Blowing the Dipstick Out and Smoking on DECEL

[tsi1991awd]

OK, my car has been sitting for about the past 4 months while I have been working on it. I replaced the turbo and exhaust manifold, converted to external gate, upgraded injectors and some other stuff that really isn't relevant to this problem.

Today was the first time I got her running and went for a drive. Everything was fine until I got into boost in 3rd gear. She started to smoke some and when I let off, there was a ton of smoke bellowing from the exhaust. It was burning oil.

I thought maybe it was just burning off cleaner I had sprayed before but nope, it still did it...most gears under boost will not smoke except 3rd and I believe 4th. Never really got past 3rd. Decel is when the heavy smoke comes on and when it is at idle, it will go away. When I am driving normal it goes away. After boosting and at decel immediately after, it smokes and smokes and smokes.

The dipstick blew out as well. Spit oil everywhere. BUT the rubber on it is extremely old and it slides in and out with ease, so I crimped the upper portion of the tube just a bit so it wouldn't pop out like that again.

I am sure there is excessive crankcase pressure causing this problem...going to buy a new PCV tomorrow and see if that fixes the problem. Would a bad PCV cause it to smoke like that, or is there a deeper problem? When I parked the car, before working on it, it did not have any smoking issues or dipstick blowing out. I didn't do any type of head work to the car or anything so I don't know....

 

[beihl304]

Piston rings. Do a leak down test to check them

 

[Swish]

Im no DSM expert, but i had this same problem. once i replaced well i cleaned out my PCV, just sprayed carb cleaner in it , shook it up and it and let it drain, then it worked just fine. (was a quick fix)
No more dip stick launching.

Be sure to get an OEM PCV if you are going to replace it; Read that on here somewhere too. but it was a while ago i could be wrong

 

[tsi1991awd]

Piston rings.....they were just fine when I parked the car 4 months ago. Then all of a sudden I put everything back together and it smokes like this. Why would it do it all of a sudden like that??

 

[19Eclipse90]

Or a faulty PCV valve/system.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/frequently-answered-dsm-questions/273784-why-my-dipstick-popping-out.html
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/366890-4g63t-pcv-system.html

Edit: Wow, slow... Swish beat me to it

 

[tsi1991awd]

Or a faulty PCV valve/system.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/frequently-answered-dsm-questions/273784-why-my-dipstick-popping-out.html
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/366890-4g63t-pcv-system.html

Edit: Wow, slow... Swish beat me to it

I was thinking it could the the PCV but I was kind of asking if it would cause it to smoke if it were faulty?

 

[19Eclipse90]

As stated in the link previously provided:

Excessive crankcase pressure can also wreak havoc on seals, cause accelerated bearing wear, and in some cases hinder the proper draining of oil from the turbo back into the oil pan.

Seals like valve stem seals or turbo seals. On top of those, rings, and PCV system, a headgasket is also a possibility, but unlikely with what you have described.

 

[tsi1991awd]

As stated in the link previously provided:


Seals like valve stem seals or turbo seals. A headgasket is also a possibility, but unlikely with what you have described.

I'm going to change out the PCV tomorrow. Crossing my fingers that this is the only thing wrong. This motor was just rebuilt about 8,000 miles ago.

 

[beihl304]

It could be from PCV valve. Who knows these cars do crazy things. Since a new PCV is cheap, I'd try that first but if that's not the problem then I'd look into piston rings as they can cause smoke on decel and excessive crankcase pressure

 

[tsi1991awd]

It could be from PCV valve. Who knows these cars do crazy things. Since a new PCV is cheap, I'd try that first but if that's not the problem then I'd look into piston rings as they can cause smoke on decel and excessive crankcase pressure

I will try the PCV for sure. But as I said, how would the rings be just fine and then I start it up today and it smokes all of a sudden....is it from sitting so long? Should I run a detergent through the engine and maybe it will free up the rings or??

 

[jriddle22]

most likely pvc valve, i would recommend getting a catch can and what not.

 

[tsi1991awd]

most likely pvc valve, i would recommend getting a catch can and what not.

I am hoping the PCV valve is just stuck closed, causing excessive crankcase pressure. I will find out tomorrow if a new one does the trick.

Also, the catch can...I had one in my old DSM and never got around to putting one in here.

 

[19Eclipse90]

Make sure and test the valve. Even "new" units have a tendency to leak.

How do I test my PCV valve?

The PCV valve should allow air to pass through in one direction but not the other, and the internal spring and ball should move freely (if you shake it, you should be able to hear it rattle). To check it's ability to seal under boost, apply about 5 psi more than the amount of boost you plan to run to the hose nipple, opposite the threaded end. There should not be any air escaping from the threaded end.

