Hi folks. Anyone who was at Zedworld on Sat may recall my little escapade. I took Hollings out for a quick spin to give him a manual shift demo, only to pop the dip stick out of the block and cover the passenger manifold with my fresh oil. :blushing:

 

Anyway, after being mightily relieved to find out it was just the dip stick and not an impending engine melt down - Jamie very kindly degreased what he could and topped up the oil again. On my way home everything seemed to be well and I thought no more of it.

 

Then on Sunday I took the car out for an early morning blast - after overtaking a few slower moving cars I checked my mirror only to find I could hardly see the cars I'd just passed cos of smoke (slight exaggeration). So I pulled over and checked the dipstick again - it was fine. I blipped the throttle a few times while stationary and nothing again. So I got back on my way again. But I noticed a pattern with the smoke which was still being deposited pretty regularly. Every time I booted it, it was fine, but as soon as I lifted off I got a puff of smoke from the arse end. Trouble is I don't know where it was coming from - the exhaust or the engine bay.

 

I was telling myself it was just a bit of residual oil hiding somewhere that kept getting flung onto the manifold every now and then. But I don't understand why it did it just when I lifted off??

 

There isn't anything else which could cause a puff of somke when lifting off after gunning it, is there?

 

Your thoughts please

There is but you probably don't want to hear it!

have a mate follow you to see if it comes from the exhaust, it could be the engine breather system. The PCV I think it's called. Seach is your friend.

 

Paul

Edited February 7, 201114 yr by 300_zedx

Go to approx 6000k in third gear and let the car run down naturally until 1500k, if you get plenty of smoke on "over run" (this is when the revs drop down naturally), then it will be your rings/pistons/stem seals. Rebuild time i'm afraid matey.

 

Or could be as you say, some un-burn't oil residue.

 

Al.

There is but you probably don't want to hear it!

 

+1

 

PCV valves (cheap ish)

 

Turbo Seals (Expensive)

 

:(

 

Weird that the dip stick popped though, i believe that happens due to pressurisation in the sump. Not sure on the specifics but possibly HG failure?

Go to approx 6000k in third gear and let the car run down naturally until 1500k, if you get plenty of smoke on "over run" (this is when the revs drop down naturally), then it will be your rings/pistons/stem seals. Rebuild time i'm afraid matey.

 

Or could be as you say, some un-burn't oil residue.

 

Al.

 

If there was a problem with the rings/pistons/stem seals this would also increase crank pressure yeah? Hence the dipstick being blown out? Would a compression test tell me anymore if the smoking persists?

+1

 

PCV valves (cheap ish)

 

Turbo Seals (Expensive)

 

:(

 

Weird that the dip stick popped though, i believe that happens due to pressurisation in the sump. Not sure on the specifics but possibly HG failure?

 

Possible PCV sticking (I hope) boost is going into the crankcase.Does the engine breath at all?

Yes buddy, comp test each cylinder dry test then a wet test. I cannot remember the figure each cylinder should be, but when i comp tested mine, all was fine except 1 cylinder was low

If you get an increase in wet to dry, then rings it is, as the little amount of oil will seal the gap in the worn ring.

Nothing to worry about buddy.......... "Jimmer" is now your buddy....lol

 

Hope it is nothing to worry about matey,

 

 

Al.

Possible PCV sticking (I hope) boost is going into the crankcase.Does the engine breath at all?

 

How do you mean?

Leak-down test is better!-IIRC, 128 is Nissan limit for Compression.

+1

 

PCV valves (cheap ish)

 

Turbo Seals (Expensive)

 

:(

 

Weird that the dip stick popped though, i believe that happens due to pressurisation in the sump. Not sure on the specifics but possibly HG failure?

 

Usually, when the dipstick is pushed out this is due to crankcase pressurisation (as u say), but this is normally due to worn piston rings, allowing oil into the sump, pressure in the sump=dipstick out.

 

Al.

won't get chance to to drive the car until the weekend now, so will have to see what happens. Will try and get someone to follow me - which is difficult when I'm booting it!

 

Just hope its not a rebuild jobby, cos I can't afford to fix it until I get another job sorted...:scared:

 

Trouble is the car is a prime age now for something major to let go... 75k on the clocks now..

 

WIll see how thing develope - thanks for the input.

Leak-down test is better!-IIRC, 128 is Nissan limit for Compression.

 

Very true, but comp test is alot easier...... :thumbup:

 

Al. :biggrin:

How do you mean?

 

With the D/stick pulled and the engine running is there any mist/vapour/smoke evident from the tube?

Hope you get it sorted Leo good luck mate:clover:

+1

 

PCV valves (cheap ish)

 

Turbo Seals (Expensive)

 

:(

 

Weird that the dip stick popped though, i believe that happens due to pressurisation in the sump. Not sure on the specifics but possibly HG failure?

 

Frade so. I know the feeling £££:no:

Bugger that's not good news matey, hope it is only something simple like a PCV but does sound like piston rings :(

Zed ownership is like holding a cooked grenade..

 

Its not a question of 'if', but 'when'.. :crying:

 

I'm preparing myself for the worse and still hoping for the best, but my guess is its engine rebuild time. I still have no idea what boost the car is (was) running so, for all I know, it could be the fact that 17 years and 14lbs of boost have caught up on the old girl.

