Came home on a flatbed :(

[peterchurch]

Belting down the motorway and all of a sudden boom big puff of blue smoke out the back then nothing ... pulled into a service station took a look round the car lots of oil near the gear box running down the length of the car waited for collection in which time I moved it a twice to examine oil (yep) its oil... poped her on a flat bed brought her home (two hours or so later)
the only thing on the flatbed was water no oil any thoughts ??

Im starting to want my MR2 back in a big way

 

[Will]

Doesn't sound like you're having much luck mate.

Hope it isn't too exbenzive, but I've a feeling it might be.

Is it engine or gearbox trouble? Sounds like engine problems with the blue smoke.

Will

 

[peterchurch]

No oil in the exhaust though its all under the car, and the oil in the engine looks fine... I am hoping that I have blown the torque converter or the seals around it... I am told that it would cost me an arm and leg anyway but at least then it will be done for the next 100 K or so

But yes your right I am having a very poor time with this car...

Odd thing is that gear changes have become sliky smooth (not slipping either)

 

[andy_k]

obvious questions

is it engine oil or transmission fluid? - the colour should have given it away, blue smoke suggests engine rather than gearbox.

if you fire it up does it run smoothly? and is there any build up of pressure in the cam/rocker covers?

check that

if you have flame traps/crankcase breathers they are not blocked or due for replacement

current oil level - is it possible it was overfilled?

all the seals around places like the oil filter are intact - I know it sounds obvious but the oil needs to have got out somewhere and locating that point would go a long way towards diagnosing the problem.

Andy

 

[peterchurch]

obvious questions

is it engine oil or transmission fluid? - the colour should have given it away, blue smoke suggests engine rather than gearbox.

if you fire it up does it run smoothly? and is there any build up of pressure in the cam/rocker covers?

check that

if you have flame traps/crankcase breathers they are not blocked or due for replacement

current oil level - is it possible it was overfilled?

all the seals around places like the oil filter are intact - I know it sounds obvious but the oil needs to have got out somewhere and locating that point would go a long way towards diagnosing the problem.

Andy

The car is running uber smooth and as I said the gear changes are silken as well

The box was serviced about four weeks ago by the local auto specialist (as merc would not touch the sealed box)...

It will be going up on ramps tomorrow

The oil was black but it seemed to be coming from the autobox or the Torque Converter

 

[andy_k]

if it's transmission oil you should be covered by your recent repairs so let's hope they guarante their work and that's what the problem is.

I'd still be looking at the rear of your engine for possible leaks - hence my suggestion of the oil filter (I'm asuming yours is near the bulkhead) blowing oil out under crankcase pressure - without actually being there, I'm guessing obviously so keep us posted

Andy

 

[peterchurch]

if it's transmission oil you should be covered by your recent repairs so let's hope they guarante their work and that's what the problem is.

I'd still be looking at the rear of your engine for possible leaks - hence my suggestion of the oil filter (I'm asuming yours is near the bulkhead) blowing oil out under crankcase pressure - without actually being there, I'm guessing obviously so keep us posted

Andy

This diagnosis would suit what I was doing to the car at the time but I though that the oild filter was at the top of the engine at the front ...

But it would explain why after 2 hours sat around it appeared to go back to normal

The really annoying thing is I have Wis sitting on my home machine waiting for a key otherwise I would have a chance of sorting this out

 

[Steve_Perry]

Sorry to hear of your woes Peter

Hope you get it sorted soon mate.

S.

 

[Will]

The oil was black but it seemed to be coming from the autobox or the Torque Converter

Without wanting to make too many assumptions, I'd still wager a bet with engine problems.

Your gearbox must be very, very sick if the ATF has gone black after just four weeks?

And I'm still a bit dubious about the blue smoke - unless the smoke was caused by ATF getting on the exhaust?

As Andy has said, finding where the oil/ATF has come from would be the most helpful start to the diagnosis.

Good luck with the repairs,

Will

 

[peterchurch]

Sorry to hear of your woes Peter

Hope you get it sorted soon mate.

S.

I hear that the new Mr2 turbos are due soon if I don't

 

[peterchurch]

OK now its nice and light and sunny I can see what is going on

Got the girl up on ramps and low and behold ATF all down the underside of the car $$ took it back to the nice chapie that serviced the box and asked him why my ATF is currently cleaning the under side of my car instead of the inside of my gearbox He took a stoop under the car and came up looking very baffled Hes fixing it as we speak

 

[peterchurch]

Fixed for free turns out I over heated the box and it caused a seal to fail oooops

Anyway shes back and driving very nice indeed :bannana:

 

[GrahamC230K]

Fixed for free turns out I over heated the box and it caused a seal to fail oooops

Anyway shes back and driving very nice indeed :bannana:

Hmm, not sure how it was your fault, but glad it's sorted without cost.

 

[peterchurch]

Hmm, not sure how it was your fault, but glad it's sorted without cost.

I needed to drop the car down into 4th, But then I forgot to shift up afterwards (please don't tell anyone else I am feeling sheepish enough)

 

[GrahamC230K]

Hmm, you were travelling then! In my car 4th is good for 120mph!

Surely the worst that can happen is you hit the rev limiter. Didn't realise autos were that fragile!

 

[Will]

Hmm - glad you got it fixed and all that, but what about the 'boom and a puff of smoke out the back'?

Did your mechanic have to change the ATF? Obviously you lost some, but what about it being black after just four weeks?

I'd still be worried if my ATF was black - but glad you're back and mobile again.

Will

 

[Steve_Perry]

... Didn't realise autos were that fragile!

They shouldn't be, the engine radiator has a sizeable chunk of it dedicated to the auto gearbox oil to keep it cool.

Could it be that the auto gearbox was overfilled during the service four weeks back? I recall during the last Germany trip that Scott had a scare with his then 190E 2.6 as that belched smoke down the French motorways, he'd had a service not long before the trip and if memory serves me correctly it turned out that his autobox had been overfilled with oil. The oil spilled down the length of the car and burnt on the exhaust causing bluish/grey smoke. I'm sure Scott would remember the incident with greater accuracy.

S.

 

[peterchurch]

4th on the 722.6 is good for 120 as you say but if you leave it in 4th gear for 50 odd miles it might not be so happy I recon I was doing about 90 for most of that. I also think that the box may have been slightly over filled when it was serviced But it only did a maximum of 1k in that state So I don't think there will be any lasting damage.

The box is very much smoother now than it was. The oil just looked black down to the light last night today it looked like ATF oil should
I got a complete box service for free and he will be looking at the box again next week to double check everything is looking good.

I could be peaved about this, but I am happy that the garage took one look at it and sorted the fault.

Would I use them again? Yes, without a doubt!

Thanks for your support

 

[Will]

That's more re-assuring then. Black ATF in my mind would've meant a very sick box.
At least the people who are doing your work had the decency to look after your vehicle after this event. I presume the smoke that you saw would have been the fluid burning off on a hot exhaust then?

Lets keep fingers crossed for no ongoing issues.

Will

 

[peterchurch]

That's more re-assuring then. Black ATF in my mind would've meant a very sick box.
At least the people who are doing your work had the decency to look after your vehicle after this event. I presume the smoke that you saw would have been the fluid burning off on a hot exhaust then?

Lets keep fingers crossed for no ongoing issues.

Will

what have I had in the last month ?

1) Cats replaced
2) Scratched bumper Free but might need the delicate touch of a electric polisher just to take the last scratches out
3) Gearbox

If things come in threes I think I have had my turn for now fingers crossed

I have just managed to take another £60 off my insurance as well so things are bouncing back