Well, it has been really cold here for the past couple of weeks. One morning I started the car when the hood was open (I was taking out the block heater cord) and I noticed that it smoked from front of the engine from the exhaust manifold area for about 30 seconds. I watched the engine on super cold starts with the hood open for a few days and it does the same thing everytime, and stops in 20-30 seconds.

I had the low coolant light once this winter, so I removed the overflow, cleaned it out, reinstalled and filled. Since the radiator was low it took in some coolant from the overflow and the level seems to be consistant for a few weeks now.

Otherwise the car runs fine, I have no error codes, and performance is great.

The only other time I'ved noticed smoke from the front exahust manifold area is after taking the car for a very spirited drive and popping the hood right after. I figured that was just from a bad valve cover gasket and a bit of oil was leaking onto the hot manifold.

You have checked the level in the radiator when cold, right? If the radiator is low, you have a coolant leak. What does the smoke smell like? If it is coolant, sometimes really cold weather can cause coolant to seep a little bit at hose connections. I think we have seen LIM gaskets fail where coolant seeps to the outside of the engine. If the coolant seep can make it to the exhaust manifold, that would explain the wisp of smoke. If it smells like oil, I would agree with your valve cover gasket guess.

The first time I got the low coolant light I checked the radiator when cold. It was low. I havn't seen any external leakage on the ground either. I took a whiff of the smoke once, but couldn't really indentify it. What does burning coolant smell like?

The strange thing is, I can understand the coolant leaking onto the hot manifold and burning off...but the smoke starts right as the engine starts, and the manifold is still cold. I will try and get a video of this.

Well, low coolant with no evidence of external leaks points you one way >>>> LIM gaskets.
Coolant on a hot manifold smells like coolant, only stronger. Smoke from a cold engine, gonna have to think about that one. I suppose you could have a cracked or leaking exhaust manifold and you are seeing water vapor until the engine warms up a bit.

If you dont know what burning coolant smells like, take a few drops on your fingertips, and drop it onto your hot exhaust manifold. That'* what it smells like, pretty much a sweet smell mixed with standard exhaust smell.

This is what I'm seeing.

http://s150.photobucket.com/albums/*...t=MVI_0409.flv

Thats a -25C cold startup with no block heater.

Flash 8 outside capability of my coal-powered computing machine. No video for me today :(

Looks similar to the problem I am having, except without all the smoke.

I have both a leaking UIM and a bad valve cover gasket. It appears that might be where your smoke is coming from but I can't tell from the video.

If you look at the bolts right where the UIM sits, do you see any fluid wicking up?

...where the supercharger sits...

Oh right. Sorry forgot his was SC.