My beloved Turbo S has unfortunately started to smoke quite frequently.

Only upon start ups, sometimes there is a puff which doesn't phase me. The other times it smokes for several miles (super thick white smoke) before it goes away and only out of the right exhaust tip.

The mechanic says it's not serious, but I would need to take out the engine and replace the seals and rings. He says I should look at putting in new pistons while I am at it.

Your opinions? Should I not replace them with stronger aftermarket pistons (CP etc?) instead of using OEM again?

 

Aftermarket, get bigger turbos and a tune with exhaust whilst your at it.

 

I dont see the need to change out the pistons if your just going to keep it in standard tune.
Why do you need to change the pistons at all? Doesnt have huge mileage I would imagine.

 

From the symptoms you're describing, an engine rebuild is completely unnecessary.

If the smoke is pouring out of your right exhaust tip, it means your left (or passenger side on your car) turbocharger either has blown the seal or the scavenge tank is filled to the brim. The scavenge tank can be easily drained by any mechanic. It's a hex head screw located on a cube-shaped tank attached to the turbocharger, easily accessible from underneath the car. Try draining it and then driving it around. If it starts smoking soon afterward, you will likely need a new or rebuilt turbocharger. If the smoke goes away for a while, you can get away with it for a while. YMMV, pun intended.

I would also recommend adding the UMW oil-line kit to update the car to the newer 996TT oil lines with integrated restrictors that help keep oil from backflowing into the turbocharger. You can order directly from UMW, last I remember it was around $500. E-mail Kevin@ultimatemotorwerks.com

This is funny, because I went through this exact scenario on a car identical to yours right down to the color. It was part of a collection and rarely driven, so the owner didn't have us change the turbocharger, but we performed a major service, drained the scavenge tanks and added the oil line kit and it cut down greatly on the smoking.

If you do decide to replace the turbo get a factory part. A RHD 993 Turbo S is rare as it is, you don't want to mess with the originality of the car.

And finally, I have no affiliation with Kevin or UMW, other than buying this particular kit from him and it working on the car we performed the work on.

My $.02

 

There is alot of good info here,
Have your 993TT turbochargers failed? - Rennlist Discussion Forums
best of luck,

 

it's an aircooled S, no way in hell you should "upgrade". have it fixed and put back to stock, the S is super rare

 

Dont do any mods, listen to Zamirz this happened to a friend of mines car its a common issue and thus the reason to change and upgrade the oil lines.

 

Agree with above. Don't mod it. I added suspension and a shortshifter to my TTS but both those things are easily turned back to stock. Keep OEM turbo and I second recommendation for Kevin at UMW too.

 

Thanks Zamirz! I will raise what you have spoken about with the Porsche mechanic. The smoke only happens sometimes on start up. I don't have any oil leaks that are apparent as the floor is bone dry. I checked.

Sometimes it's a puff of white smoke. The other times it smokes until you drive the car for a few miles and then it's gone.

I won't touch this thing, it will lose it's collector's value. It only has 22,000 miles.

Will do!

Thanks fat cab, very informative! Not all my symptons are the same though.

Not going to touch the tune, just thought I might as well make it stronger if I was going to go through the process.

Not with this one Mo If it were a regular TT then possibly.

 

Mine did this when it sat on the lift for 2.5 months. But has not smoked since at start up. I usually try to put a few miles on her every other week.