I noticed this a couple of times recently.
Sometimes when I start the car, I get a puff of gray / black smoke from the exhausts as the engine fires up. I'm not sure if it's both sides or just one.
I have a feeling that it might be an excess of fuel due to me having started the engine just previously to move the car out the garage, but I need to do some more testing.
Anyone have anything similar?
Puff of smoke on startup
Puff of smoke on startup
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
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Gravitypilot
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Re: Puff of smoke on startup
i think i do also from cold...
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Re: Puff of smoke on startup
Well if it's not blue but gray and a seriously noticable amount that must mean you get some fuel in the intake during rest. Usually a leaking injector that seeps fuel until the fuel pressure drops (nothing else that can deliver fuel there) . I do not think it is normal, but on the other hand it's nothing to panick about either, it's only a little richer on startup then.
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posterboyj
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Re: Puff of smoke on startup
grey or black indicates over fuelling - blue is burning oil. I would use Vagcom to check the health of the pre & post lambda and block 031 for fuel trims
Cornishmoocher wrote:Buying an RS6 and then worrying about the fuel consumption is a bit like buying a boat and worrying about getting it wet.
Re: Puff of smoke on startup
I get a similar thing but NOT every cold start. Mostly it's when I've started the car to reverse out of the garage, washed it and then simply put it away again. If the car has had a run then I don't get anything.
Would oil in the cylinder liners not cause a little of this also?
My 911s used to give a puff of smoke also when not started for a few weeks - but I put this down to the flat engine and oil lying in the bores. Don't know if it's at all possible in a V8?
Would oil in the cylinder liners not cause a little of this also?
My 911s used to give a puff of smoke also when not started for a few weeks - but I put this down to the flat engine and oil lying in the bores. Don't know if it's at all possible in a V8?
Last edited by drybeer on Tue Apr 12, 2011 10:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Puff of smoke on startup
I do not suspect he'd find anything meaningful there. On startup neither lambda is active because they need to warm up first. Startup is a pre-determined amount of fuel that I do believe has a correction factor based on what the ECU sees in normal closed loop running but then it would have to run like crap which is obviously not the case.posterboyj wrote:I would use vagcom to check the health of the pre & post lambda and block 031 for fuel trims
It has to be some fuel that seeps into the intake after the engine has been turned off. If it only does this after standing still a good period of time (so not when restarting it right away) then you've found the most likely problem.
B7 RS4 saloon Misano red, comfy seats, JHM tune & JHM full exhaust with cats and resonators - gone.
C5 RS6 Avant Daytona/Cognac - gone.
981 Cayman GTS Gray/Orange.
My youtube
C5 RS6 Avant Daytona/Cognac - gone.
981 Cayman GTS Gray/Orange.
My youtube
Re: Puff of smoke on startup
Bumping this back up.
I reckon my startup puffs are oil burning. They are definitely blueish / white. Only last for about a second.
Same amount of smoke from both sides.
Not many places where oil could get in to the cylinders in such small quantities. I'm thinking valve stem seals.
Anyone have any ideas?
I reckon my startup puffs are oil burning. They are definitely blueish / white. Only last for about a second.
Same amount of smoke from both sides.
Not many places where oil could get in to the cylinders in such small quantities. I'm thinking valve stem seals.
Anyone have any ideas?
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
Re: Puff of smoke on startup
On cold engine starts, especially, the ECU will momentarily run a rich mixture to get ignition going, then thin it back to normal once the O2 sensor can get an accurate reading. The puff of 'smoke' probably has a sweet smell and would contain a small amount of poorly combusted fuel, some uncatalyzed exhaust, and likely a bit of condensation.
You see the same thing with worn or damaged valve guide seals. The way to tell the difference is to let the car sit overnight, then inspect the inside of the cylinders (through the spark plug hole) using a bore-scope. If there's oil, it's valve seals. If it's clean, it's turbo seals.
You see the same thing with worn or damaged valve guide seals. The way to tell the difference is to let the car sit overnight, then inspect the inside of the cylinders (through the spark plug hole) using a bore-scope. If there's oil, it's valve seals. If it's clean, it's turbo seals.
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Mugello Blue C5 RS6 Avant
Viper Tuning ECU/TCU
MTM Bimoto wheels 9,5 x 19 ET 30 LK 5x112 with 275/30/19 tyres
MTM exhaust system cat back 4-pipe with throttle valves in 2 pipes, control
Yellow Koni's
Porsche 959, gone but not forgotten.
Fight ALS disease https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGFDWTC8B8g
Re: Puff of smoke on startup
Thanks for that copy / paste from the saab forum. 
