Blue smoke ! Help!

[audinut]

Ok so in a wierd twist of fate it seems il be keeping my S2 which is fantastic


Ok theres always a BUT - started the car this afternoon whilst standing out side of it and noticed a small clousd of clearly blue smoke

I had this happen before on my old cupra it happened once and never again

So i spent the rest of the afternoon with my fingers crossed that this may be the same, Well i can safely say that it is not

Started the car this evening, it started fine with no smoke i let it idle for 5 mins and watched the exhaust, eventually i started to see the slightest bit of blue smoke so i gave the car a small rev and was again presented with a small cloud of blue.

Checked the oil level and it has dropped by 1/2 a litre since i last did an oil change 1000 miles ago

I have not noticed any problems untill this afternoon.

I moved the car to the workshop door and topped the oil up to the correct level and re started the car , whislt it was running it spluttered on idle twice and resumed normal idling my workmate came over and asked me if i had a problem to which i gave the car a small rev again and was presented with another cloud of blue smoke

Im not really sure where to start with this but i have decided not to risk driving the car any further and would really be gratefull of any advice and what steps to take next

[benntenn67]

I'm not a mechanic but, sounds to me like valve stem oil seals ?? Any smoke on the over run ??

[caterpillar]

the oil are comin from the turbo; pass the oilseal at the HOT side.... change the small oilseal/ bearingsewt in the turbo...

[audinut]

Hi thanks for the reply , I think its a bit too much smoke for valve stem oil seals but i really dont know

[rj scotty]

Turbo oil seals or a blocked breather most likley maybe worn valve guides/narrowed stems. Stem seals if the car has not been used for a while. There main function is to stop oil dripping into the cylinder when the engin has been shut down.

[audinut]

the car is used daily and has been fine up to now , its there any way to determine which issue it could be or do i have to do it all?

[rj scotty]

Somebody who knows a lot more than me should be along soon

I would say the following order applies

Check/clean pcv system
Compression test
Change valve stem oil seals (not to bad a job with the right tools)
Replace turbo

If that dose not cure it the problem is internal

[audinut]

thanks im also hoping its the pcv system , have recently noticed that my rocker cover gasket has started to weep too so im wondering if its connected as i havent had the slightest problem or smoke till today

[JP]

Blue smoke is oil burnt by the engine, white smoke is oil burnt in the exhaust like a leaky turbo seal.

Assuming the engine runs on all 5 cylinders smoothly.

Blue smoke on start up is worn valve stemseals.

Blue smoke on prolonged idle is worn rings or worn valve guides/valve stems

Blue smoke on overun is worn exhaust guides/exhaust valve stems

Blue smoke under load is worn rings

[JP]

Now you can also get blue smoke on prolonged idle if part of the breather system is gunked up as the system will pressurise causing oil to seep past areas that under normal operating conditions don't have any issues. But when the crankcase is pressurising start to fail. Symptoms of leaky rocker cover gasket and crank seals point to this. It is crucial this gets resolved sooner rather than later before any of the issues in the afforementioned post by myself become an issue.

[MrVain]

Well I had a k26/27 in my S2 when i bought it. it got blue smole on cold star and the first 5 minutes.
I changes Turbo and it was fine

[audinut]

Now you can also get blue smoke on prolonged idle if part of the breather system is gunked up as the system will pressurise causing oil to seep past areas that under normal operating conditions don't have any issues. But when the crankcase is pressurising start to fail. Symptoms of leaky rocker cover gasket and crank seals point to this. It is crucial this gets resolved sooner rather than later before any of the issues in the afforementioned post by myself become an issue.

Thanks for the info.

My car definately released a noticable puff of blue smoke on startup this afternoon but the blue smoke doesmt seem to completely clear on idle it just becomes less noticeable unless you rev the car.

My rocker cover gasket is definately leaking and i must say i didnt notice it before when ive been under the bonnet

has any one got any pictures to show any main culprits of the pcv system before i go headlong into an engine rebuild!

[newsh]

http://s2central.net/images/Vacuum_and_PCV/

[audinut]

thanks newsh

Just had a thought after seeing that picture i sometimes on startup get a gurgling from the rear of the car , its only on startup and only lasts say 10 secs this wouldnt have anything to do with my problem would it ?

[newsh]

Definitely inspect the check valve, its below the throttle body so a bit of a pain to get to. you'll find it where 2 hoses of different sizes join together. 20mm and 8mm bore I think?