rjej84

I bought my car 2-3 weeks ago. I have about 500 miles on it now. I've been pretty good about the break in so far. There are a couple questions I have. It hasn't moved in about 4 days. I've started it up a couple times just to hear the exhaust while its parked in the garage. Tonight I started it up and a good bit of white smoke poured out the mufflers. Normal?? Also on startup a pretty loud whistling comes from under the hood. Doesn't last all that long. Normal?

Want to make sure my girl is ok!! Lol

I am Jeff

During a cold start, your engine runs richer to warm up the cats faster. Because you're just starting your car to hear the cold start, you have an excessive amount of unburnt fuel in the cats, hence the white smoke. It's normal if you keep starting your car just to hear the cold starts.

rjej84

Thanks for commenting. I'm having withdrawls. I wanna drive my car but don't want to get it wet. Kinda stupid but I have other vehicles and would rather let them get filthy then the new amg.

odonnks

Starting and not allowing a engine to reach temperature is not a good practice. Once in a blue moon should not be a issue though.

I've been told and see it in practice (see below) that if the engine fails to reach operating temp moisture in the form of condensation begins to collect and will effect the oil.
Letting it reach operating temp will get the engine and oil hot enough to cook moisture out.

I work with VERY large stationary engines, 2,500 to 7,000 horsepower. For the reason mentioned above we never start them unless there are plans to go to full temp.
We sample the sample the oil for analysis and will see moisture from condensation if it begins to occur.

johnny--2k

I would suggest not starting it just to hear it run then shutting down right away. You're not giving the oil ample time to circulate, as mentioned, excessive fuel pooling in the cats and probably allowing moisture to build up in places it shouldn't.

I'm sure things have come a long way, but I remember on the BMW VANOS motors a few years back, with short trips where the motors/oil would not warm up fully, then the car would be shut down, it caused moisture buildup in the crankcase to mix with oil, and they started to get this odd foamy/milky mixture that would buildup on the inside of the oil caps and freak people out.

Either leave it alone, or start it and drive it or let it run for a while. The quick start up and shut down I would imagine can't be good, but I could be wrong!

rjej84

Makes sense. I'll try to refrain. I expect this initial obsession to fade eventually. Next time I'll let it run for 10-15 minutes if I'm not actually driving anywhere

Ingenieur

That may be worse

Wait for a nice day and take it for a spin

odonnks

The obsession won't fade, at least mine hasen't. Just let it warm up. If its in a garage pull it out.... I mean the car....

rjej84

haha.

rjej84

The DC weather has been horrible for the last couple of days

QWKSNKE

Wouldn't 'white smoke' be a water based burn off?

papashango

It's a car it's meant to be driven. I have several alternatives that I can use but I still choose to take the AMG out on the snowy winter days.