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Smoke at idle?

12597 Views 41 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  5port
So yesterday I stopped by a local store and left my car running while I ran in to get a couple things. Was inside for max of 5 minutes and when I came out there was quite a bit of white smoke coming out the exhaust. I have only noticed this at first start up a few times, mainly when it is cold outside. But this was enough to when I backed up it covered the car. Haven't noticed anything since then. Has this happened to anyone else? Should I be concerned? I let it idle for a while later in the evening and didn't see anything. Oh and before this I had been driving like a grandma (my mom was in the car) So it wasn't "hot" from running around.....
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I have the same white smoke sometimes. Not sure what it is either. It does have an oil smell to it, but not blue like a smoking turbo.
bad turbo seals welcome to the club
Our CX-7 just had it's turbo replaced for blown seals. We pick it up today. Poured smoke out the tailpipes. Was not blue, was a grayish white color (NOT blue at all, weird), smelled like complete shit, almost like something melting in the dishwasher. The cat was burning most of the oil is what we are thinking. Damn thing looked like Uncle Buck's POS car (obscure movie reference).

To duplicate it, let it sit for a while, 45 minutes or so. Then let it idle. Duplicated it 2 times on Sunday. When it starts to smoke, it will smoke a lot. Drove it 5 miles and back, stopped, and idled, was fine. It needed to be started and idling from cold.

They also replaced an o2 sensor.
I get a good bit of greyish/white smoke at idle and for a few minutes, especially when it's cold. After I drive a bit it goes away. Not sure what it is.
It will happen after time, not at immediate fire up. Let it idle and see.
[quote author=Nymisus link=topic=135289.msg2911674#msg2911674 date=1233765199]
So yesterday I stopped by a local store and left my car running while I ran in to get a couple things. Was inside for max of 5 minutes and when I came out there was quite a bit of white smoke coming out the exhaust. I have only noticed this at first start up a few times, mainly when it is cold outside. But this was enough to when I backed up it covered the car. Haven't noticed anything since then. Has this happened to anyone else? Should I be concerned? I let it idle for a while later in the evening and didn't see anything. Oh and before this I had been driving like a grandma (my mom was in the car) So it wasn't "hot" from running around.....
[/quote]

any car will give white smoke out the exhaust when idling/driving in cold weather.
[quote author=the_caruch link=topic=135289.msg2912331#msg2912331 date=1233779143]
any car will give white smoke out the exhaust when idling/driving in cold weather.
[/quote]
In cold weather you need to be sure its smoke and not condensation in the air... if it doesn't smell bad and floats up and disappears quickly its just condensation, if its stinks like burning oil and seems to linger in the air then its likely a blown turbo seal.
[quote author=PostmanPat link=topic=135289.msg2912359#msg2912359 date=1233779482]
[quote author=the_caruch link=topic=135289.msg2912331#msg2912331 date=1233779143]
any car will give white smoke out the exhaust when idling/driving in cold weather.
[/quote]
In cold weather you need to be sure its smoke and not condensation in the air... if it doesn't smell bad and floats up and disappears quickly its just condensation, if its stinks like burning oil and seems to linger in the air then its likely a blown turbo seal.

[/quote]

true :p
Its a turbo car, thats what it does. If your remove the cat it will eventually smoke, the fact that it's smoking at an idle it's probably your turbo seals.
it was 65+degrees yesterday when this happened....it didn't really smell like oil but couldn't really describe the smell to be honest....I guess it sounds like it is somewhat normal, if it gets worse or happens more I will have to take it to the stealer.
This is NOT condensation. Ladies and Gentlement, Puff the CX-7...

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[quote author=raiderms3 link=topic=135289.msg2913965#msg2913965 date=1233834903]
This is NOT condensation. Ladies and Gentlement, Puff the CX-7...


[/quote]

Thats exactly what mine looks like.
yup mine as well, except i don't have to give it any gas for it to spit out the smoke
Exactly what mine looked like. Only on cold startups. NOT condensation. Turbo inlet resolved it.
[quote author=evo2ms3 link=topic=135289.msg2914518#msg2914518 date=1233855600]
Exactly what mine looked like. Only on cold startups. NOT condensation. Turbo inlet resolved it.
[/quote]

Turbo inlet no fixy for me.

Getting the PG reworked turbo
[quote author=Nymisus link=topic=135289.msg2914487#msg2914487 date=1233854840]
yup mine as well, except i don't have to give it any gas for it to spit out the smoke
[/quote]

Oh, it still spit it out when idling, I just wanted to see it shoot smoke out like Uncle buck's car.
At 25,000 miles my dead stock 2007 MS3 would smoke like a freight train if I let it idle for more than 3-5 minutes. The dealer replaced the turbo, which cured the smoking.
For at least another 25,000 miles... :squint:
turbo inlet didn't fix mine either, actually I didn't notice it before. Next maintenance I will say something to them....
The best advice I can give is to go 100% stock before going in. The dealer may be cool, but uf a regional manager comes in, they might void you for being modded. Not from my experience, just I have seen it on many forums.
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