Drinking Oil diagnosis wanted

[SalSheikh]

guys, i drove home last week and went around a roundabout a bit quick and the oil light flashed but then went. Next day I checked the oil level and nothing on the dipstick so I topped up - 1.5ltrs before it was in the middle of the guide. This weekend the same thing happened but I have done less than 100 miles

your thoughts please

 

[rs-tuner]

What car?

 

[SalSheikh]

Leon Cupra 1.8T AUQ engine done 90k, full head rebuilt recently due to broekn exhaust valve.

 

[GlanzaV]

Does it smoke on boost... or on overrun? Or either?

 

[daveg1]

i had this on my leon fr tdi. the oil cooler had gone and was filling the coolant system and coming out of a natural weak point(around the coolant header tank). have a look under the car and see if the is a moosive line of oil from fron to back, i found that too.
i know mines a diesel but i asume the same could happen on the petrol.

 

[cupraslayer]

Isn't that a sign of turbo wear? May be wrong, but when I thought mine went, that was ment to 'be' one of the signs.

 

[Mark300zx]

The cam cover can leak at the rear of the engine which is not obvious without looking hard, a couple of people including myself found the engine can be fussy about the brand and viscosity of oil, I used Mobil 5-30 fully synthetic+engine flush and the engine stopped using oil, before that the engine was using oil on halfords fully synth 5-40!!!

 

[SalSheikh]

car has been smoking and overfuelling for the last couple of months but the garage/tuner coundt get to the bottom of it although lots of stuff was changed/checked. I have bee using VW Synta oil but had been topping up with Mobil 1 5w30 as it was all i had. The head was taken off recently and i cant see any oil leaks anywhere. For it to use that much oil in less than 100 miles means its something serious doesnt it?

 

[Mark300zx]

Well it is either leaking it on the floor/cooling system, or burning it, if it is in the coolant it will not look it's normal colour.

If it is burning oil. the exhaust smoke colour can look blue or white/grey, it will be smoking but you can almost stir the smoke with your hand unlike normal condensation, but it may take a long time for the engine to reach the right temperature before it starts smoking.

If it is leaking oil it will be on the floor, but it may be a high pressure leak only occurring under load?

Overfuelling can reduce the viscosity of the oil and cause it to not protect the engine any more plus cause bore wash then your engine is fubarred!

 

[csd_19]

I topped up - 1.5ltrs before it was in the middle of the guide.

For it to use that much oil in less than 100 miles means its something serious doesnt it?

Do you have any obvious drips under the car? That is a fair old amount to be losing in under 100 miles - I'd be looking for a smoke trail. Or inspect/sniff the coolant to see what's in there.

Just had a thought - do you have a fmic or still running the stock smic?

The turbo seals could have failed on the cold side, the oil is being drawn into the boost pipes and then collecting in the intercooler. Hence no or very very little smoking. Happened to me when the car was under warranty - the mechanic at SEAT showed me the 3/4 pint of oil he'd poured out of the smic when they changed the turbo....

Try pulling off the lower intercooler pipe and be ready to (possibly) catch some oil.

 

[daveg1]

White smoke is for water entering the engine.(steam from water)

Blue is when oil is in the cylinders and is getting burnt off

Black is when the engine is running rich ie too much fuel

Take the coolant tank lid off you'll see if oils in there straight away. the. you know a seals gone somewhere

 

[Mark300zx]

Dave Turbo smoke is very often white/grey, as well jfyi

 

[SalSheikh]

the car has been overfuelling and the exhaust was chrome but is now black, even on start up there is a bit of a diesel look if you understand what i mean.

when booting it, you can see smoke, its black - wife followed me home and saw it.

no visible drips from the car, car is garaged every night and i have put some cardboard to see if there is anything but so far nothing.

car is running a turborevs smic and when i did change from oem i did notice some oil....not a lot mind you but deffo some there.

i'm thinking it maybe borewash and do have a replacement engine lined up - 41k with fsh but wanted to make sure i wasnt spending funds on something i didnt really need.

if it is the turbo then i have a spare K03s lined up....

 

[daveg1]

thats fair enough mate and im by no means trying to be a big head or demean you in anyway, but what i have said is what ive always been taught and seen on the engines i work on (V16 twin turbo charger paxman-ventura). i dont know if its diferent on smaller engines not sure

 

[daveg1]

whats boost like when booting it, does it feel slugish, try the spare turbo see if the smoke is the same. hopefully not a blown turbo.

 

[Mark300zx]

thats fair enough mate and im by no means trying to be a big head or demean you in anyway, but what i have said is what ive always been taught and seen on the engines i work on (V16 twin turbo charger paxman-ventura). i dont know if its diferent on smaller engines not sure

I think it is very model dependant I used to run a garage and it can vary, no discord intended

 

[Mark300zx]

Sal have you tried running the car stationary with the cardboard underneath, the leak might only happen when running the car or with a fair few revs?

 

[SalSheikh]

yep, i leave the car running for abit to let it cool down and nothing on the cardboard.

car doesnt feel sluggish other than a bit of hesitation at approx 2500-3000rpm but others on here are suffering that too.

what would you guys say is the worst case scenario?

 

[Pyro]

If it's smoking black while booting it mate your burning it off get a White cloth hold at thevtail pipe and really give it some beens see if spurts anything out if your burning it then it's got to be getting into then cylinders or exhaust system somehow

 

[daveg1]

yeah i know mate, these are beasts on ships that produce electricity. sapose all engines are diff. but back on subject, would it being under load (in gear driving) make a differance rather than just reving the engine. so maybe not see anything unless on the road?