Smokey 964

Dgriff · 08-18-2007, 02:51 PM

Oil smoke poring out from the exhaust. More white than blue but definitely oil smell. This happened after a quick run and no problem until idiling when the smoke appeared. A bit of history. A number of weeks before hand I got this gurgling sound from cold, (and hot) like the oil travelling up to the oil cooler in front with air in the system. I put a litre of oil in with no change. I suspect the oil thermotat faulty and also checking out the oil breather system. Anybody come across this before?

Don Plumley · Don Plumley's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dgriff

I put a litre of oil in with no change.

Sorry to ask the obvious - what was the oil level of the car at operating temperature with the engine running? If you put a liter of oil in and it was already high, it could be burning that off. Check inside the air filter housing to see if it is barfing oil back up the breather tube.

Dgriff · 08-19-2007, 02:27 AM

Not overfilled. Took out 2 litres still smoking, worse as she gets hot. Clean for about 20 secs from cold start then smoking. Gone through all the breather/intake system. No oil around worth talking about!

Garrett · 08-19-2007, 08:31 AM

Has it always done this? Last 964 I had that did this needed a rebuild - only way to cure it. Does it ping really badly also?

Dgriff · 08-20-2007, 03:36 AM

No, running like a clock for the year I've had it, then one day after a quick run and at idle before shut down smoke out the exhaust. Still running smooth on all cylinders but drive it now and smoke screen behind. No pinging! I'll do a compression test next to see if anything wrong inside.

nine11speedster · nine11speedster's Garage

How about oil temp? what mileage is on the engine? you said a quick run - was it a HARD run?
give more info...i'd be very interested to learn more about this.

08-20-2007, 11:15 AM

Does it smoke more at idle that when the throttle is opened. More at 800 rpm than at 1200 rpm? If it does smoke more at idle, them there's a good chance that it's valve guide seals. Those were the symptoms when mine went out. Happened pretty fast. Started in the morning, running great, no smoke. 30-40 miles later, smoke for days when idleing, give it just a bit of gas to 1200 rpm, almost no smoke.

While compression and leakdown are great diagnostic tests, they really won't tell you much if it is valve guide seals.

I didn't notice any decrease in power when she started blowing smoke either, but I used about a half of quart of oil in 70-80 miles. When she got torn down, there was 3 valve guide seals that were leaking.

Good Luck, Don

Dgriff · 08-20-2007, 03:05 PM

Yes nine11speedster it was a hard run. Engine done about 6000 miles ago in UK. Brought it to Ireland in 2006. 118K miles on the clock. Beautiful runner until this. no oil temp or other issues except for that gurgling noise from right, at start up became apparent about 2 weeks before the smoke appeared as mentioned before.
SanDiegoDon, I'd like to think it was valve seals bit I don't think so as the more I rev the more smoke I get. Drove it to my workshop and the hotter it got the more smoke I got, like a cloud behind me. I hope someone can put a finger on this before I have to rip the motor.

08-20-2007, 07:27 PM

More smoke as the revs go up, that's beginning to should like rings. You'd be surprized how much smoke can be put out by just one broken oil control ring. Think It's time for the cylinder leak down test. Have you ever done a leak down test? It's not hard, just time consuming, ie, very large labor fee. Found this, http://www.vclassics.com/archive/leakdown.htm , it explains it as well as I could.

Good Luck, Don

Dgriff · 08-21-2007, 08:48 AM

Thanks SanDiegoDon. I'm keeping the option open of a piston problem, but I'm not so sure that the leak down test will show an oil control ring problem. Labour cost not a problem as I do all the work myself. I've been racing single seaters for years and building my own engines. Current mount is an F3000 Reynard. But enough of that. I have the oil tank out and all the pipes, hoping it's a breather problem. I had hoped someone had come across this and save me the donkey work. I'll post the fix when I find it. Thanks for all the help.

Chrisuk · 09-04-2007, 01:09 PM

Hi there, before you do anything expensive or time consuming I would check your air filter for any dampness, If there is then you may have a perished warmup regulator, regards Chris

Dgriff · 09-06-2007, 04:14 AM

Thanks Chris I will check that but it's been a while since it's been running and the filter would be dry now. Any way of checking the warmup regulator, if I can find it?

Chrisuk · 09-06-2007, 07:48 AM

Hi,
Unfortunately the warmup regulator if perished will be internal, Ie you will not be able to see it from the outside of it.
Some give away signs are those I have suggested, Petrol inside the air filter is the main one, therefore you will need to start the car up, when mine went, I noticed a petrol smell about the car and also at the rear seat near the heating vent( by the seatbelt) you could really smell petrol, this was where the petrol had come out and then was of course heated up by the exhaust.
I also noticed that the car would not accelerate as well as it should eitherunder load.
I hope this helps, regards chris

Dgriff · 09-06-2007, 03:02 PM

Thanks again Chris. I'm waiting on parts from UK and US. I found lot of bits I did'nt like (oil lines) etc which I am changing so will be a few weeks bfore I get to fire up again and will post the result. Regards, Donal.