dastrauckas

I am a newbie to the Porsche world, entering when I bought my wife a 2001 Boxster S as a summer car. 90k miles. We periodically were having the massive white smoke clouds this Spring. In pouring through various forums, it all pointed to the AOS. And so, I went that route. 12 hrs later after practicing being a contortionist (for a job that really is conceptually very simple, and only involves 3 hoses and a few mounting bolts!), the new AOS was installed. But . . . periodically, the huge, impressive (to me, not so much to the poor folk behind the car) white smoke cloud still happens. I'm wondering if I could have screwed up the AOS installation? But go back and look at it, all looks good, it's solid in the attachments, and hose connections. As my wife continues to drive it, we burn through a little oil, and my son periodically checks it and tops it off . . . . and this problem gets a little worse. Finally, out of frustration, I contact a private Porsche mechanic in Lexintgton, MA who is very well recommended, but who we have not seen yet. Nonetheless, in listening to the problem, he makes two simple suggestions. 1. How high is your oil level? Boxster is very sensitive to both high and low oil levels he says. Keep it at 7/8 he says, and above 1/2, at all times. (A little vague as to whether that's by the electronic gauge or dipstick) 2. Do you KNOW what viscosity/weight oil you are using? The Boxster is also hypersensitive to using the right oil weights. So, after this call, I go out and check the oil, and my well-meaning son has the oil level topped off to at-full, or slightly over-full on both oil level readings. And, since this was a new (to us) car, bought from a dealer, I cannot be 100% certain what weight/viscosity the oil level is. So, I decide to simply go to the basics here, Changed the oil myself, using an oil as-recommended by the the Owner's manual, but I pick the heaviest weight oil of the range of oil recommendations made in the manual (since the car is only used for warm weather summer driving). And, I make sure that I very carefully do NOT fill to past 7/8th on either the dipstick or the electronic gauge after running the engine and filling the new filter. OK, let's see what happens. What happened was . .. problem solved. A simple management of engine oil (type and level) accomplished a complete end to the huge white smoke problem. We get less smoking (almost nil) while idling in the garage, and not a single huge-puff incident since. To be data based about it, in the 4 month period March thru June, we were experiencing about 2 huge white puffs per month. In July and August, post oil change, and with ultra careful oil level management, we are getting zero incidents of huge white smoke puff per month. I sense I probably did not need to have replaced that AOS. D

Thanks very much. That code worked perfectly, the first try. Really appreciate your help. I am inspired to get off my butt and list some basics that led to success in eliminating the traditional Boxster enormous white smoke cloud effects, which i had not seen listed yet. (right viscosity oil, and keeping the maximum oil level circa 7/8 full)

Hello, I don't have the original manual and radio code for my wife's boxster and we just replaced the battery today. Becker CR 220 type: 4362 serial: Y5030001 Thanks for your help! Dave