Exhaust smoke on cold start. Oil seal failure?
 

I have an '05 with ~149k miles, original engine. A couple weeks ago I noticed that it was blowing white smoke out the back whenever I do a cold start. The engine runs perfectly otherwise: starts easily, pulls hard, idles fine. Also fluid levels seem normal.

The smoke goes away after about 30 seconds, but I'm wondering if it's something I should get checked out or just ignore it until my engine kicks the bucket.

My first guess is oil seal failure, but I thought I'd see what the forum experts have to say ;)

Thanks!

If oil seal fails, that means you need new motor...
The white smoke is just condensation in the exhaust system being vaporized due to heat.
Unless u smell coolant, that's another story.

Yeah, I'm aware of what a bad oil seal means, and I'm hoping it doesn't come to that. It sure doesn't look like any condensation I've seen before, though, and anyway I can't imagine that it would just start gathering moisture after driving nearly 150k miles. Maybe a weak exhaust gasket?

It doesn't smell like anything though, so I guess I'll just keep an eye on it and hope it doesn't get worse.

Likely a water jacket seal if it's white smoke......same as an oil seal leak.....will need a rebuild at some point....

Was it ever overheated?

U get condensation whenever there's hot air and cold air....
Ever seen condensation on a glass of cold drink....?

On a cool day that doesn't sound unusual. Maybe make us a video? Oil is usually bluish smoke, white is water either from condensation or a blown seal. Mark the cold coolant level and see if it's going down at all. If it's not then.. it's not coolant ;)

usually when an oil seal fails, you'll know it, you won't be able to see; anything. the fire dept might show up wondering whose house was on fire, etc

so is it using more oil than usual? coolant? if not, keep driving.

smoke on cold start up now using oil
 

Hi im new to this fourm i recently bought a 2005 Winning Blue RX8 and the other day i started it up and noticed it smoked for 10 sec then noticed it is starting to use oil it only has 50,000 miles on it i was given all the service history with it and all recipts all the way down to a light bulb so i know the millage is correct. just wondering if anyone has had this problem before with so little millage and was also told it might have a recall the car is my holiday car for when im in UK any hepl would be great thanks

All RX-8s use oil. Do some research before posting, also learn how to use the site's search function. Or you WILL get flamed.

Read the new and potential owners thread.

Understand that it is completely normal for it to use oil, rotaries are built for this. The smoke you observe is likely just condensation, what colour is it?

i know that they burn oil but 1 liter of oil to drive 200 miles on a car that only has 50,000 miles seems a little excesive to me the smoke is blue

blue smoke ? 90% chance the oil seal (the rubber inside the oil control ring) has failed, the stock rubber ring does not last as good as people think, only good thing about it is that it is a direct plug ... err I mean insert and fit part

but sometimes, even when u have a massive leak u still not gonna see "blue smoke", it will emit white looking smoke that smells really bad,

if it's burning coolant the smell actually smells much better (still bad for ur health and everyone else's)

piston engine burns oil as well. what is ur point ?

Well I have the same problem, last week I replaced the coolant tank and radiator, and it was overheated< any idea, please help I dont trust in my mechanic lol, thank you

I bought a '04 with 136k miles and it ran fine. Then one day I started it up and I damn near filled the neighborhood up with smoke. And now it doesn't run. Old thread, but anyone know how much I should sell it for?:dubs: