After the first few days of driving the car and with less than 200 miles on it, I drove into my driveway and went into the house. After about 5 minutes, I got back in the car and started it to drive away. I was immediately engulfed by a huge cloud of blue smoke that I presumed came billowing from the exhaust. I immediately realized that this was MUCH more smoke (it was as if I had just started a finicky cold diesel engine) than ANY car should ever give off. It was more smoke than any other car I have ever seen give off unless it was on fire. I immediately got out of the car (still leaving it running as I didn't think to push the button to stop it) fearing it might be on fire. When I looked toward the back of the car, I could hardly see it through the smoke. Looking at it from 10 feet away, it appeared that the smoke was coming from under the car. I never saw a flame. It looked like when you put a large pile of dry leaves on a fire. It starts to smoke A LOT, then the flames erupt and the smoke disappears.
Within about 30 seconds, the smoking subsided and stopped. The car never made an unusual noise. I didn't have any dealer applied undercoating applied as I though that might have caught fire. Then I considered that the turbo might still have had hot oil that got shot into the engine or exhaust system. This did happen after having driven the car for 30 minutes, shutting it off and restarting it 5 minutes later. (I have keyless start so no manual gas was applied.) I have no idea what caused the event. I'll bring it up to the dealer when I see him next (although they don't want to see us for 6,000 miles).
So here's a heads up for any of you new Ascent owners. Normally, there is NO sign of exhaust upon startup. If it looks like a large pile of leaves just got lit under your car when you start it, you will have just joined the club. I would recommend to get away from the car.
Within about 30 seconds, the smoking subsided and stopped. The car never made an unusual noise. I didn't have any dealer applied undercoating applied as I though that might have caught fire. Then I considered that the turbo might still have had hot oil that got shot into the engine or exhaust system. This did happen after having driven the car for 30 minutes, shutting it off and restarting it 5 minutes later. (I have keyless start so no manual gas was applied.) I have no idea what caused the event. I'll bring it up to the dealer when I see him next (although they don't want to see us for 6,000 miles).
So here's a heads up for any of you new Ascent owners. Normally, there is NO sign of exhaust upon startup. If it looks like a large pile of leaves just got lit under your car when you start it, you will have just joined the club. I would recommend to get away from the car.