I woke my car up and it got spat grey smoke at me!

[SockToy]

So, went for a little drive yesterday after washing the car. Maybe 20 miles of slow speed driving getting out of london, 50 miles to Brighton on motorways and a roads, and the same in return 6 hours later. All fine and no obvious problems.

2009 997.2 C4S. Shell Nitro (98RON). 14140 miles.

Today I was to ferry my dad to his brothers birthday party and turned the ignition over - instant plume of light grey smoke behind the car with a smell of burning. Turned the engine off immediately and havent moved it since.

I didnt spot anything notable on the return... and there is a reasonable amount on the 'net about flat 6's occasionally burning off engine oil - but it isnt a particularly cold day here in london, though the engine had sat from midnight to midday, and it's never done it before.

Time to panic, or normal behaviour?

Cheers,

Matt - Slightly nervous noob

[Sean Smallman]

They do this occasionally.

Keep an eye on it and get it checked out if it happens all the time.

[RichardKS]

My old Boxster did it a few times - decent cloud of smoke for a few seconds on start up. Never worried about it.

[sam]

Don't know much about water cooled Pork but could this be something to do with the cats having a clear out? I know on other cars that there is a cycle which from time to time cleans them out which produces these symptoms.