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[nixoro]

Silver Omega Now

I took my car in for the MOT it was flying through until the emissions test, blue smoke was pouring from the exhaust and as a result it failed.

My guess is the Cat is on its way out.

HI CO levels and excessive blue smoke.

On closer inspection I found the car had break all oil in and the garage still carried on ragging the nuts out of my car.

Oil issue was my own fault as I should have checked it.

I guess I do have one saving grace and that is I still have 7 days to take the retest, although not sure whether to just get it done and put my mind at rest.

Got it home did a full oil and filter change full tank of petrol and Redex and took it for a long run to london and back last night.

*****Warning for those who use the A1 Specs camera between Stevenage North and South 50Mph limit****

To me the drive was faultless and having had the car running this morning the only smoke visible was white due to the cold outside.

Blue smoke I know is a possible sign of valve stem seals and so long as I can get it through the MOT if it goes tits up afterwards I will just get it sorted. (fingers crossed its was just my stupidity of not checking the oil causing the smoke)

I do have a concern though as the past couple of times on first turn over its died and the EML flashes, I did the paperclip test earlier to find out the cause and it was code 1502.

1502 Immobiliser control unit n/a

Just one thing after another, but has anyone had this code before.

If so any advice would be much appreciated.

[TheBoy]

Sorry to hear its failed again

Blue smoke = oil, hence why no oil left.  Could be as serious as worn rings, but burning oil may damage cats

[nixoro]

Sorry to hear its failed again

Blue smoke = oil, hence why no oil left.  Could be as serious as worn rings, but burning oil may damage cats

Theboy should edit the title it was the black omega that failed last time, that passed the emmissions but failed on the suspension, still to be worked on.

I am not totally sure if it is burning oil 100% only I know of an oil leak now fixed which was on the rear breather pipe and like an idiot at the time I never re checked the oil so I am just hoping the lack of oil is to blame.

What I dont get is i haven't had the oil light or signs on the dash come up.

Although when I actually dropped what oil was in it there was quite abit. still no point in making excuses.

Not sure whether to put it in for the retest and try my luck even though the cat maybe knackered and the blue smoke may re appear, I guess I dont really have much to loose.

[TheBoy]

blue smoke is oil going through pistons and out of exhaust. it is not lack of oil that causes it

[nixoro]

blue smoke is oil going through pistons and out of exhaust. it is not lack of oil that causes it

Bugger  

[nixoro]

What to do next, as there was no sign of blue smoke this morning even with revving I am tempted to get it retested to see if it passes.

My next option is to see about replacing the seals / gasket not sure if its worth it on a 2.0 with 137k on the clock

Or strip it for bits, shall have to give it some thought I think.

[RonaldMcBurger]

You can avoid blue smoke if you use fully synthetic oil like Mobil One. It doesn't burn, thus cant smoke - old trick of the trade for years ago. HOWEVER, it will still show high emmissions on the machine.

Redex will help.

If the car is worth it, drop another engine in. Not the biggest job on those. A good engine should be around £150. If not, scrap it.

[nixoro]

You can avoid blue smoke if you use fully synthetic oil like Mobil One. It doesn't burn, thus cant smoke - old trick of the trade for years ago. HOWEVER, it will still show high emmissions on the machine.

Redex will help.

If the car is worth it, drop another engine in. Not the biggest job on those. A good engine should be around £150. If not, scrap it.

Having done a full oil and filter change yesterday and added Redex and a full tank and a long run when I first started the car this morning all that was visible was white smoke in the cold air. no signs of any blue so not sure what to do.

[nixoro]

I am guessing its a head off job to get to the valves to change the valve stem seals and also to change the piston rings if possible. (Good time to re thread the exhaust manifold bolt thread thats knackered)

Would these be the only reason for the car burning oil.

Obviously it will need possibly a whole new exhaust system but thats a benefit.

Just took the car around the estate car runs fine but couldn't tell whether the blue smoke was still present due to the sunlight.

If it is fixable and not too costly I would consider repairing what with all thats been done to it.

Any Advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Roy

[nixoro]

Need to get onto Vx for prices can anyone confirm for me that it will be the piston rings causing my troubles if it is only this then I may be tempted to have a go at repairing it.

Can anyone suggest what bits would be needed.

I dont think the Cambelt kit will need replacing as its only done under 1k.

Headgasket set aswell

Any responses would be much appreciated.

[nixoro]

Well just contacted Autovaux and I am quite surprised with all the bits I need it works out to about £100+ Vat

Does the problem I have seem fixable. Sorry to Harp on about it.

Am I right to think the head wont need skimming being that it hasn't overheated at all.

Cheers
Roy

[Auto Addict]

If the engine has not overheated you should not need to get the head skimmed.

[nixoro]

If the engine has not overheated you should not need to get the head skimmed.

Cheers Auto Addict   just preparing myself now for the inevitable.

