I have a 93 model with a few minor bolt on mods.....K&N filters, blitz intercooler, blow off valve, HKS Muffler, and straight mid pipe. The car only has 29,000 original miles and when I bought it several months ago, we did a compression check and it was within the specs of when it is was new!

Now all of the sudden, when I start the car (mainly after it sits a bit), it will smoke and idle pretty rough for a minute or so until you blow it out and warm it up. The weather here has been in the 70's recently and now we are starting to dip into the 30's and 40's. I am just guessing, BUT could the drop in temps be causing this. At first I thought it might be smoking from too much fuel, but it seems to have the look of oil smoke. Can't be 100% sure though. I did an oil change 2000 miles ago and used synthetic 20/50. It doesn't need changing now, but with the drop in temps.....should I go back to what the factory reccomends?? And this temprature theory of mine is just a guess. Any expert advice would be nice! Thanks guys!

 

some white smoke at start-up for a few minutes is perfectly normal. If it continues after warmed up, or has problems hot starting, then check the color/smell of the smoke.

White/Bluish in color and sweet smell is a possible sign to coolant seals wearing out and letting coolant into combustion - other tests (pressure test) can be done for this.

Coolant seals can still wear out even on a low mileage fd, due to age.

Dark color could be oil from turbos or worse, oil from engine (ie. control rings) ... search on these issues related to smoking, lots of info there.

not sure about running synthetic oil... I have BNR turbos, so I can't run synthetic, I think its ok for stock turbos or single turbos...

and PLEASE post pics of this 29k orig fd. color ?

 

I will pay closer attention to the color and smell of the smoke. It has NEVER smoked before....it's not like it was minor and now it is major. The smoking just showed up all of the sudden, and it does clear up within a fairly short time. I thought maybe it is a rich condition due to colder weather, but like I said, that is just a guess.

 

Another South Carolinian! I'm all the way in crappy Sumter, Sc though. I envy you being in Myrtle Beach :P

On another note, my 41k original miles FD used to smoke a little bit on start up when its cold. White smoke [not THICK white smoke] is normal when its cold outside. It's condensation. It always freaks me out when I see it smoking white too. But then I stop and breathe out my mouth and see my breathe. Its the same concept. The smoke is completely gone after warm up too right? Just check your fluids regularly and ensure you don't see oil in your coolant or vice versa. Its best to check that when the car is dead cold [like not run in 12 hrs cold]. Just open up your AST cap and look at your, hopefully, nice and green coolant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M3nRMLVX_g

Thats a bad coolant seal :P If you're smoke doesn't look like that I wouldnt be too worried.

 

A catback plus straight midpipe on stock tune is asking for trouble. Plus when its colder boost spike and creep are more likely especially on stock twins with.no tune. Maybe try a compression test?

 

Been keeping an eye on the boost....I have a boost guage and it rarely reads over 10psi. I will try and post a video of a cold start- start up.

 

damn. nice fd. what size rims are those? I want to get a new oem bumper (not 99), R1 lip, mud guards too.. and paint looks great too. was it repainted?

just read up on these cars and drive it as much as you can

 

check it at midday on a warm day. if it still smokes and runs poorly for several minutes, sorry..

 

19's all the way around. If you go to the link on this forum and look under Pictures of wheels...I have all the specs on the size of the wheels and the tires as well as the offsets. The car is mostly original paint, I had the front bumper painted and the lower parts of the rockers, due to typical rock chips. Thanks!

 

Completely goes away once it warms up and really didn't start doing this until the outside temps dropped. I am getting ready to post a short video of what it is doing. Maybe that would be helpful. Thanks!

 

HOW CAN I POST A VIDEO ON HERE?? I have a short video of the car running....I would like to post it but when I try to manage attachments and upload it..........it keeps saying it failed.

 

Upload to youtube and just link it, it's easy.

 

As long as he stays at or below 10 psi he should be fine. A boost controller and porting of the wastegate should take care of any elevated boost issues, no matter how warm or cold it is.