Puff of smoke

[RodTungsten]

2003 Spyder auto - 39,000 miles. A couple of times I have caught a second or so of smoke at the rear in the mirrors. Not water vapour either. Usually after a restart after a long or ‘spirited’ drive. Oil level is fine and the car isn’t using any - apart from the odd drip at the front.

Is this common on these engines?

 

[safrane]

I had this in my first 4200, usually if I started the car and moved it out of the garage and then restarted a short time later.

Emblem looked after the car and stated it was common to that engine... they did a compression test to make sure and it was fine.

 

[RJ237]

It happened with my coupe after stopping for lunch. Jason@Enzo's also said it was not unusual.

 

[StickyP]

I concur with the above comments. All 3 of mine would do it if restarted shortly (10-20mins) after a run..

 

[happydaze]

It happened with my coupe after stopping for lunch. Jason@Enzo's also said it was not unusual.

As did Tom Jones.

My MCV gives a little puff as well. Maybe it's a little bit of oil that runs down the valve stems?

 

[philw696]

I had this in my first 4200, usually if I started the car and moved it out of the garage and then restarted a short time later.

Emblem looked after the car and stated it was common to that engine... they did a compression test to make sure and it was fine.

To be fair guys doing that to any engine is not good as unburnt fuel will wash oil off the bores.
On a highly strung engine it's best to let it warm up a tad and drive it.

 

[RodTungsten]

My money is on the valve stems. I used to get this a lot on older bikes with no stem seals. A search on Eurospares was not clear - a search for ‘stem seal’ shows only earlier engines and Lambos. Does this engine use stem seals?
[edit] burrowing deeper - they do: called oil rings.

 

[conaero]

See this a lot:

puff of smoke from the front on warm start up, cam covers dripping on the cars

smoke out the exhaust, like a fog, fuel trims resetting

All totally normal or nothing to worry about. New cam over gaskets sorts the first issue

 

[RodTungsten]

See this a lot:

puff of smoke from the front on warm start up, cam covers dripping on the cars

smoke out the exhaust, like a fog, fuel trims resetting

All totally normal or nothing to worry about. New cam over gaskets sorts the first issue

Thanks Matt. Need to book a slot with you for Sept…

 

[Wattie]

There’ll be a few on here glad this ain’t another cigar thread.

Just saying

 

[Felonious Crud]

There’ll be a few on here glad this ain’t another cigar thread.
View attachment 103648
Just saying

Well, I saw the title and assumed we had a new Pope and thought oh for the love of God, now we have to deal with religion as well.

 

[RodTungsten]

Well, I saw the title and assumed we had a new Pope and thought oh for the love of God, now we have to deal with religion as well.

Depends on the colour. Black- no decision; white - a new pontiff. Guess who was taught by Jesuits!

 

[Oishi]

F136 engines do this on occasion, called the Maranello puff.

 

[outrun]

This used to happen on the aircooled 911s I've owned. It was dry sump engines, especially if parked on a slight slope, uphill.

 

[Felonious Crud]

This used to happen on the aircooled 911s I've owned. It was dry sump engines, especially if parked on a slight slope, uphill.

What, your car elected a Pope? That's one serious options list. Bloody Germans think of everything.

 

[Gazcw]

I had this in my first 4200, usually if I started the car and moved it out of the garage and then restarted a short time later.

Emblem looked after the car and stated it was common to that engine... they did a compression test to make sure and it was fine.

My qp used to do this too.