This is puzzling me and driving me up the wall. Left work, got home 30min drive. Car was off for about 30min got in the car short drive 5min. Turned off for 15min before 5min drive heading home. About 2min maybe 600m in distance stoped at lights for about 2min. All off suddenly i see smoke burning oil going passed my window. I look back and seem to be comming from back of my car. This is fair bit of smoke not small puffs. I tried looking to see if there is any crap boxes behind me that are causing this. Couldnt see much.so it may be my car. I reved it few times and no difference light turned green no smoke. I know everyone is going to think turbo seals thats what i thought too. i gave it a few good boot fulls before i got home. I left it on idle for 15min waiting for smoke.......... And never came out... If turbo seal it should have done it again when i got home right? But im not so sure... This is first time this happend since i got the car. Is there anything else that can get oil into intake other than turbo or head gasket? I still hope it someone elses car lol. But still like to investigate this. Thanks for help in advance
Gummed up PCV valves might be the problem I've had it happen on occasions, usually if I let it idle though for more than five minutes. Haven't let it worry me too much though because the car doesn't use any oil. I've got overhauled turbos too! Did wonder if turbo seals allow a bit of oil past until everything has heated up. Cheers Andy.
Thanks Andy. Im still awaiting for my pcv hoses to arrive they are crap and cracked. Than i was going to remove the valves and check/clean/replace them. Same here engine uses no oil. Turbos run good. Looks like they have been replaced not long ago. But original turbos driver one definetly shagged itself as right intake manifold has evidence of oil residue. Still on the list of things to do to clean both throttle bodies and manifolds off to write another post turbo related
Inspect your intake piping too for oil mine on the drivers side was coated in oil when i looked behind the air filter. It'll help to narrow down where its coming from.
Andy I checked the pipes last week. I refitted stock intercoolers and checked the piping. It had a front mount but it was damaged and i bypassed it with piping only. Both pipes were oil free. I did take the hose from the turbo next to TB both sides and checked if any oil and it was clean. Hence the reason i dont think its the turbo seals but something else. Thanks for the pointers about to go to remove the TB hoses and check if any oil in them or in the manifold ill keep u updated.
Just checked TB and hoses. As expected no sign of oil. I opened the butterflies and inside the manifold it has oil coated. Seems to be comming from the back of the manifold where most of its concentrated.Both sides have it possibly bit more on left manifold. So what tha? Im kinda happy that ain't the turbos but still want to fix it asap and save myself the embarrasment smoking more than steam train at the lights. Looks like a sleepless nite for me
Just found this on TT.net http://twinturbo.net/net/viewmsg.aspx?forum=technical&msg_id=795245 Describes exactly what you've found inside the butterfly area and points to the possibility of PCV valves not functioning properly, that would allow oil past the turbo inlet seals because of low manifold vacuum. Hopefully thats all it is, Fingers Crossed !
+1 for PCV's being the fault. Mine did exactly the same thing when I first got it - if you left it idling, or drove it very gently (no boost at all) for a while - it would smoke like a chimmney Most embarrasing....... I found if you give it a bootfull taking off - it would clear, the boost pushing the PCVs round and sealing them again properly....for a while....
Thanks Andy for the link. Helped heaps i think i sussed it out now y its happening. Makes more sense. As mentioned earlier both of my pcv hoses are cracked. Left side i just checked has doubled. Hence more oil. The pcv hose is leaking hence not enough vacum to get the valve operating properly causing the oil to enter into manifold resulting in smoke. This also explains change in idle that was happening today. More manifold leak. I did order new pcv hoses just awaiting delivery. Better be soon. Now how do i clean the oil in manifold? Without removing it. Was thinking sprayin TB cleaner. Many thanks For the help Andy
Zx1990 thats what happend. I drove the car carefully (noticed idle playin up again so thought take it easy on the old girl) and smoked crazy lol she wanted booooost. Going to give my nissan guy a call tomorow to see how far are those hoses. Many thanks to both of u guys made my nite. Love this forum. :zlove: :zlove: :zlove:
yeah i had a look at at online. i did see a seller on ebay about a week ago but nothing for sale now (and stupid me didn't watch it so not sure what seller ) i got good price from Nissan prob still way to exy than aftermarket ones but i need them urgently. also this thread poped up as well (didn't see it) http://www.aus300zx.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273457 i also have 2.5" straight through system with only 2 mufflers at the back. no balance pipe. wondering if this could be the problem as well.. as soon as the pcv hoses replaced the balance pipes going on. just to make sure its relative cheap quick fix too.. i like quick fixes.
with you on the balance pipe as it happens to me as i still have to get it done, one way to test is to start up from cold and let it idle for a fair while and see if it starts to smoke from one exhaust over or with the other. GL
I had this exact problem with my zed back in 2005, The car would start up fine, drive fine with no smoke, after it was warm and you idled for over a minute or 2 at traffic lights or the maccas drive thru, white smoke would pour out of my exhaust. The motor was pulled and the turbo's had the seals replaced and checked, no problems apparently, motor back in and they kept on smoking at idle and i could not figure out what was wrong with it. In the end I just put a brand new garretts on it and it never smoked again.
hey guys! I ley my Zed idle for about 5 mins in the morning too and do also notice it somkes! i thought it was something serious,but also the same symptom after i give it a foot full it clears :-s How do i clean the PCV valves? any cleaner/solvent suggested, any tricks i should know about before cleaning them? thanks
UnFairladyZ Ill be attacking it on weekend so i let u know how i go.plan is replace pcv hoses clean and test the valves with degreaser. Than clean the TB and manifold with carby cleaner or TB cleaner. And if time weld in the balance pipe to exhaust. Just to make sure. Though no smoking today at all. Wierd.
So the balance pipe on the exhausts can be a contributing factor to the "First start/ Idle smoke"? mine are still connected, any reall disadvantage of having them? also sorry about the noobish question, what do u mean clean the manifold?? Inside the plenum?? cheers Buddy :-D
Are you sure that your wiring has not been replaced with Lucas components. These are the electrics in which the sole purpose of the insulation is to keep the smoke in, 'cos if the insulation breaks, the smoke gets out !!!!! Well known amongst those with Pommie cars (even modern ones like Jag's and Rangie's) .....
