Smoking Issue

[nrml]

History:

Car ran fine with no issues. It was placed in storage for 8 months.

Pulled the car out of storage and it started smoking, fairly badly, a significant cloud.

Initial test of the crankcase valve showed that it was stuffed up, so I removed the valve and replaced it with a barbed free-flowing bung to an oil catch can.

The smoking continued.


Details:

When cold, no smoke. 1 Minute after idling, smoke starts, gradual at first, then heavier until it's a "stream" of smoke.

White/grey smoke, stinks bad, assumably oil. (it might be blue/grey, but I'm in a garage with unfavorable visibility)

With a sustained 4000RPM at no load (neutral), there is still smoke, but significantly less than at idle.

Release of throttle to let the engine return to idle nets a fairly significant "gush" of smoke, followed by the normal "stream".

I'm going to run a compression test tonight and see what's up.

My Initial thoughts are: valve steam seals or turbo seal

I've looked in the compressor inlet and it looked clean, no wobble.

I wanted to post and see what any preliminary thoughts anyone had might be?


Thank you in advance.

- nrml

 

[diablos991]

You are right that the compression test is the next step to take.

It sounds like valve stem seals, however, testing needs to be done before conclusions are drawn.

To check the valve stem seals, take the exhaust manifold off and look in the exhaust runners and up on the valves themselves. You will be able to see if oil is leaking by them.

Did you check the turbo for in-and-out shaftplay?

Have you taken it for a test drive and tested it out under a load to see what results that brings?

 

[nrml]

Did you check the turbo for in-and-out shaftplay?

Have you taken it for a test drive and tested it out under a load to see what results that brings?

It's a relatively new turbo (<5000 miles), though, I did check and on the compressor side, there was no in and out shaftplay.

I haven't had a chance to put a load on it because of where I live. (downtown LA townhouses, just idling the car smokes people out of their homes given enough time)

I'll update this thread as soon as I get home to test the compression.

 

[diablos991]

It's a relatively new turbo (<5000 miles), though, I did check and on the compressor side, there was no in and out shaftplay.

I wouldn't rule it out just yet, as I have seen turbos fail that quickly before due to not priming them after the install and/or the quality of the turbo.

But keep us posted, and good luck.

 

[nrml]

Compression Test is as follows:

1 2 3 4 (passenger to driver side)

1: 171
2: 149
3: 121
4: 154


1, probably carbon buildup? 2 + 4 look normalish? and 3... barely at that service limit...

And that's with a touch of oil (wet).

Engine has 126k miles.

Ideas?

 

[nrml]

I ran another compression test under better conditions.

Dry, cold engine:
1: 160
2: 148
3: 121 (wet 134)
4: 145

I'm thinking if it were the rings, I'd see much better #'s on 3. Headgasket? Or.. Possibly worn rings on 3 and valve seals / turbo seal?

I didn't see any oil in the water, when I get a chance, I'll drain the oil and check that out.

 

[diablos991]

A compression test tests the piston rings, head gasket, and valves. It won't test the valve seals.

The compression test should be done on a warm engine. (Be sure that you are blocking the throttle open while performing the test)
The dry test should be done first and the wet test done after.
If your compression increases during the wet test, then that means that the rings are most likely the problem.

If your not sure, you can have a Leakdown Test done. This test will determine where the loss of compression is coming from. (intake/exhaust valves, piston rings, headgasket)

Are you mixing fluids? (coolant and oil)
Does the smoke smell sweet?

#1 is probably carbon build-up.

If the test was performed correctly, I would probably have a leakdown test performed so that I know for sure where I was losing the compression.

 

[nrml]

Here is what happened (for those that search and end up reading this):

Initial problem with the PVC forced the oil to blowpass the turbo seals and leak into my exhaust.

The smoke persisted after repairing the PVC because the remaining oil had settled into the muffler and O2 housing, which would would start to smoke when the exhaust would get hot enough to burn it off.

After cleaning out the exhaust (and the intake tract), the car runs beautifully once again and no longer smokes.