Blue smoke lots of it when driving

[ryerye90]

I have a 2008 Vito 111 cdi. When driving massive amounts of blue smoke and smell of burning oil. I’ve changed the Lamba sensor. Still nothing. I’m thinking this could be turbo is this correct?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Blue smoke does suggest burning oil. It could be related to the turbo but if there’s lots of it then it could be a failure within the engine like a piston ring or valve which is allowing oil to be combusted in the cylinder.

 

[Bellow]

Probably worth checking the PCV system first. Know that uncontrolled oil delivery to the engine can result in runaway.

 

[badgx]

Valve stem seals?

 

[ryerye90]

Probably worth checking the PCV system first. Know that uncontrolled oil delivery to the engine can result in runaway.

I’ve taken all hoses off and found oil in the Pcv would this drop down and go into turbo casing excessive smoke? Turbo is working fine but it’s smoking a lot but oil is coming from pcv pipe can see it anywhere else

 

[Bellow]

I’ve taken all hoses off and found oil in the Pcv would this drop down and go into turbo casing excessive smoke? Turbo is working fine but it’s smoking a lot but oil is coming from pcv pipe can see it anywhere else

The PCV system circulates air (draws it in from the atmosphere and after filtering travels through the crankcase eventually being fed via the inlet manifold to the cylinders where if everything is as should be the air should be devoid of oil. A turbocharged engine has to have provision for the inlet manifold being at higher than atmospheric pressure during boosting or the crankcase would become pressurised (unwelcome). I don't know the exact arrangement on a turbo diesel but on a turbo petrol I had a one-way valve controlled that. If it sticks open, the crankcase becomes pressurised and the control over the PCV is lost and the potential for oil to enter the engine (via the inlet manifold) exists. In that event though, the oil should burn in the cylinder completely enough to avoid smoke being emitted. I say 'should'...

More likely I suspect in your case, the turbo is leaking oil directly from its bearing assembly directly into the exhaust gas stream and vaporising (possibly burning) and creating what appears as 'smoke'. There is also the possibility of oil being leaked into the compressor where it will travel through the engine and be burned. Both (PCV and compressor leakage) have the potential to create a runaway situation. Leaking into the exhaust is benign.

If it were mine, I'd trace the entry point of the PCV into the manifold and check for signs of oil upstream. If oil present upstream I'd suspect compressor leakage. Oil present downstream but not upstream would suggest PCV problem. There will however be oil everywhere and ascertaining what is normal and what is excessive may be difficult. If everything up to the engine is reasonably clean (oil free) then loss of oil at the turbo's turbine (hot side) is more probable. And, more likely but as ascertaining turbo wear isn't easy, and checking PCV is (relatively) easier - I'd check it first. (Any stuck one-way valve should be easily identifiable).

Bear in mind if the turbo is failing there is a risk of its 'wheels' contacting their housings. In the case of the compressor that can send a pile of swarf through the engine that can write it off.

 

[ryerye90]

The PCV system circulates air (draws it in from the atmosphere and after filtering travels through the crankcase eventually being fed via the inlet manifold to the cylinders where if everything is as should be the air should be devoid of oil. A turbocharged engine has to have provision for the inlet manifold being at higher than atmospheric pressure during boosting or the crankcase would become pressurised (unwelcome). I don't know the exact arrangement on a turbo diesel but on a turbo petrol I had a one-way valve controlled that. If it sticks open, the crankcase becomes pressurised and the control over the PCV is lost and the potential for oil to enter the engine (via the inlet manifold) exists. In that event though, the oil should burn in the cylinder completely enough to avoid smoke being emitted. I say 'should'...

More likely I suspect in your case, the turbo is leaking oil directly from its bearing assembly directly into the exhaust gas stream and vaporising (possibly burning) and creating what appears as 'smoke'. There is also the possibility of oil being leaked into the compressor where it will travel through the engine and be burned. Both (PCV and compressor leakage) have the potential to create a runaway situation. Leaking into the exhaust is benign.

