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Old 07-16-2003, 02:05 AM   #2
edh
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 39955
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Reno, NV
Vehicle:
2003 WRX

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Smoking at start is not uncommon with engines with horizontal cylinders when parked with one side lower than the other. The oil that was coating the cylinders pools against the rings on the low side. More or less oil will seep past the rings into the combustion chamber depending on how the ring gaps line up and if the valves are closed or not. If one or more of the ring gaps ends up at the bottom more oil will get past the rings. If the valves are closed, a slight vacuum is created in the combustion chamber as the engine cools, pulling oil past the rings.

It's nothing to worry about. Ask any BMW motorcycle rider. The early K series bike (3 or 4 cylinder inline laid on it's side) would fog mosquitos for blocks if you left them parked on the side stand.

Ed
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