Blue smoke after coming off boost?

[8bit]

Yeah this one, thanks - assuming this was the one you referred to in the other thread?!

Anyway, watched the coolant temp reading on Torque like a hawk this evening. It didn't rise above 74 until I pulled up outside the flat when it slowly rose to about 88 then quickly to 92/93. However, when I'd been driving hardest it stuck to about 72 and at that point the temp reading on the dash actually fell to just below the 90 mark, seen it do that a few times now on that stretch of road (70mph, about 2 miles down a shallow hill). It hadn't been at 90 for very long by the time it started to drop away.

Still sounding like thermostat to you?

 

[csd_19]

the temp reading on the dash actually fell to just below the 90 mark, seen it do that a few times now on that stretch of road (70mph, about 2 miles down a shallow hill). It hadn't been at 90 for very long by the time it started to drop away.

Still sounding like thermostat to you?

Aye deffo the t'stat after reading this, mine was doing exactly the same coming down the last bit into Dundee, downhill, off the throttle, the dash gauge dropped to around 70

Got a t'stat and some more coolant and had it done in under an hour, slightly fiddly but got the bastid changed lol. I also used the tap on the bottom left of the radiator to drain some coolant before starting, minimized the amount spilt when I took the thermostat out

 

[8bit]

Thanks mate, big help I'll look into that next week once I've moved house. So that could be causing the excess exhaust fumes then yeah?

 

[csd_19]

Yep if the coolant temp is dropping the ecu will be running richer to get the temp back up. You'll probably have noticed your mpg is a bit worse?

 

[8bit]

TBH I gave up looking at mpg a while ago, it's always crap, it's crap if I boot it, it's crap if I drive slowly in traffic, the only time it's not crap is if I'm cruising at 60mph and I physically just can't bring myself to do that...

Only other symptom is increased oil consumption, maybe 1/2 a litre in about 800 miles. Did read somewhere that if the fuelling was out the engine could use more oil? Is that right?

 

[csd_19]

TBH I gave up looking at mpg a while ago, it's always crap, it's crap if I boot it, it's crap if I drive slowly in traffic, the only time it's not crap is if I'm cruising at 60mph and I physically just can't bring myself to do that...

Only other symptom is increased oil consumption, maybe 1/2 a litre in about 800 miles. Did read somewhere that if the fuelling was out the engine could use more oil? Is that right?

Lol driving in slow traffic and booting it, the two top scenarios for not getting decent MPG from a 1.8T

You might need to just force yourself to behave and see what it does at 60

Yep you're right about the increased oil consumption, if too much fuel is injected it can wash the oil from the cylinder bores which is then burned.

Time to get that thermostat sorted min!

 

[JamJay]

Which part of VCDS measures engine temp?

 

[rsmith]

Go into instruments(17) and its either 003 or 050 for engine oil temp and coolant, can't remember which of the top of my head.

 

[8bit]

Coolant temp is on block 001, JamJay. I didn't think the LCR had an oil temp sensor tho?

EDIT - Full list of VAGCOM/VCDS blocks here - http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/m_blocks/

Lol driving in slow traffic and booting it, the two top scenarios for not getting decent MPG from a 1.8T

You might need to just force yourself to behave and see what it does at 60

Yep you're right about the increased oil consumption, if too much fuel is injected it can wash the oil from the cylinder bores which is then burned.

Time to get that thermostat sorted min!

Cheers min I'll get onto that ASAP. As for oil, been using 5w-30 fully synthetic, (Castrol Edge if that makes any difference) - would that be a reasonable choice?

 

[rsmith]

Go to instruments and read block 50, it does have a oil temp sensor(well mine does)

 

[csd_19]

Cheers min I'll get onto that ASAP. As for oil, been using 5w-30 fully synthetic, (Castrol Edge if that makes any difference) - would that be a reasonable choice?

I think that would be fine ginge gets that in her too

 

[rsmith]

Hmmm, i was recommended 5W40 FULL SYNTHETIC by a VAG specialist just last month.!

 

[8bit]

Go to instruments and read block 50, it does have a oil temp sensor(well mine does)

Ah ok, maybe that's not the same as just logging block 050 then, I'll have a look when I get a chance, cheers

I think that would be fine ginge gets that in her too

Cool, if that's good enough for ginge then it's good enough for scarlett

 

[8bit]

Right, car was in for alignment correction last week so had the garage change the thermostat while they were at it. *Touch Wood* not seen any clouds of smoke yet and MPG is back to normal. Before the 'stat got changed I did a 1 hour trip to see a friend, 70mph dual carriageway all the way, never got above 29mpg. After the 'stat was changed, went on another trip past the same place and was about 35mpg by the time I reached the same place.

Also checked coolant temps with Torque app on my phone and they're reaching about 88 - 92 C and staying around there. Car feels more civilised when cold too so fingers crossed that's that sorted.

Still have the funny whining noise but last time I was doing stuff in the engine bay I started the engine afterwards and had a check around, I think it's coming from the front of the block rather than the back, possibly round the aux belt area. Still not tried the WD40 on aux belt trick yet, if that doesn't show anything up then I'll try unplugging the N75 (so as to bypass the turbo) and go for a quick drive to see if the noise stops - guess that'll tell me for sure if its' the turbo or not.

 

[8bit]

Dammit, spoke too soon. Out for a backroad blast tonight and after tearing about for a while I noticed the clouds of smoke again, they appear after coming off boost for a few seconds and it lasts for a few seconds more, depending how long and much boost I was on.

Guess I really am looking at having to get the turbo replaced?

 

[8bit]

Just to update the thread, had the car checked out at a garage yesterday, the turbo is goosed right enough. Have a recon'd unit on its' way now.

Big thanks to everyone who helped, much appreciated

 

[leon cupra r]

Unlucky Niall, hope youre wallet is ready for a bruisin!

 

[8bit]

Just to close this off. Turbo was replaced last week. Blue smoke gone, car has power again and the whining noise at low revs is gone too.

Old turbo has about 1/2 cm of play in the shaft in the in/out direction. The guy at the garage said it wouldn't have been long before it gave in altogether and certainly the car seemed to be getting worse and worse to drive every day before it went in, so think I got it in the nick of time.

Shame I'll be paying off the credit card bill for 3 months but there you go...

 

[Joeb]

hope things are alright now.

how much did the recon unit set you back? does it come under warrenty etc......can never be too sure the state of them..

 

[8bit]

Fingers crossed It does feel, sound and drive a lot better than before for sure.

I got one of the four recon'd units that Bill Badger 5 had for sale recently, cost was £300 inc. VAT. There was no warranty on these but I figured he wouldn't be selling them if he thought it could possibly come back to haunt him.