I have a 1999 Audi A4 1.8 Turbo Quattro with a 160,000 miles on it. I just recently had a timing belt change along with the thermostat. Today I noticed (after my car sat for a couple days) a puff of smoke coming from the exhaust just after I took off from a stop sign. It did this twice on my way to work today. I say twice because it occurred at stop signs that were at the bottom of hills. It seemed to of clear up but I was wondering what causes this. It is white smoke and only appears for a second or two. Any thought?

Thanks,
Hobo

 

Pop the air in/out pipes on your turbo and look for oil.

 

What if I find oil?

 

its normal to have some oil residue in there from the EGR pipe.

how much smoke was this? was it a little whisp like a few drops of oil being burned or was it 'black out the sun' kind of smoke cloud? you said it was noticeable as you drove away.

white smoke = coolant
bluish smoke = oil

 

It was a rather small puff....maybe a couple drops of oil. It certainly wasn't a big puff billowing out. It smells like oil, but a bluish or white look, I will have to double check that on the way home.