If it were mine, I'd trace the entry point of the PCV into the manifold and check for signs of oil upstream. If oil present upstream I'd suspect compressor leakage. Oil present downstream but not upstream would suggest PCV problem. There will however be oil everywhere and ascertaining what is normal and what is excessive may be difficult. If everything up to the engine is reasonably clean (oil free) then loss of oil at the turbo's turbine (hot side) is more probable. And, more likely but as ascertaining turbo wear isn't easy, and checking PCV is (relatively) easier - I'd check it first. (Any stuck one-way valve should be easily identifiable).

Bear in mind if the turbo is failing there is a risk of its 'wheels' contacting their housings. In the case of the compressor that can send a pile of swarf through the engine that can write it off.

Say it’s the turbo seals are they easy to fit new ones or would you recommend a new turbo?

 

[Bellow]

Say it’s the turbo seals are they easy to fit new ones or would you recommend a new turbo?

I think accepted practice is to replace as a 'cartridge' - which is the central part - shaft and impellor wheels but without the impellor casings which are the originals re-used. It isn't only a case of the seals being worn. They will have worn due to wear in the shaft and its bearings causing play which will see the turbo fail catastrophically eventually. Or, the play alone can create the leak path for the oil.
To dissemble a turbo, there is a need to balance the rotating assembly after reassembly - a specialist job.

 

[ALFAitalia]

Valve stem seals?

Unlikely.....they only tend to produce blue smoke from a cold start or after a long period of driving with the foot off the throttle .....like down a long hill or straight after a long idle period. If its smoking under power then it wont be valve seals.

 

[ryerye90]

Unlikely.....they only tend to produce blue smoke from a cold start or after a long period of driving with the foot off the throttle .....like down a long hill or straight after a long idle period. If its smoking under power then it wont be valve seals.

 

[ryerye90]

What would cause all this old dried oil that’s probs what’s causing the smoke

 

[ALFAitalia]

Nope....that's Black Death....nothing to do with anything coming out of the exhaust.......thats diesel leaking past the injector seals that then being burnt to the head with the heat. Love the cable ties ties holding the power connectors to the injectors!!. Very professional!!!
Still needs to be fixed though.....the goo makes any plastic it touches, like those connectors and wiring, brittle and you will get nasty exhaust fumes in the cabin. Had two leaking on my old 270 five pot diesel.....noticed the smell before any real Black death build up.

 

[ryerye90]

Nope....that's Black Death....nothing to do with anything coming out of the exhaust.......thats diesel leaking past the injector seals that then being burnt to the head with the heat. Love the cable ties ties holding the power connectors to the injectors!!. Very professional!!!
Still needs to be fixed though.....the goo makes any plastic it touches, like those connectors and wiring, brittle and you will get nasty exhaust fumes in the cabin. Had two leaking on my old 270 five pot diesel.....noticed the smell before any real Black death build up.

So the last owner cow Boy

 

[ryerye90]

Nope....that's Black Death....nothing to do with anything coming out of the exhaust.......thats diesel leaking past the injector seals that then being burnt to the head with the heat. Love the cable ties ties holding the power connectors to the injectors!!. Very professional!!!
Still needs to be fixed though.....the goo makes any plastic it touches, like those connectors and wiring, brittle and you will get nasty exhaust fumes in the cabin. Had two leaking on my old 270 five pot diesel.....noticed the smell before any real Black death build up.

Is fixing it a big job? Don’t want to sink loads of money into it

 

[Petrol Pete]

An old one , but tells you all you need to know about the Black Death.

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[ALFAitalia]

And ignored obvious faults and likes the smell of burnt diesel in the morning!!

See previous owner below!!!...

 

[SpikyMikey]

Difficult to see in the picture; what's going on where I've added a yellow circle?

 

[ryerye90]

Difficult to see in the picture; what's going on where I've added a yellow circle?
View attachment 161070

Was black build up cleaned most of it