Blue Smoke!

Mat

Guest
Right, quick question here... (or more like a thread asking for help)

Last week, I passed my mates, and turned around to see him. Parked up and left the car ticking over for about 10mins. When I set off, there was a slight puff of blue smoke come out of the exhaust.

Not happened since then.

Just been to a mates garage, and again, before I set off, I left the car ticking over whilst finishing our conversation (again, about 10mins). As I left, they shouted blue smoke. Stopped, set off again and a bit more, then all gone. Lad who is a mechanic, placed his hand over exhaust as i revved, and said he could smell oil.

He said it could be "valve build up" or something like that....

Anyway, got home, and spoke to another lad called Scott (used to have a CupraR, was on here as Scott1088). He's a mechanic and said his CupraR used to give smoke now and then, and then be fine for a few months. He said it may just be oil building in the inlet mani or something?

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Anyone had a similar problem.

I mentioned about a catch tank, and scott reckons that that should help sort the problem.

Oh, and BTW: when checking for boost leak earlier, I noticed a slight bit of oil from where I removed the Air Filter from the TIP. What scott said sounds about right. Probably nothing to do with "valve build up" or "steam seals", but more likely oil building up in the TIP etc and obviously has to exit out somewhere....

Suggestions
 

traumapat

Leon Cupra IHI
Jul 24, 2005
5,925
4
sunny sussex
compression test first. this should tell you the state of the valve stem seals... which going from personal experience matches the symptoms.

keep an eye on oil consumption, if it isnt drinking much id try to live with it. mine lasted 2 years with the odd puff of smoke... however the moment i upped the power it got far worse.

compression test first and see where you stand
 

Mr Roboto

Domo Arigato
Mar 14, 2005
470
0
Sussex
My dad had blue smoke when he starts up the engine.

Turns out to be the seals on the valves were getting worn out. Which ment over night oil was getting through the seals and when you start the car the engine would burn it creating blue smoke.

He bought this stuff you pour into the oil and it takes few weeks but it rejuvenates the seals stopping the oil.
 

Mat

Guest
Mr Roboto: it doesn't happen on start up, only after its been sitting a while on tickover

Traumapat: how do you do a compression test? VAG COM? Not got mine at the mo

Ian: SHUT UP! I'm gonna get one ordered now i reckon! Meant to order one a few months ago. My fault I'm lazy! Never did the N112 other day either :cartman:
 

lemonslap

In The Know
Mar 14, 2009
320
1
Kent
A compression test measures the wear of valves, pistons and bores. This is done by removing a spark plug then connecting the testing equipment into the sparkplug hole then turning the engine over while the coil pack is disconnected, this will give a reading that will need to be checked aganst offical data there will be a min that is acceptable. Hope this helps (BTW post your engine code and I will give you the values)
 

traumapat

Leon Cupra IHI
Jul 24, 2005
5,925
4
sunny sussex
as above... find a friendly garage and bung them a tenner. handy to have the offical data to go by, otherwise youd be looking for all cylinders to be within 10% (i think) of each other.

re the additives. i had some sucess but within a month it was back.. could have tried more but wanted it fixed as id BT`d it.
 

Mat

Guest
cheers lemon slap!

thinking it's an agy engine. can't remember


Edit:::: AYP engine code
 

lemonslap

In The Know
Mar 14, 2009
320
1
Kent
Details as follows:

Compression pressure:
New: 10-13 bar Wear limit: 7 bar
Permissible difference between all cylinders: 3 bar

Oil temp must be over 30C so with a hot engine
 
Nov 10, 2004
1,000
0
Colchester, Essex
Turbo oil seals, that'll cause blue smoke, happened on my Fiat Uno Turbo (lol) I just left it though, as it was at idling, that thing went wrong every day pretty much!

If it's only a bit I wouldn't worry too much, the compression test is a good idea though as posted above.
 

leontdi130

Active Member
Jan 20, 2008
277
0
Euxton (Chorley)
my tdi did this today. i started up drove half a mile down the road stopped for 5 mins on tick over then set off and a cloud of blue smoke came out the back. iv noticed it in the mornings every now and then too. Im thinking its turbo related. You normally get a puff of smoke between gear changes with stem seals and thats not the case with mine.
 

Mat

Guest
did i say under acceleration! the ONLY time I have had it is on the 2 occassions mentioned in post 1! Car has been left ticking over for about 10 mins, and then when I set off a puff of smoke. After that it's fine! Fine in a morning, fine under boost, just when it's been sat there.

I'm thinking what Scott told me sounded right. A build up of oil somewhere that is collecting when sat still for a long time on tickover, then wants/needs somewhere to exit! This sounds about right as I noticed some oil near the air filter when I disconnected it!

Ordered a catch tank, so hoping that will solve the problem. Also spoke to lad wi garage, and he said he can do a compression test....
 

kyle'87

Modding Disease
Sep 15, 2008
868
0
Ruislip
Then try accelerating hard and see if you get blue smoke, alot of people don't notice this as you tend not to look behing when you accelerate, worth a check as thats the first thing a mechanic will check.
 

Mat

Guest
i've checked and it aint there! trust me, only been on 2 occassions! Don't fancy looking for problems that aint there!
 

R4cup

Beef NO Burger
Jul 28, 2006
1,757
6
In the garage
I seem to have the same problem with my car at the mo....
Like Mat's my car will let off a puff of smoke once left to idle for 10 or so mins.
Hopefully looking to get the car on the ramp the weekend to see really whats going on.
To be honest my car has been doing this from last year but very rarely so i thought nothing of it but it does seem to be getting worse and ive been advised that it will continue to get worse over a period of time.

I shall keep u posted
 
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