[Cloud9blue]

I know there is a few threads about the same topics, but none of them got updated with the roots of the problem nor any solution.

So I have been noticing some pretty bad smokes coming out of driver side exhaust (have VRSF dp mated to AE, making a fully divorced and catless system).

This only occurs a minute or two after cold startup and continues until engine reaches normal temperature (230-240F oil temp), which then just stops. No boost issues, engine runs strong, logs look good too.

Can't be bank 1/front turbocharger or its seals going out, since the smokes would continue regardless of the engine temperature. So I am thinking of some sort of ventilation valves that plays a part during engine warm up. Question is which?

Anyone else has similar issue?

[M3_Dylan]

My car used to do this when I parked it outside overnight. Moved it into the garage and problem disappeared, so I chalked it up to condensation build up and forgot about it

[Tom Droze]

I guess that's an advantage to having single exhaust! Sorry, just a little 328 humor! :-)

[Cloud9blue]

Definitely not condensation for my case. I can tell the inner wall of left exhaust tip have a thin film of grease on it, while the other side is just dusty from the carbon.

I have virtually no oil consumption though. Been close to 4000 miles since my last oil change, still appears to be at full level from the I drive.

[135Pats]

My car smokes in a similar manner, the smoking dissipates once the motor is up to temperature. Though it never stops 100% it's close to nil once it's hot. My car burns about 1/2 a quart every 5K miles so i'd consider that fairly normal. It only happens under vacuum, just driving around it doesn't smoke. So only when coming to a stop, or any vacuum (NA mode) situation.

The fact that it changes with heat could suggest a valve issue but I kind of doubt that. I'd like to think it's the turbos but i've never been able to track it down. Car runs beautifully, leakdown and compression tests were good to go, and all the oil reports have been clean. I just deal with it.

[Ingeniator]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

My car smokes in a similar manner, the smoking dissipates once the motor is up to temperature. Though it never stops 100% it's close to nil once it's hot. My car burns about 1/2 a quart every 5K miles so i'd consider that fairly normal. It only happens under vacuum, just driving around it doesn't smoke. So only when coming to a stop, or any vacuum (NA mode) situation.

The fact that it changes with heat could suggest a valve issue but I kind of doubt that. I'd like to think it's the turbos but i've never been able to track it down. Car runs beautifully, leakdown and compression tests were good to go, and all the oil reports have been clean. I just deal with it.

I would say yours is the NA PCV system then.

[M3_Dylan]

I'm pretty sure the oil level on the dash will only move once you need to add a full quart. So the best way to measure is just to drain it and see how much comes out.

[Ingeniator]

Originally Posted by Cloud9blue

Definitely not condensation for my case. I can tell the inner wall of left exhaust tip have a thin film of grease on it, while the other side is just dusty from the carbon.

I have virtually no oil consumption though. Been close to 4000 miles since my last oil change, still appears to be at full level from the I drive.

Is it oily or extra fuel? If you have a decent amount of smoke with no oil consumption it could be fuel from a bad injector. If you have no signs of that my bet is you are consuming and your level sensor is pooched.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by Ingeniator

I would say yours is the NA PCV system then.

Thoughts on remedies?

I've swapped out the stock PCV valve for Rob's piece. Perhaps the PCV system is fouled somehow inside the valve cover? Thx for the response

[pwr hungry]

Replace your rear turbo inlet pcv valve and hose...you may also want to replace the other one with an rb pcv valve and do valve cover and gasket at the same time. I realize that's like $400-450 if you do the labor, but if you have any miles on the car the valves are probably crapped up and I can guarantee you that the pcv passages in your valve cover are completely crapped up. If you decide to purchase, ecstuning.com has the best valve cover and gasket deal I've seen, and then rob sells his pcv valves on rbturbo.com. Just don't expect your issue to go away immediately no mater what you do as your entire exhaust system is already completely coated in the stuff.

[oby_1]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Thoughts on remedies?

I've swapped out the stock PCV valve for Rob's piece. Perhaps the PCV system is fouled somehow inside the valve cover? Thx for the response

interested in this as well. i saw a thread on a fouled pcv system which seemed like it included the entire valve cover, not just the pieces Rob's parts replace....

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by pwr hungry

Replace your rear turbo inlet pcv valve and hose...you may also want to replace the other one with an rb pcv valve and do valve cover and gasket at the same time. I realize that's like $400-450 if you do the labor, but if you have any miles on the car the valves are probably crapped up and I can guarantee you that the pcv passages in your valve cover are completely crapped up. If you decide to purchase, ecstuning.com has the best valve cover and gasket deal I've seen, and then rob sells his pcv valves on rbturbo.com. Just don't expect your issue to go away immediately no mater what you do as your entire exhaust system is already completely coated in the stuff.

I knew it was dumb to do the VCG without replacing the actual cover...just did the gasket like 10K miles ago blegh. Looks like i'll need to do it again


At first I thought it could be a valve seal issue but that seems unlikely.

[Ingeniator]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

Thoughts on remedies?

I've swapped out the stock PCV valve for Rob's piece. Perhaps the PCV system is fouled somehow inside the valve cover? Thx for the response

Yeah NA PCV is all internal. If you haven't replaced your cover recently I would say that is your issue.

[Ingeniator]

Originally Posted by 135Pats

I knew it was dumb to do the VCG without replacing the actual cover...just did the gasket like 10K miles ago blegh. Looks like i'll need to do it again


At first I thought it could be a valve seal issue but that seems unlikely.

Yeah. When you said leak-down was good I knew your valve seals were ok. I usually have this type of thing happen also. You fix A which is right next to B but B looks fine and has no history of issues. However B then decides to fail a week later.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by Ingeniator

Yeah. When you said leak-down was good I knew your valve seals were ok. I usually have this type of thing happen also. You fix A which is right next to B but B looks fine and has no history of issues. However B then decides to fail a week later.

Exactly. These motors never seem to be happy....even when they run great something is amiss. Oh well

[Cloud9blue]

I am only at 35k miles, no OCC. But intake valves are badly caked up when I had it taken apart for walnut blast 5k miles ago. Been meaning to change the PCV valves to those of RB, guess I finally have the motivation to do it along with the check valve hose. See if that helps at all. I honestly won't care about the smoke if I didn't live in a condo with a enclosed parking lot. Can't even leave it idling for more than a minute without worrying about smoking up half of the garage.

Just another day of N54's constant maintenance I suppose

[Island Road]

Did you ever fix this issue?

[Cloud9blue]

It disappeared by itself after a week or two, no idea how and why

Might be some carbon build up from the PCV or something...