Puff of blue smoke every time I start the car

B6/7 S4/RS4
#1

I think I already know it’s valve seals, but I just wanted to see if anyone had any other ideas. It happens on every cold start - sometimes more smoke than this instance.

This has me confused:
-Start the car for the first time in the morning: puff of smoke.
-Shut the car off after 10 seconds and then start it again: another puff of smoke.

So generally a puff of smoke on startups is just oil leaking through the valve seals when the car is sitting, but what would cause it to do it even after it being off for only 5 seconds? I cleaned my PCV earlier this year so I would not think that is it. The car is not drinking oil at any fast rate.

Oil is Motul 8100

Vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZxT4kPn_kY

#2

weird one. PCV/Valve Seals…likely culprits. I think you already changed PCV so valve seals sounds right.

What if you drive the car pretty hard for 15 minutes and then turn it off for 30 seconds, then turn it on…?

#3

No smoke then. It will only smoke is the motor is physically cold. It didn’t do this all summer so it started when it got cold. I’m thinking the rubber for the seals contracts when it’s <40 degrees outside causing it to leak.

Here’s the weird part. I started it this morning and no smoke. Its35 here now.

#4

Cars and their idiosyncrasies.

I would say it is the Valve seals.

My spare car which is not an S4 and is quite old will puff smoke when the engine is cold. Not an issue if it is warm. And have narrowed that down to the valves

#5

This isn’t just your car. This happens to lots of cars… the cold temps make cold starts run less efficent. A byproduct of that is going to be a little smoke on start up. facter in the richer fuel added on start up and its abiout par for the corce… I would make sure you habe tjhin enough oil to help on starat up. Still not something to be too worried about as part of might be from the seals not being expanded all the way in the cold