Since even new PCV valves can (and usually do) leak, adding an external check valve is always a good idea.

 

[nightmares GS-T]

I just went through a similar issue. I got a new pcv valve and it still leaked so another member of this forum suggested I get a check valve and install it before the pcv and that fixed my issue. Check Valves | U.S. Plastic Corp.

You need a 3/8.

 

[tsi1991awd]

Thanks, I am actually using that check valve right now (bought about 10 of them before) I don't think the crankcase is getting boosted, I think maybe the PCV valve is stuck closed and once on decel (when it should open up) it isn't so the pressure builds up inside....at least this is what I hope??

 

[Calan]

I'm with beihl304; sounds like piston rings to me. Do a compression and leak-down test, and you won't have to guess any more.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/338152-compression-leak-down-testing.html

 

[bigbird]

I bought an mr2 that was sitting for four years and had low compression and oil burning problems. one of the piston rings had ceased. I pulled the plugs and poured seafoam through the plug holes onto the pistons and let it sit overnight.

In the morning I disabled the ignition system, put a rag over the holes and cranked it over. Then changed the oil, installed the plugs and hooked up the distributor.

The car will smoke like nothing else for a while.

If that and a PCV valve don't fix it, you will need some engine work.

 

[tsi1991awd]

Goddamn I really hope it's not the rings....if the PCV valve doesn't work then I will try the seafoam trick and run some seafoam in the engine oil as well and see if it helps. This thing was just rebuilt

 

[Calan]

Goddamn I really hope it's not the rings....if the PCV valve doesn't work then I will try the seafoam trick and run some seafoam in the engine oil as well and see if it helps. This thing was just rebuilt

There's always the possibility that the cylinders were glazed and rings didn't seat properly during break-in.

Grab a compression tester from Autozone for free and check it. Takes 5 minutes and you'll know for sure.

 

[SlowDSM_GSX2g]

drilling a hole on the valve cover and install a catch can most be a solution to liberate excesive press

 

[tsi1991awd]

I will try this....tonight I will put seafoam into the cylinders and let it sit overnight. Tomorrow I will change the PCV valve out and run seafoam in the oil and through the brake booster. I'll go take the car for a drive and let it smoke like a monster....then change the oil again (I literally just changed it two days prior). If that doesn't work then I'm going to flip out

 

[Calan]

drilling a hole on the valve cover and install a catch can most be a solution to liberate excesive press

On a basically stock motor with low to moderate boost (up to 23 psi or so), the stock PCV system should be capable of properly relieving CC pressure if everything is working correctly. (although a catch can and check valve are always a good idea). If not, then something is probably wrong and needs to be addressed.

I will try this....tonight I will put seafoam into the cylinders and let it sit overnight. Tomorrow I will change the PCV valve out and run seafoam in the oil and through the brake booster. I'll go take the car for a drive and let it smoke like a monster....then change the oil again (I literally just changed it two days prior). If that doesn't work then I'm going to flip out

Is a compression and leak-down test against your religion or something, or are you just afraid of what they will tell you?

Seriously...just hook a tester up and be done with it. Seafoaming it is just gonna clean some carbon off the piston tops (marginal at that), and could possibly make things worse if some carbon works it's way down between some loose rings and a cylinder wall, although it's probably not likely.

 

[tsi1991awd]

Yea, I am scared of what it'll tell me because I don't have the time or money to do this after all the work that already went into the car.

 

[Calan]

Yea, I am scared of what it'll tell me because I don't have the time or money to do this after all the work that already went into the car.

I understand (believe me), but it is what it is. Either your rings are an issue, or they aren't; doing a compression and leak-down test won't change that. It will just arm you with information to make good decisions about how to proceed.

Just throwing stuff at a problem and hoping for the best is usually a recipe for more headaches (and it gets expensive). You're much better off knowing exactly what the issue is and then figuring out how to deal with it.

Just my .02.

 

[tsi1991awd]

I understand (believe me), but it is what it is. Either your rings are an issue, or they aren't; doing a compression and leak-down test won't change that. It will just arm you with information to make good decisions about how to proceed.

Just throwing stuff at a problem and hoping for the best is usually a recipe for more headaches. You're much better off knowing exactly what the issue is and then figuring out how to deal with it.

Just my .02.

You're right man....it is what it is and nothing's going to change that. I ####in pray that it's just the PCV valve. I had an issue with the dipstick popping out on my last DSM now that I think about it. Adding a new PCV with check valve and catch can fixed it. It never made smoke bellow out of the exhaust though....which is why I am getting ancy.