Smokey start up

[philKS2]

HI all.. I'm worrying as always....

My ABY S2 has been running brilliantly all this year..but just in the last couple of weeks..

Background - car often left undriven for a few days at a time, and I only do about 150 miles a week

1- There's some oil leaking somewhere under front - not a lot as oil pressure is ok.
1- at start up, without revving, just turning the key, about 50% of the time I get a HUGE cloud of grey smoke (not blue), enough to engulf anyone stood nearby...then it runs clean .
3- BUT sometimes say going uphill in 3rd at 3k rpm, NOT driving hard, I see some smoke behind me, not clouds,m but a little

4- I felt like the turbo was not kicking in the other day when driving her... tho' this morning I could definatley feel the boost...

any thoughts.. am i just paranoid ??

Phil

(oh and I'm about to embark on a homefry...but would like the car running smoothly first)

[Robatron]

That could well be a tired turbo on it's way out.

[philKS2]

Poop - new turbo??? How much?? (gulp)

[alg]

What type of exhaust system ? If you get smoke only on start up it is often just water vapour. I noticed much more when I moved from the S2 to the RS2. Likely if you leaving it for a few days. Try running it daily on longer trips & see if the smoke goes/reduces
If you are getting smoke under load & not coming off you can clean & replace the PCV system

Sure it could be turbo or valve stem wear but worth checking the above as they cost little.

I would be interested in how many folk have replaced a standard turbo on a standard map. I had a new turbo on the old S2 under warranty when the wastegate failed but the fault was obvious. The RS2 is still on its original turbo

[SteveH]

What mileage does you car have on it? You're probably looking at a worn turbo seal or leaking valve stem oil seals. Either way, the problem is likley to get worse the longer you leave it.

[QuattroFever]

Recently had same prob.

Take the black pcv breather valve out and plug it off temporarily. Extend and run the other end down pointing at the ground (it will be pointing skywards naturally). Drive it for a day or two like that and see if it helps.

had this valve leaking myself recently and it was causing an intermitant boost leak which felt like the car was gutless one day and an animal the next, also gave me a smokey exhaust on startup.

give the plugs a cleanup once you've disconned the breather as no doubt they will be oiled up.

diagnosis worked for me and free to do. Just need three jubilees a bit of hose and a bung

[alg]

Right lets get this back to the simple, read cheap fixes.

The start up grey ? white smoke on idle is likely water vapour vs oil blue/black

Puff smoke under load, think PCV and/or small boost leak BEFORE new turbo or valve stems

Finally trace oil leak source as this may be point to your problem & may cause smoke if collecting somewhere hot & burning off (the small amount you see sometimes under load)

You may have the more serious problems but do the @simple@ first

[philKS2]

Mnnnn - sounds familiar.


I'm also getting an occasional return of the horrid faultering jerky power loss thing when winding her up hard (tho' probs vanished and she ran like a rocket after I stopped the engine and re-started it).

Under the bonnet, there's some exaust-like smoke leaking from somewhere low down, same side as the down WGFV, but towards rear of engine bay. Is that where the breather is?

And does anyone have a pic of the breather valve? Will I need to get under the car to reach it - as I don't have a pit or stands.

P

[philKS2]

Thanks Alastair - yes the start-up and idle smoke is grey and doesn't smell very oily, so presumably I don't need to worry about that? But is does puff a bit more under revs - again grey.

[alg]

Mnnnn - sounds familiar.


I'm also getting an occasional return of the horrid faultering jerky power loss thing when winding her up hard (tho' probs vanished and she ran like a rocket after I stopped the engine and re-started it).

Under the bonnet, there's some exaust-like smoke leaking from somewhere low down, same side as the down WGFV, but towards rear of engine bay. Is that where the breather is?

And does anyone have a pic of the breather valve? Will I need to get under the car to reach it - as I don't have a pit or stands.

P

So you have oil onto the exhaust manifold which is hot. The PCV is under the inlet manifold the Right side of the engine as you look in. Search PCV on forum & all will be clear. Easy job that lots have done.

[philKS2]

OK.. justn got a new PCV valve .. and when I took the old one off the pipes look like a smokers artery.. totally full of filthy black and yellow gooo... really restricting them. I'm about to clean out and put in new PCV... BUT which way does the gas flow through this system... and where might this goo have been going? (ie what else should I clean out)

Phil

[4WheelDrifter]

Check the flame trap while you're in there.

[philKS2]

Wheres that???
what does it look like?

[philKS2]

Ahh just say this thread

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7306&highlight=flame+trap

which explians the flame trap

Here I go...

[philKS2]

Arghhhh... for anyone tempted to change PCv breather valve and clean the fire trap, and un bung those hoses.... yurkkkkk... I'm currently bangingmy head against the wall as I've unplugged one of the associated rubber hoses and CANNOT get it back together..

Seemed like a good idea to completely remove the metal hose that houses the fire trap, and get the B%&&ger out and clean... but it runs behind the throttle housing, and although I can get two hands onto it, I cannot get it to connect up to the other hose... grrrrrr....

photos to follow

Phil (now with nice clean hoses that aren;t attached to the car!


PS - if I really get stuck, will it still run without the breather hoses so I can get ot myfiendly garage??