Burning Oil
 

I have noticed some oil residue in my tail pipe. A good puff of oily smoke when I start up my 1999 Boxster.

Is that normal - Anyone want to guess what's wrong?

On my '01 (5600 miles) I get a blue puff on start every once in a while, but fairly infrequently. It seems quite random, actually - I haven't noticed any pattern like first thing in the morning, parked on a hill, warm start, etc.

Some smoke on start up seems normal - it is reportedly a result of the Boxster's engine design. So long as you only see it on starting then you're likely OK. Unless you're seeing a significant change in oil level, I'd not worry.

Porsche specifically mentions that some oil consumption is normal in the owner's manual (on page 134 in my 2001 version) - likely as a result of the same concern you're probably feeling. They mention several variables that can affect oil consumption, including quality of the oil, viscosity, climate, etc.

Smoke
 

Yeah, I have read posts about this elsewhere. Seems to be inherent to the flat-six design of the Boxster engine and should not be a cause for concern under normal circumstances. If you have lots of oil consumption that is out of the ordinary, then I would have it looked at without question.

Will Update You
 

Dropping it off at dealer tonight for a look. They say some blue smoke is common especially if driven infrequently, like mine.

My oil level has been dropping though, so there is some level of concern.

I'll update you all on the out come.

I agree infrequent use seems to have more smoke at startup. My car (2.7L, 2001) is basically my daily driver, however, it has sat for a week or so and the blue smoke is very noticeable.

Keep us posted as to what your dealer says.