil 1 0W50 before this event? I did so because of the oil ingestion issues I've read about. I didn't want to have a failure and have to go to the dealer with non OEM oil in my car.

Chris

The couple of times I've had the plume at start-up because I didn't let the car idle, it was also very large... just like yours... others in the pits thought the car was on fire... the only thing I can think of is that the 10 minute drive really had nothing to do with it, and the car has to sit for a bit after being on the track for the big plume to happen. That's been my experience, anyway. I also doubt the change of oil had much to do with it.

I also think the difference between the two tracks might be a factor - there seems to be a pattern of when the oil ingestion blows smoke on the track - usually a fairly slow, tight left-hand turn that follows rapid deceleration from a fairly fast straight. I also think smoothness of driving is a factor, too.

Here's some advice - fwiw... I don't think this is going to break the car, nor will it blow up the motor, it's a nuisance, really. You're a novice at this - learn to drive on the track in this car - a 996 GT3 is not what I'd call a great car for a novice to learn with - I know a lot of very good drivers that find them to be a pretty serious handful on the track. If the oil ingestion really becomes a problem, you can spring to put the motorsports oil separator in the car.

brad

__________________
21-year PCA Member
PCA DE Instructor

Thanks yet again for the comforting words Beez. It helps to know that my car is not unique. Hopefully not at least.

Last week was a real low point for me given I had both of what seem to be the major issues the CS has do me in in the same week. I wanted to run Tremblant again so badly not being able to made these issues worse for me than maybe they should have as Calabogie I can get on pretty much bi-weekly. I guess I'll just have to wait for the Sept PCA DE to try Tremblant again. And remember how lucky I am that I get to do any of this in the first place to keep it all in perspective.

I'll admit to not being smooth. I really have to work at that. I know smooth is fast but it is not natural to me. Maybe knowing that it helps with the smoking issues will motivate me even more to get smooth.

What do you do when it is time to park the car in a garage (parking or home)? Do you still let it run 5+ minutes? Or does shutting it off and leaving it to sit 5+hrs seem to eliminate smoking on start up?

I've read about the Motorsports AOS install. Is the consenus that this is the definitive solution to on track and start-up smoke issues?

Chris