Newbie question:

So just to clarify, I shouldn't worry about white smoke (about 15 seconds) upon cold startup?

Thanks!

 

I'm not an expert on this, but I know if you drive your car hard the oil expands. If you have driving to the grocery store at 30 miles an hour with no high RPM and you have a smoking problem get it checked. My experience is on a DE my car smokes like it fogging for insects. When in gets 3-4 bars below the high mark it stops. You can google this; it is a common problem on a 996.

 

It's true regards to oil being on the high mark causing smoke on startups following a hard drive the previous day. But persistent smoking could mean a bad Air/Oil separator...as in my case. It got worse with time, I'm scheduled to get the car in for a replacement next week.

As a guide, if the smoking startups don't go away after a few days,
or if the smoke at startup doesn't stop after a minute, and continues during driving, have it checked.

 

the liquid is probably just condensation, and as mentioned only be concerned if the smoke persists after about 15-30 sec of startup., the start up after a spirited drive will cause it for me or a quick left right/ right left during a DE will cause it immediatly and on the next start up...
and just to be sure we are talking about a cloud of white smoke!