Oily smoke coming from near turbo...

[andyj]

Noticed this on Monday morning on the way to work.

Had a bit of a blast on the dual carriageway on the way to work, and then slowed down in traffic coming into town. I then noticed an oily smell coming through the vents. SO I pulled over, popped the bonnet, and could see a few wisps of smoke coming from down the back of the block near the turbo. after a minute or two sat on idle, the smoke reduced, but it still smelt of oil.

Since then I've been trying to find info on what it could be.

Chatted to m0rk and he suggested it could be the gasket on the oil return feed, from the turbo to the block.

I've had a look on here, CGti, Uk-MkIV's and can't find any info....

So I last night I had a look on VW Vortex, and found the following threads which seem to describe the same situation as I'm experiencing.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3493884

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3515453

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zeropost?cmd=tshow&id=3481070

Looks like m0rk was right, it could be either the gaskets on the oil return, or the 'crush' washers on the banjo bolts on the oil feed line.

Going to get the parts ordered today, and then get the car up on the ramps on Saturday (wish it was a bit warner at the mo!) and see what's going on.

I'll post the part numbers up for the gaskets and the crush washers a bit late, for future reference for anyone.

I'm still driving the car, but off-boost all the time...... unless anyone seriously advises me against that.....

 

[andyj]

arse, looks like www.vagcat.com is down at the mo, so I can't get the part numbers.... looks like I'll have to pop into the TPS place in Derby on the way home and get them to find the PN's for me !!!

 

[Big_daddy]

You may want to get the turbo removed and exmained when changng the gasket. to be on the safe side

 

[Feel]

Have a look at the turbo outlet hose also - some been known to crack.

 

[andyj]

cheers guys, going to have a look on Saturday and see if I can work out where the smoke is coming from before dismantling anything.....

it's definitely oil smoke, rather than exhaust gases.....

 

[andyj]

managed to pick up the crush washers and the gasket for the block end of the oil return from the local TPS

have had to order the gasket for the turbo end of the return, but should be here for Friday

picked up an oil filter and a sump plug while I was there.....

total cost = £5.50 !!!

 

[andyj]

Part Numbers:

Upper gasket for oil return line = 058145757C (£1.46 rrp, £1.31 inc disc)
Lower gasket for oil return line = 058145757A (£1.46 rrp, £1.31 inc disc)
Crush Washer (x2) = N0138128 (£0.22 ea. rrp, £0.20 inc disc)
Oil Filter = 06A115561B (£5.00 rrp, £2.47 inc disc )
Sump Plug = N90813202 (£0.99 rrp, £0.89 inc disc)


Hope this helps someone else

 

[andyj]

Managed to get the oil return line gaskets changed this morning.....

took me about an hour and a half to drain the oil, change the filter, change the gaskets (just about doable, with very tight access around the driveshaft to get to the top gasket), and then refill and turn the engine over several times with the injectors unplugged to ensure that the new oil is circulated round the turbo before starting it up.

Haven't been out in it yet to see if it has cured the problem...., fingers crossed.....

If not, I'm going to try and do the 'crush washers' on the oil feed line next... but that's going to be one PITA job.... as all the intake pipes etc have to come off to gain access to the top of the turbo

 

[Big_daddy]

Wish they put the turbo some were at front of the car. Done a turbo chnage to hybrid on starlet GT. Only if it was that easy for these vag engines.

 

[The MoffMeister]

i had the same prob on my old ko3s was oil around the lines but sold it and told bloke to use new gaskets etc a simple solution

 

[andyj]

after letting the engine warm up to temp, and checking the tyre pressures (they were low, hence why my mpg has been low the last few weeks!)..... just been out for a spin, about 10miles up a dual-carriageway to get the oil ad turbo up to temp.... pulled over in a layby and there was some smoke coming up

turned round at the next junction and headed back.

checked again when I got home, and there was hardly any smoke....

so in conclusion, I 'think' I've fixed it, and the smoke when I first checked it was the oil that was already on the turbo burning off.... hence why when I got home there was no smoke, it had all burnt off, and no new oil is leaking.... I hope !!

going to do the same trip tomorrow morning, and see if there is any smoke...

 

[The MoffMeister]

sounds like it andy just left over maybe did you have smoke coming from exhaust to?

 

[andyj]

no smoke from the exhaust..... haven't noticed any recently either, even when I was getting it from the turbo.....

while I had the undertray off, I thought I'd check the boost pipe going between the two side mounted intercoolers.... there was 'some' oil in the bottom, but not loads.....

how much is reasonable??

 

[m0rk]

You don't want it to run out..... but a smearing all round is normal

 

[The MoffMeister]

think thats the norm i had it on my smic just enough you'll prob figure out if its to much should be little bits

 

[andyj]

had read on here that a 'small' amount was normal.....

seeing as the car is on about 68k I was expecting there to be some in there, just wasn't sure how much was reasonable to expect...

what I did notice was when I took the undertray off was a fair bit of oil on it, which has dripped down from the turbo area, which again points towards the gasket on the top end of the oil return pipe, which is the one I've changed.

I've left the undertray off at the moment, to save me having to take it off again

Is it ok to leave the undertray off longterm?

 

[m0rk]

yeah, it'll just get a bit shitty under there

 

[andyj]

been reading on VW Vortex and if I haven't cured the leak by changing the gasket on the oil return pipe, then it might just be a case of tightening the banjo bolt on the oil feed line rather than changing the crush washers....

either way it's a case of all the intake pipework and the exhaust manifold coming off to enable me to get access to the top of the turbo, which is where the oil feed line attacheds to it....

also, if I do have to do all that, I'm going to have to get replacement gaskets, which I'm not going to be able to get until mid-week.....

 

[wild willy]

Andy I've changed a complete turbo on an LCR in situ so theres no need to remove the exhaust maifold at all. To gain access to all turbo water and oil lines simply :-
a. Drain oil and remove 3 no bolts holding Down pipe.
b.Slacken off and remove lower turbo bracket.
c. Remove 3 no bolts holding turbo to exhaust manifold.
Charge pipe and brackets will need removing to allow access to bolts etc

Once this is done there will be plenty of play in turbo to reach all connections.
Personally i'd remove turbo completly to give it a good examination, it may well be dodgy turbo oil seals. You may wish to use this opertunity to refit a k04 hybrid or an eliminator in its place as its the same work to refit it and your replacing it with a brand new unit.

 

[andyj]

mate, you're a legend !!!

that's the info I've been tyring to find for the last 3 hours on here/cgti/uk-mkivs/VW Vortex !!!

at the moment I haven't got the ££ for a replacement turbo, I just need to stop the oil leak for the time being......

fingers (and toes) crossed, I think I've cured the leak by just changing the gasket. Will find out tomorrow morning when I go for another spin...... hopefully I burnt all the oil off that had already leaked, when I went for a spin today. So when I go out tomorrow, if there's any smoke it means there's still a leak somewhere......

Cheers for the tips mate, much appreciated