I have a very peculiar smoking problem. It only happens after a cold start (car sitting at work or overnight at home) and after I drive a short distance (i.e. to the stop sign at the end of my road or stoplight at work), a .5 mile or so. Then a 5 second cloud of white smoke and then nothing else. I can drive for a mile or for 50 and no more smoke during that time. Does not happen on warm/hot starts either. We found the drain plug stripped and fixed that and PCV leaking oil and fixed that as well. Cleaned the underside of the car and belly pan and drove fine. I am going to check intercooler piping as I think the K03s has finally bit the dust. Any input?

~anyone? [:'(]

 

my brothers wrx did this when we put in the new turbo... so i would guess its turbo related

 

Smoke at idle is usually the start of the turbo seals going bad. Its still fine to run but keep a look out for a replacement. When its more than just smoke in the cold, then its time to change.

 

On topic - This happened to me once the other day. I'm paranoid now and keep looking out for it, but never came back. What could cause this to happen just once? Could it be turbo seals if its not consistent? I did beat on the car a little before I went in the office, and then it happened when I started it during lunch. I have beat on the car much worse other times without it happening.