 

Best get in touch with the engine gods :detective:

fingers crossed its not drastic for you mate.Even if the compression figures come back good it can still have a piston problem,Its usually the 2nd ring or oil scraper ring/land that fails.Generally if the stick comes out its a pressure problem,its worth checking the pcv,s rattle to indicate they are free and moving inside.Id also make sure the dipstick is a good fit in the tube too just to be sure.Is it puffing it out bad on over run?

Not wanting to hijack but I've got almost exactly the same thing, started yesterday after an oil change, little more than 2L was drained out with a filter change! Only difference I can see is that my dipstick hasn't popped. Removing the dipstick when hot I get a swirl of oil smoke/vapour coming out. Seems to be down on power as well considering the boost it's making.

 

Proper cloud of smoke comes out after nailing it and changing gear. My PCVs were new about 10K miles ago. Last compression test didn't look too promising, figures were considerably higher wet.

 

Any thoughts? I'm expecting the worst anyway...

 

Cheers

 

H

Not wanting to hijack but I've got almost exactly the same thing, started yesterday after an oil change, little more than 2L was drained out with a filter change! Only difference I can see is that my dipstick hasn't popped. Removing the dipstick when hot I get a swirl of oil smoke/vapour coming out. Seems to be down on power as well considering the boost it's making.

 

Proper cloud of smoke comes out after nailing it and changing gear. My PCVs were new about 10K miles ago. Last compression test didn't look too promising, figures were considerably higher wet.

 

Any thoughts? I'm expecting the worst anyway...

 

Cheers

 

H

 

Bizarre - sounds very similar. I'm getting a further diagnosis done on Sat at Zedworld, so should hopefully establish some facts then. I'm just considering what gift to buy my bank manager, as a small token of my affection - just in case :biggrin:

Not wanting to hijack but I've got almost exactly the same thing, started yesterday after an oil change, little more than 2L was drained out with a filter change! Only difference I can see is that my dipstick hasn't popped. Removing the dipstick when hot I get a swirl of oil smoke/vapour coming out. Seems to be down on power as well considering the boost it's making.

 

Proper cloud of smoke comes out after nailing it and changing gear. My PCVs were new about 10K miles ago. Last compression test didn't look too promising, figures were considerably higher wet.

 

Any thoughts? I'm expecting the worst anyway...

 

Cheers

 

H

 

Only 2L drained out?! Where is the rest of it!? :s

Think I'd been losing oil gradually anyway, though no obvious smoke, last trip out before oil change was 300 miles without checking.

 

One thing that might be relevant, my oil pressure gauge reads quite high (3/4 scale) when cold, drops down to between 1/4 and 1/2 once warmed up. Stayed between 1/4 and 1/2 previously. OEM Sender unit may be knackered again though, it's done 60K miles.

 

Cheers

H

Off to Zedworld tomorrow morning for a experts opinion..

 

But a little more info for those who are interested. Just got back from work and took the car out for a bit of a run. No smoke on fire up, normal amounts of vapour coming out of the exhaust - but did notice that there seems to be quite alot of soot in the exhaust.

 

So, burbled through surburbia in the middle of school run traffic and warmed the old girl nice and slowly. Then got onto the dual carriageway and gave it the beans - sure enough, a puff of smoke (more white than blue) between gears. Unfortunately, got straight onto the M1 at Leicester services at peak flow, so didn't get another chance to put my foot down. Came off m'way back into city, gave it a couple of quick blasts between lights - but no smoke in my mirrors. Which could just be that there wasn't enough for me to notice - but probably noticeable to traffic following??

 

Gave up trying to suss anymore out as the friday traffic was out in force, so pootled back home and popped the bonnet. Took the oil cap off and there was evidence of vapour in the rocker case, but couldn't smell petrol in there (never really sniffed oil befor). Took the dipstick out (which had stayed in place) same thing, vapour escaping from hole, but not a massive amount. Tried to cover the oil cap hole and the dip stick hole (seperately) to see if there was a build up of pressure whilst revving the engine (upto about 2-3k) - no pressure in either rocker or crank.

 

Finally, got my long stick to push the throttle while sitting at the back of the car. No vapour now on tickover (engine warm) and no smoke or vapour of any form when throttle blipped (upto about 5-6k this time).

 

So basically, I'm non the wiser on this one. Did seem to be evidence of the engine 'breathing' as it were, but have nothing really to compare to. I'm guessing there shouldn't be any form of vapour coming from top or bottom? Please give your opinions, if there is anything else I can check please advise.

 

many thanks

Rev the engine at 5k for 20 secs, 4k for 20 secs, 3k for 20 secs, 2k for 20 secs, then blip the throttle, if you get a puff of smoke it is bad news. Also,as jimmer said, let the revs come down naturally in 3rd from 5k to 2k (overrun), if you get smoke then it is bad.

 

Al.

You say when you're gunning it and lift off you're getting a puff of white smoke, this makes me think turbo's.

 

When you lift off after gunning it, your wastegates open and if your turbo seals are worn then you'll get a nice big cloud of smoke every time you lift off boost.

 

Might not be as bad as it looks mate.