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FerrariChat.com » Technical Q&A Archives » Archive through July 15, 2003 » White smoke when changing gears during hard accelerations - normal??? « Previous Next »

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Tony Fuisz (Fuiszt)
Junior Member
Username: Fuiszt

Post Number: 105
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 1:51 pm:   

I always thought white smoke was more of a head gasket problem-any oil in the coolant or vice versa? Valve seal leaks are sometimes the culprit for the starting blue puff, blue under load-piston rings.
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member
Username: Verell

Post Number: 923
Registered: 5-2001
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 10:23 pm:   

Ernie,
The oil JRV's speaking of is oil in the horizontal cylinders from the piston pins & crank. It's seeping up past the rings.

On a more vertical engine (V-n, In-line n, slant n) this oil just drains down into the crankcase.
Ernie (Ernie)
Member
Username: Ernie

Post Number: 738
Registered: 11-2001
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 12:37 pm:   

Would changing the stock valve springs to stiffer ones work? I'm not sure but, couldn't that be a cause of the problem? Wouldn't not enough pressure on the valves, to create a propper seal, allow the oil to get into the cylinder? My neighbor had this problem on start up in the morning, though not on a Ferrari, and new valve springs fixxed it.

Just a thought.
Peter (Bubba)
Member
Username: Bubba

Post Number: 492
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 10:04 am:   

Thanks JRV. I doubt the oil is overfilled, as the oil stick doesn't show max after the engine is fully warmed up. I will try a different oil during my next oil change.
JRV (Jrvall)
Intermediate Member
Username: Jrvall

Post Number: 1877
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 12:12 am:   

>>I have seen white smoke on start up.......thought it was from condensation. Are you suggesting that it is from oil? <<

IMO the smoke looks more white than blue, but whatever the case, yes it's oil from the cylinders and perhaps guides on Flat Motor start-up.

Older Flat Porsches do it also.

Pistons require liberal amounts of oil to lubricate, on Flat Engines the excess runs to the bottoms of the cylinders after shut down, and seeps into (or is sucked into, likely both) the combustion chambers and is burned on start-ups.
Henryk (Henryk)
Member
Username: Henryk

Post Number: 883
Registered: 8-2001
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 11:43 pm:   

JRV: I am familiar with blue smoke, for burning oil; black smoke from a rich mixture; but what specifically makes the white smoke?

I have seen white smoke on start up.......thought it was from condensation. Are you suggesting that it is from oil?

Thanks.
JRV (Jrvall)
Intermediate Member
Username: Jrvall

Post Number: 1874
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 11:17 pm:   

You sure it's not overfilled with oil?

The Flat Motors puff on start-up.

If it's not overfilled, you might try a different brand/type of oil.

Other than that not much else on the outside can cause smoke from the tail pipes.
Peter (Bubba)
Member
Username: Bubba

Post Number: 491
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 11:09 pm:   

It has about 17K miles. I do get some white smoke on startup, but it goes away pretty quickly. As far as I can tell, the smoke only appears during the initial acceleration after a gear change and disappears as the car picks up speed.
JRV (Jrvall)
Intermediate Member
Username: Jrvall

Post Number: 1872
Registered: 11-2002
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 11:05 pm:   

I've never seen smoke coming out of any of the 512TR's I service.

Ferraris stopped smoking in the late 60's for the most part (Boxers smoke on start-up)

How many miles on the engine?

Peter (Bubba)
Member
Username: Bubba

Post Number: 490
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2003 - 10:11 pm:   

I was out with a few friends this morning and we had some spirited runs. One of my friends following me told me that there was a puff of white smoke coming out of my 512TR's exhaust as it accelerates away. This puff of smoke seems to happen most when I change gears during hard accelerations.

I have seen some Japanese videos showcasing TR exhausts and they also show this puff of white smoke during gear change as the car pulls away. Should I be worried? Is this normal? Thanks!

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