[Auto Addict]

If the engine has not overheated you should not need to get the head skimmed.

Cheers Auto Addict   just preparing myself now for the inevitable.

All the best Nix, I hope all goes well for you.

How many miles has the car done?

[nixoro]

If the engine has not overheated you should not need to get the head skimmed.

Cheers Auto Addict   just preparing myself now for the inevitable.

All the best Nix, I hope all goes well for you.

How many miles has the car done?

Cheers Auto Addict  

I dont think it has done too badly its got just over 137K on it and I dont really want to just get rid as I have had it for nearly 3yrs now. I myself have put 41K on it so its done me well so far.

[nixoro]

Is there a way a garage can definately confirm its the piston rings without removing the head.

Been thinking to get a garage to check it but if they are going to be doing the same as me, it would be pointless taking it in.

[Timbuk]

Hope you get it sorted asap, so you can make it to santa pod

[nixoro]

Hope you get it sorted asap, so you can make it to santa pod

Maybe depends on if I can get the bits asap.  

Has anyone else had the dreaded blue smoke and if so was it  the piston rings.

[rpont]

Has anyone else had the dreaded blue smoke and if so was it  the piston rings.

I've had the blue smoke but only on startup or when pulling away after idling at a junction. It was stem seals and when I removed the collets from one of the no-3 cylinder intake valves it just dropped out - the seal didn't hold it at all. This was a totally unsealing seal and it allowed oil to build up on the top of the intake valve and it got sucked in when I accelerated. Even with it letting oil through badly there wasn't any noticable blue smoke while idling or when moving. In the summer there was a big, thick cloud when I pulled away afer sitting at a junction for a while.

Your trace of smoke doesn't sound like that to me. The plug in no-3 cylinder did get oiled up regularly so it was obvious which cylinder it was.

I think you said that you didn't have much smoke and it wasn't all of the time. If the oil hasn't been changed regulary you could just have a sticky piston ring or they could have just lined the gap up in all of them for a while. It might be worth a Forte oil flush in it for a while before doing anything drastic just to see if it helps.

[nixoro]

Has anyone else had the dreaded blue smoke and if so was it  the piston rings.

I've had the blue smoke but only on startup or when pulling away after idling at a junction. It was stem seals and when I removed the collets from one of the no-3 cylinder intake valves it just dropped out - the seal didn't hold it at all. This was a totally unsealing seal and it allowed oil to build up on the top of the intake valve and it got sucked in when I accelerated. Even with it letting oil through badly there wasn't any noticable blue smoke while idling or when moving. In the summer there was a big, thick cloud when I pulled away afer sitting at a junction for a while.

Your trace of smoke doesn't sound like that to me. The plug in no-3 cylinder did get oiled up regularly so it was obvious which cylinder it was.

I think you said that you didn't have much smoke and it wasn't all of the time. If the oil hasn't been changed regulary you could just have a sticky piston ring or they could have just lined the gap up in all of them for a while. It might be worth a Forte oil flush in it for a while before doing anything drastic just to see if it helps.

Cheers for the Advice rpont.

*update time* On friday I thought I would ring the garage thats has had dealings with my car for the best part of 3yrs, the garage owner I have known for longer and so I gave him a ring and he said bring it over and we will have a look, he told me there is blue smoke but its not excessive and that they knew about it and that its not excessive and not a failure, anyway they put it on there emmisions tester and funnily enough it passed no problem.

So advice from the second garage was to go back to the original garage and get an appeal form the garage is well known for cowboy antics and so when I got there asked for a form which they skirted around and they did the retest there and then and guess what it passed again.

The original garage when testing was over revving the engine which is all wrong I was told it should have the revs set at 2.5k - 3k and no higher where as the original garage had it revving between 3-5k so be careful folks I got caught out but it all came good in the end as far as the MOT is concerned.

I now have my MOT for my car which is a good thing.

Now back to the issue the blue smoke, I have been regularly checking my oil each time I have been going out and it does not appear to be losing any great amounts at all if any. (since the oil/filter change)

I have mentioned before and I maybe clutching at straws but I know my rocker cover is leaking at the front and I also know the manifold seal may not be the best as I have still got to sort out a couple of duff studs.

When I checked the car this morning oil etc you can visibly see oil has run down the side of the thermostat housing and run onto the exhaust manifold I am now thinking oil is seeping in through the join and into the exhaust causing the blue smoke.

My next port of call I plan to remove the exhaust manifold and have a look to see what is going on whether this is my problem as I maybe lucky.

The garage where the car usually goes mentioned it could be the Headgasket on its way out and so am thinking to get it pressure tested can any suggest prices or a recommended tool to carry out a DIY pressure test.

If I find the car is losing pressure then I guess I shall see about getting the job done, I have had a quote for about £600 private garage and they know there stuff but all the same I will probably do it myself.