Blue smoke - which cause???

[Monique]

Hello everyone,

Our new to us E220 CDI gives considerable blue smoke on initial acceleration after time at idle. No smoke at highway speeds. ( I was following my wife so I know she smokes occasionnally)

What could cause this problem??

I feel a not so nice Christmas gift coming....

 

[fredfloggle]

Valve guides - bores - could be lots of things , but give it an oil change first -
I have an old mistsubishi that greatly protests when the oil gets too old - lots of black smoke , like overfuelling .

 

[ADY1983]

Not sure about diesels but I would have said Valve seals, but definatly do an oil change first as Fred said..

 

[fredfloggle]

Diesels have them too though most turbo charge engines run a positive manifold pressure except when at idle and on the overrun , so valve guides wear is less evident .

If an oil change cures it , you may wish to monitor it for a while , then possibly flog it - how many miles does it have on the clock ?

 

[Monique]

Diesels have them too though most turbo charge engines run a positive manifold pressure except when at idle and on the overrun , so valve guides wear is less evident .

If an oil change cures it , you may wish to monitor it for a while , then possibly flog it - how many miles does it have on the clock ?

Car has 299825 Kms now. Had an oil change at 296K kms, passed emissions AOK at that time. Car was used mostly highway all its life... I tend to consider a faulty ancilliary system... maybe???

 

[Brian WH]

CDIs are prone to Turbo problems. The blue smoke after idling could be oil leaking into the Turbo. Needs keeping an eye on mate. If the blue smoke becomes evident during normal journeys, then the engine will need possibly expensive attention I am afraid.

 

[fredfloggle]

Car has 299825 Kms now. Had an oil change at 296K kms, passed emissions AOK at that time. Car was used mostly highway all its life... I tend to consider a faulty ancilliary system... maybe???

Did you change the type of oil too ?

If that is the original turbo , then it has done well . Look at the inlet tract for signs of oil slop .

 

[Monique]

Hello Fred,

Don't know about the type of oil although it is synthetic. Was changed by the dealer.

Regarding inspection of the intake, I will do so before looking further.

To confirm... oil in intake means bad turbo.

No oil in intake is valve guides...

Some choice

 

[fredfloggle]

I am sure that someone will disagree , but engines do tend to settle down on a particular oil .
There is a guy who posts here and is more than a bit experienced , perhaps he will add something about oils .

Yes , in general what you have said is correct - there are of course many things that it could be . I personally would rather change a turbo than start stripping down an engine for valve guides - older "seasoned" engines are best left unmessed with unless you are going to do the whole nine yards .

lots of things can cause the blue smoke - broken piston rings - a lazy head gasket weeping oil to a bore - hopefully it is just a tired turbocharger.

 

[Dieselman]

As a first reaction I would go for turbo seals. If so this should be most evidient after starting the engine becuse the oil seeps through at engine off and is then burned off when restarted.

Fred has been pretty informative and concise with his description of why the oil leaks at idle.

 

[Monique]

Both you gents have handed me a Christmas present.

If you come to the low lands, I owe each of you a pint or 12... prob more like 12.

Thank you again Fred and Dieselman

 

[fredfloggle]

Nice bottle of Framboisen Beer !!

You might find also that allowing the car to idle for a few minutes after a stop , allowing the oil temp to drop , and the turbo to cool will also prevent oil leakage from the seals . I get a puff of oil on start up from my old pajero - but it doesn't use oil - this is the same thing . It is difficult to assess the condition of a turbo on the car - the bearings will generally be loose when cold and no oil pressure - they are a dynamic bearing (normally plain ceramic) , and won't center up until the turbo gets oil pressure and spools up - so don't judge the condition of the turbo by wiggling the compressor - you will almost certainly feel play (don't try it when it is running either !) .