Sssssmokin!

86911cab · 01-31-2011, 06:50 PM

I have an '86 911 with 197,XXX miles on it. A few years ago I switched from Castrol to Brad Penn oil. Seems like right away I started having smoking issues. Most of the time it smokes like a Freight Train when it first starts up, and continues for a few miles. Sometimes it doesn't smoke at all. I have tried different oil levels with no noticeable difference until today.
I started it up and no smoking. I drove it to let it warm up. The oil level indicator usually doesn't make a big until it is at about 200 degrees. Thats when I check it. The level was at the very bottom if the dip stick. I put in a quart which brought the level to the bottom mark. It sat there idling as I spoke with a neighbor. Then it started smoking again. I have never had an issue with the engine running over 210 degrees. What do you Guru's think?

Winter · 01-31-2011, 06:52 PM

Have you tried switching back? I'm just wondering if the oil change was a coincidence and there is something else happening. . . .

86911cab · 01-31-2011, 06:54 PM

I have thought about it. I guess it just sounded too easy.

DRACO A5OG · DRACO A5OG's Garage

That is very strange, sounds like an over fill but no way the dip stick would give false readings when at operating temps.

+1 switch back or to Valvoline VR1 20W50 Conventional and see if it comes back. Gosh I hope not

IROC · IROC's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

+1 switch back or to Valvoline VR1 20W50 Conventional and see if it comes back. Gosh I hope not

I'd switch back also. I used Brad Penn for two oil changes a few years ago (when it was all the rage) and immediately noticed that I had oil leaks everywhere (I had been using Mobil1 before the Brad Penn). I then switched to the Valvoline VR1 noted above and the leaks essentially went away.

Not a scientific study, but that was my experience. I've always liked the VR1 also, and it is available locally so it was a win-win...

Wavey · 02-01-2011, 03:54 AM

I also had smoking problems with Brad Penn.

Jesse16 · Jesse16's Garage

I have an 87 with 190 K mile and some smoke also. Doing a DIY mostly rebuild in the garage over the winter. I think you've just finally hit the time for a rebuild of some level. You don't mention oil "usage". Mine was just getting to be around 1 qt per gas tank fill and I had drips a variety of drips. With the engine out now It appears from the oil return tubes and oil line fitting behind the HE's. Anyway, at 190, you just have to believe lots of stuff is ready to pass oil.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

More than a few people have commented on BP causing leaks on older higher mileage motors. Try Valvoline VR1....choose the weight appropriate for you weather and area.

BP has a 20% synthetic blend.....

Flieger · Flieger's Garage

Funny, my car seemed to leak less with Brad Penn after Castrol GTX 20/50. The BP is a lot thicker, though.

Alan Lindquist · 02-01-2011, 03:38 PM

I've been using GTX 20/50 for 50,000 miles. I have six or seven or eight leaks. Who really knows. It's a mess. It's leaking all over the place. Next time I pull the motor, I'm going to investigate the oil return lines, the oil cooler and anything else at the back of the motor because I've got oil on the top and it can blow up there, but it's more likely that it's coming from up there. I've already replaced the oil thermostat ring. I don't pretend that I can get all the oil leaks, but any one or two or three is a major step.

So next oil change I was thinking of switching to Valvoline 20/50. Who has a suggestion for something else? For the 50,000 miles previous to the Castrol, I was running Mobil 1, but the cost just got too crazy. THATS when my car started leaking seriously. Going from synthetic to dyno oil is either a bad idea, or there's some urban myths about it with a big coincidence.

BTW - I'm adding a quart about every 1,000 miles (every 3rd tank) and that includes the leaking, so I'm thinking that the blow-by isn't too serious. I tried 10/40 weight some time in the past (can't remember why) and re-named my car the Valdez. So oil weight has a lot to do with consumption and leakage.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

I'd avoid Castrol - hit search for why

Hodgey · Hodgey's Garage

187k+ on Brad and Penn......no issues whatsoever.

Alan Lindquist · 02-01-2011, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWebb

I'd avoid Castrol - hit search for why

Thanks Webb. I know how to search. I tried it. I found at least 28 different opinions with almost zero facts - all opinion.

But then I asked, so I deserve that.

Is there ANY science out there that anyone can quote, or is it all conjecture?

Opinions are easy. Preference is strong. Science is unyielding.

I'm leaning towards Valvoline - simply to see what happens.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Lindquist

...

Science is unyielding.

...

interesting quote.

I don't know of any studies using scientific methodology. I just follow what people that have shops say -- they see a lot of cars, so I fall back on "clinical experience." I figure it's better than random opinion.

Alan Lindquist · 02-01-2011, 06:43 PM

Webb - You're right. This won't be decided by science. I'd also tend to believe in the shops I trust. When I searched the forum for answers on the best oil to use, which should have some kind of consensus given the experience and wisdom on this forum, I found a smorgasbord instead of a steak. I was kind of hoping for a steak.

Tonymodica · 04-19-2011, 01:21 AM

I have a 1984 Carrera and yust recently I added oil (mobil 1) and changed spark plugs and filter, now it started smoking very bad when cold, not all the time so I figured it is some type of sensor or something. when it warms up it does ok, can it be the spark plugs or the oil?

GH85Carrera · GH85Carrera's Garage

I have a similar mystery smoke problem when cold. It does not always happen, but sometimes it smokes a lot when cold and waiting at a light. Once it is warm it does not smoke under hard acceleration or when engine braking. It has me puzzled. I use Swepco 20-50.

hcoles · 04-19-2011, 05:57 AM

89 3.2 using BP 15-40 no issues/leaks, was using BP 20-50, I decided to try the lower vis.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Add me to list of mystery smokers. Mine sat for 2 months. I started it up and it didn't smoke at all. Now that I drive it regularly again, it smokes at every start up until it gets up to operating temp. This started (or became noticeable) after I replaced the cat with a pre-muffler.

love911 · love911's Garage

Just did the valve adjustment and spark plugs and also changed the crank seal and chain cover gaskets with tensioner seals.During this months auto zone oil sale bonanza I bought 2 cases of VR-1's and decided for the first time switch the oil from BP to VR-1.
I don't want to rush to any conclusion cause I only drove the car for maybe 500 miles since oil change,but now every time I started the car, there has been a puff of smoke coming out of exhaust which I never had before,and also I noticed there is one drop of oil(I know it's not too much,but My car has never leaked a drop of oil since I had it which is almost 4 years ) under the car that comes from somewhere top of the oil tubes, and now I have to put a bed pan under it!! I am going to drive the car little bit more to see if any change for better happens ,if not I"ll switch back to BP and see if these symptoms go away.