smokin' !!! (kind of long)

broseed · broseed's Garage

A couple of days ago, I noticed my oil gauge was reading a little low - so I went and checked it (with the engine warm and running) - and found that it was reading at the low mark - so I added a 1/2 quart and tried to check the level again, and noticed that it appeared lower than before! At this point, I heard something wuhhhring towards the front of the car (oil pump or something?) - anyways, I added the rest of the quart - still saw a low reading - but figured the sound in the front of the car had something to do with it and figured all was ok. I drove the car on a two short trips on Fri. and Sat. without incident - the guage showed a little above the middle.

So, today I'm driving through the hills of SF in stop and go traffic due to St. Patty's Day celebrations - the car was running a little hotter than normal, but not much. All of a sudden she starts spittin' out a bunch of white smoke - I look at my oil guage and it is pinned at the high mark - so I pull over and take a look at the dipstick and find it reads about 1/2 inch or so above the high mark. So, did the oil get hotter than normal and expand more, thus causing an overflow (which I've read about on this board before)? What should I do to prevent another smoke episode - do I just have to wait for the excess oil to burn off? What was that whurring sound I heard towards the front of the car?

Thanks for your help here folks - I shouldn't be too worried about this, right ?

Boy, it sure was embarassing when all that smoke started billowing out my car like it did...

Doug Zielke · 03-17-2002, 02:44 PM

Dylan,
When you first checked the oil, and then added some, the motor was not as close to operating temperature as you thought. You overfilled it, hence the smoking once it got hotter.

Try to remember to check the level *after* a drive, when the oil is bound to be at full operating temperature.

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

If it is really overfilled, use a gear oil pump or similar to suck out the excess oil (John Walker's technique). I think I recall once reading something about running with too much oil as being bad.

Good Luck,

Don

doofdog · doofdog's Garage

When I first Bought my Carrera I had the same problem. I have since read the manual and realized that the car has to be at operating temp before checking the level. It would smoke like crazy!! I thought I had Premature Valve guide probs. I now keep the oil between The tick marks on the stick and Wouldn't you know it not a puf of smoke. get the car nice and warm before you check the oil level. Doof

Jdub · 03-18-2002, 05:01 AM

Dylan:

Make sure that the oil in the cooling loop is also hot and thermostat open. Reach under the right front fender and feel both the in and out hose for consistent temp. between the two. Now you know the thermo. opened and the oil is running through the entire system and you won't get a false reading.

You might take an afternoon to clean the overfill. Put a rag next to the oil filler tube, remove the cap and loosen the clamp on the tube headed towards the rubber plenum (the kidney shaped thing between the throttle body and the sensor plate). Let the tube fall into the rag and drain the yellowish goo you find in there. If you are adventurous, remove the plenum and have a look in there for spattered oil and whatnot. You can clean the sensor plate if it looks dirty but do be careful to treat it with kid gloves (support it and use paper towels with Simple Green).

John