Over the last couple of weeks, my car has started to smoke when it's fully warmed up and only when idling from the offside tailpipe.

 

After the full day driving around the lakes yesterday, it's pretty clear that performance isn't suffering but every time we pulled up for a bit, it started to smoke again!

 

Any ideas what it could be?

 

I have the Leyland parade in a couple of weeks, I can't have it smoking out the crowd! :lol:

Sounds like a turbo could be on its way to the grave.

Sounds like a turbo could be on its way to the grave.

 

Was hoping it wasn't that, would that not smoke under acceleration though?

Before they let go completely they can smoke on idle.

 

How old are your PCVs?

Before they let go completely they can smoke on idle.

 

How old are your PCVs?

 

Not sure as I've never changed them in the 3 years I've owned it

As Si said. I had the same with a previous car. Mine didn’t smoke under acceleration nor on start up, it smoked after the oil got hot and within a minute of standing still. It was a very blue colour smoke.

Smoking once warm at idle is classic rear turbo seal failure. Very simple test is if you turn the air con on does it stop? The even mild increase in load and idle speed is often enough to reduce to smoke. Smoke will/should be grey, white is coolant and blue is combusted oil. This is a slight misnomer though, it’s not really even a seal it’s a ring like a piston ring, in a perfect world a rear seal would not even be needed. The problem arises because the pressure is higher in the turbos core than the exhaust. Thus oil drips or is sucked through the “seal” to the exhaust. So there’s some variables, is the oil passing from the turbo back to the crank case freely. Is the exhaust scavenging. Is there pressure in the crank case from blow by gasses.

So check first before investing in new turbos, which would still smoke;

What pressure is in the crank, negative, positive, neutral?

Is there good compression?

Are the crank case gasses being controlled by the PCV system correctly?

Simply decreasing the pressure in the crank case my well eliminate your issue.

I would Check the PCVs First because that is also a classic symptom of them going

I would Check the PCVs First because that is also a classic symptom of them going

 

I might get a new set and see if it clears

Are the crank case gasses being controlled by the PCV system correctly?

Simply decreasing the pressure in the crank case my well eliminate your issue.

 

How do you check and adjust?

Would any additives help in the short run and which one would be best? At least until after its got through the parade

You can connect a vac gauge to the dip stick tube. There is temporary measure you can make but it would be at your own risk?

First move to check the breather system. Check the PCVs and that the restrictors are in place.

Edited May 28, 20187 yr by Stephen

I am not a big fan of additives, but due to your circumstances I would consider this link..

 

https://www.wynns.uk.com/product/stop-smoke/

I've just ordered some PCVs but I think I may try this if they don't work.

I've just ordered some PCVs but I think I may try this if they don't work.

 

You will almost certainly need the PCV rubber hoses as they go hard and brittle and/or get damaged removing them.

 

http://www.ttzd.com/tech/pcvtech.html

Just an update on this.... I switched my PCVs this week and it has definitely cleared up the smoking! Glad it's not ended up being a turbo!!

Glad to hear this. All to often people assume turbo failure without checking the engine is operating functionally.