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Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 6:24 pm
by Jamiestanton
No smoke when I boot it only get it if I drive steady then pull up at the lights then when i pull off get a cloud of what looks like blue smoke can not be inlet as car don't feel sluggish and was last done 2 years ago by the last owner what else can it be

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 9:24 pm
by adsgreen
A lot can go wrong in two years so I wouldn't be too quick to discount anything.

What's the oil level like?

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Sat Apr 13, 2013 9:36 pm
by zed_hn
Have a look at the pcv oil valve

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 10:25 pm
by Jamiestanton
zed_hn wrote:Have a look at the pcv oil valve
What should I be looking for if this is the problem

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 11:40 pm
by sonny
Have you checked the oil level? Overfilled oil can be dumped in the burn phase and show as blue/white smoke.

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:08 am
by Jamiestanton
Only get smoke on stand still if I rev it on the spot don't get it driving

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 7:17 am
by adsgreen
Yes yes yes but two people have asked if you have checked the oil.
We are trying to help but need some feedback ;)

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 9:13 am
by Jamiestanton
Sorry yes checked oil 300 mile ago was on full now just below put 1/4 or a liter in back on full

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 9:24 am
by Jamiestanton
One more point I had the car about a month it was sluggish when I picked it up I must have been choked up because I drove it hard for a few days and now its drives great since then car has had all oils changed new coil packs new plugs air filter have done a full service on it

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 9:50 am
by Spaceman_RS4
Pretty sure the oil shouldn't be run on full bud. But below it in the hatched area, it's perfectly possible there's too much in it and is burning some. Take you checking the oil after getting it fully warm then switched off left to settle for a few mins then checked

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:54 am
by RIV
Ive allways been told its best to keep between half way up and max on the dipstick

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:29 pm
by adsgreen
The ideal is 3/4
Full enough that you won't get any surge but not over filled so that you start burning it.

Going from full to 1/4 in 300 miles on fresh oil is massive.
That's either a leak or some other failure.

Firstly you need to conclusively establish where it's being burnt.
Get the car up to temperature and let idle for a but. Then ask a mate/partner to blip the throttle and see if the oil is actually coming out of the exhaust. Sometimes a leak in the engine bay can hit warm components and burn off but from the drivers seat it looks like its coming out the back when you pull away.

If its not out the exhaust then get it on a ramp and checked ASAP.
Oil fires can be very nasty and very quick. Not worth taking the chance.

If its te exhaust then the first thing to check would be the above - th pcv valve.
Iirc it's by the oil filter under the carbon cover near the back of the engine.

You'll need to remove and inspect for any damage or cracks.
This is by far the cheapest thing to replace.

If not this then look for vacuum issues. The pcv has a vacuum valve that opens to release the caught oil to the sump. If this never opens then it'll back up and send oil into the intake.
Lots in the archives.

After this its looking more like internal engine component but let's cross that bridge when we get to it.

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 1:03 pm
by pDkALO
ads - all good info, but the op has said:
Jamiestanton wrote:One more point I had the car about a month it was sluggish when I picked it up I must have been choked up because I drove it hard for a few days and now its drives great since then car has had all oils changed new coil packs new plugs air filter have done a full service on it
.... so surely the first point is to go back to dealer (presumably Audi as packs were done?) and ask then why it's now blowing smoke since being serviced? I know that's what I'd do.

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:30 pm
by PetrolDave
Silas wrote:Ive allways been told its best to keep between half way up and max on the dipstick
Remember that on the RS4 the oil level should be checked when it's warm (not hot), so if you fill it up to max when cold then it's overfull.

Re: Smoke is doin my head in what can it be

Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:37 pm
by RIV
Silas wrote:
Ive allways been told its best to keep between half way up and max on the dipstick

Remember that on the RS4 the Oil level should be checked when it's warm (not hot), so if you fill it up to max when cold then it's overfull.
Yep always check when warm, and I never fill to max