DrewGS4

Today I started the car for the first time after my crazy race with the M5 about 4 days ago. If you want the details on this click here. It has been raining and cold the last few days was the main reason I haven't taken it to work. For some odd reason the car did not want to start. The battery was fine and the car was trying to turnover but the engine just didn't want to kick in. I never had this kind of problem before. Finally, I gave it some gas about "3 seconds" and a huge bloom of white smoke came out of the dual exhausts and the car started and than shut down again. I wasn't sure what was going on. So I turned the ignition, gave it gas again and when the engine turned over ...I kept the gas going holding my RPM's to about 4k. I held it there for about 10 seconds and than let of the accelerator and the engine remained on.
I change my fluids in the car religiously so I can rule out service as a non issue. Battery and starter seemed fine. Maybe a bad alternator? My hunch is that it was condensation from the weather that formed on the inside of the gas tank. I had just under a 1/4 tank of gas left. The H20 condensation within the tank could of mixed with the remaining gas. I would rule out bad gas because during my race and the drive prior the car was fine.
Any other thoughts. BTW, the car drives fine now and I have since filled up.

TLW

Drew

i know this just happened to someone else recently

i thought i read it in the Engine forum

im still looking

-johnny

DetMich1

Battery and starter sound fine but maybe with high moisture and prolonged disuse, some condesation issues resulted in poor spark----> hard start. White smoke from tailpipe suggests water in combustion chamber, so that's another consideration.

e-man

The same exact thing happened to me the week before last after having let my car sit for 5 days over Thansgiving. It's been fine ever since, so I'm not overly concerned. You're explanation sounds reasonable, especially with the low gas tank.

BigMoNYC

I dont think it has much to do with the race you had. Definetly get it checked out so that you can avoid it happening again.

Canyonero

wow that would have freaked me out if it happened to me. My car wouldn't start a few weeks ago. It had absolutely no power. It turned out to be a loose battery terminal connection. I almost shat my pants thinking it was somthing major.

DrewGS4

I am happy to report there are no issues with the car today. I filled the tank yesterday and the car is starting fine this morning.

I guess we can conclude that if you are not starting the car for a long time make sure you have a full tank of gas as not to develop any moisture or condensation.
If you are not planing on driving or starting it for a long time that there are fuel stablizers that you can add as well that will prevent the gas from breaking down.