# Excessive exhaust smoke when first starting out **URL:** \ **Category:** The Show\ **Tags:** saab, 9-5\ **Created:** [October 3, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-exhaust-smoke-when-first-starting-out/37470 "2009-10-03T00:57:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![fairbanks54](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6de8d8/32.png) [@fairbanks54](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fairbanks54)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-exhaust-smoke-when-first-starting-out/37470/1 "2009-10-03T00:57:25Z")
What’s causing my car to create excessive exhaust smoke when I start out? After awhile the smoking diminishes & then stops for a while. If i get held up in traffic it will start smoking again. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-exhaust-smoke-when-first-starting-out/37470/2 "2009-10-03T02:11:40Z")
It Very Well Could Be Worn Out Valve Stem Seals, A Major Player In Exhaust Smoke And Oil Consumption. Your car has the classic symptoms. Have the PCV system checked, too. Check both the PCV valve and the tubes/hoses. Also, sludge in the cylinder head could cause oil to pool if it can’t drain properly. Have it checked for sludge, too. CSA ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 2:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-exhaust-smoke-when-first-starting-out/37470/3 "2009-10-03T02:21:48Z")
What Model Year Is The Saab 9 - 5 And About How Many Miles? Has it had recommended oil change intervals and is it running on conventional or synthetic oil? Is it a Turbo? CSA ---
**Author:** ![fairbanks54](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6de8d8/32.png) [@fairbanks54](https://community.cartalk.com/u/fairbanks54)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2009, 11:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/excessive-exhaust-smoke-when-first-starting-out/37470/4 "2009-10-03T11:50:40Z")
The Saab is a 2002 9-5 Linear. It has had all recommended oil changes. I’m not sure if synthetic oil was used in each change. It is not a turbo. It has approx 92,000 miles.