As I said above, the smoke is blueish, so it's not overrich mixture. Don't think it's the turbo seals because of the distance from the turbos to the inlet and the fact that the smoke is only for a very brief duration. I discounted oil accumulation in the intercoolers for the same reason, although I cuold be wrong about that; I might drain them to see. Because they are not made of swiss cheese like the OE ones then the oil has nowhere to escape to.
I don't think I'm going to worry about it until it gets worse. If it does. Was just wondering if other's did it and I find it odd that I have *never* heard of a problem with valve stem seals on the RS6.
As I said above, the smoke is blueish, so it's not overrich mixture. Don't think it's the turbo seals because of the distance from the turbos to the inlet and the fact that the smoke is only for a very brief duration. I discounted oil accumulation in the intercoolers for the same reason, although I cuold be wrong about that; I might drain them to see. Because they are not made of swiss cheese like the OE ones then the oil has nowhere to escape to.
I don't think I'm going to worry about it until it gets worse. If it does. Was just wondering if other's did it and I find it odd that I have *never* heard of a problem with valve stem seals on the RS6.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
Re: Puff of smoke on startup
yeah, you came across that post too. I thought it might have a explanation to your possible trouble...
If you can't go to the track, bring the track to you.
Mugello Blue C5 RS6 Avant
Viper Tuning ECU/TCU
MTM Bimoto wheels 9,5 x 19 ET 30 LK 5x112 with 275/30/19 tyres
MTM exhaust system cat back 4-pipe with throttle valves in 2 pipes, control
Yellow Koni's
Porsche 959, gone but not forgotten.
Fight ALS disease https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGFDWTC8B8g
Mugello Blue C5 RS6 Avant
Viper Tuning ECU/TCU
MTM Bimoto wheels 9,5 x 19 ET 30 LK 5x112 with 275/30/19 tyres
MTM exhaust system cat back 4-pipe with throttle valves in 2 pipes, control
Yellow Koni's
Porsche 959, gone but not forgotten.
Fight ALS disease https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGFDWTC8B8g
Re: Puff of smoke on startup
It's not a bad explanation. I just don't think that you would see such small quantities of oil using an endoscope. Not that I have one, and I certainly can't be bothered to go to the faff of pulling plugs out.
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
Re: Puff of smoke on startup
Im sure I get a tad of blue when I start it cold after being sat a few days. It is not nearly as much as the wifes old boxster used to chuck out. Ill go start it now and look again....
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Re: Puff of smoke on startup
None this time, I even started it twice to test moving it out. I will have to see when it does it again.
Daytona Grey (C5) RS6 saloon, but just a little better...
**** SOLD!!! ****
KW V3 suspension
390mm C6 Brakes
Hotchkis ARBs
Viper Tuning (537bhp 604lbft)
Unit 20 TCU remap
Milltek non-res exhaust and downpipes
100 cell sport cats
Aero wipers
Winter wheels
Wagner intercoolers
LED interior lights
Tesla Model S 85D
All the options with the exception of stupid air suspension
Tesla Model X 60D
Silly doors and all!
**** SOLD!!!
****KW V3 suspension
390mm C6 Brakes
Hotchkis ARBs
Viper Tuning (537bhp 604lbft)
Unit 20 TCU remap
Milltek non-res exhaust and downpipes
100 cell sport cats
Aero wipers
Winter wheels
Wagner intercoolers
LED interior lights
Tesla Model S 85D
All the options with the exception of stupid air suspension
Tesla Model X 60D
Silly doors and all!
Re: Puff of smoke on startup
Hi Shoppinit, I had a similar issue.. check this out http://forum.rs246.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=82851 and http://www.rs6.com/showthread.php/20472 ... highlight=Shoppinit wrote:Bumping this back up.
I reckon my startup puffs are oil burning. They are definitely blueish / white. Only last for about a second.
Same amount of smoke from both sides.
Not many places where oil could get in to the cylinders in such small quantities. I'm thinking valve stem seals.
Anyone have any ideas?
RS6 C6 - Stock atm but will be getting an MRC Stage 2 shortly
RS6 C5 - H&R'd and MRC'd Happy Days!..
RS6 C5 - H&R'd and MRC'd Happy Days!..
Re: Puff of smoke on startup
I remember those posts. How was the oil getting into the cylinders? Throught the sparkplugs? How come you had smoke coming from both sides though, but managed to fix it with one rocker cover gasket?
Daytona RS6 C5 Avant. Viper'd, Billies, Waggers, MTM box brain, C6 stoppers, xcarlink, R8 coolant cap (woohoo)
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
///M3 E46 | XC90 (V8, natch) | Passat GTE | RR Classic V8 flapper
"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at and repair."
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