tomcat59alan
Well-Known Member
I couldn't as I was doing 110 mph and climbing on the M56.
I knew a guy that drove a tanker (Commer TS3) yes I'm showing my age,that burst a supercharger seal,he said it was doing 120 mph on the M6 until he dipped the clutch and the motor self destructed. When the police got to him they had to prise his fingers off the steering wheel.
Gazbo
Well-Known Member
I think that a leaking turbo seal should do the smoke thing more than just after an oil change for a period, what is happening really sounds like a turbo seal but it would, I think, continue to repeat the same anytime you upped the vehicle on a freeway.
I have seen turbo seal leaks on an old SAAB 99 turbo and what had happened was the oil leaked into the exhaust side "pooled" in the front section of the exhaust and would not burn until the driver gave it the hurry up and sufficient exhaust temps were generated and the higher exhaust temp would vaporise the accumulated oil all in one go, heaps of white smoke, and it is white smoke, the colour of the smoke depends on where/how the oil is burnt and the temperature it is burning at, oil burnt within the cylinders in small quantities will more likely show as the classic blue, it is burning, oil combusted at lower temperature tends to vaporise more than burn, to burn it needs oxygen, a rare commodity in exhaust gas, that vapour shows as white smoke. Oil "pools" in an area of the exhaust system, and it needs not be a lot, it does not vaporise until the temp in that section of the exhaust gets hot enough.
The only reasonably non-invasive way to check for oil carryover would be to remove the exhaust pipe at the turbo and check for oil present, maybe to confirm or otherwise eliminate that area.
And as others have already said, if your engine was ingesting it's own engine oil whilst blowing that amount of smoke you would have the "runaway" situation and you would be aware of that situation. I had an early Golf diesel that ingested its own engine oil a few times before I re-ringed the engine and believe me it is flat chat both feet on the brake pedal and no way to shut it down until the oil is gone through. You could try putting a "catch can" into the crankcase breather circuit to eliminate that possibility.
No idea what your Turbo oil drains are like on that engine but I have a mate who is a BMW master tech and he has told me a lot of the new BMW turbo diesels are having issues with carbonated oil blocking the turbo drain lines causing big problems.
I wish you well with your search, if you find out what is wrong and causing your smoke, I'd be keen to hear.
I have another mate with a 2007 RR Sport that is fitted with a V8 Diesel, so far no problems but your result may help him out some day if his RR has similar issues.
tomcat59alan
Well-Known Member
That sounds like a most reasonable explanation for your trouble but why does it not do it all the time?
sheriff
Active Member
Interesting info guys, the bit about turbo drains gazbo is similar to what someone else suggested . If it does turn out to be the vac pump how it gets oil into exhaust fookin God only knows? Prime example today 1hrs motorway run at 70 flawless !! left on slip road and onto next motorway accelerated smartly up slip road to join and fookin wham ! blanked out all following traffic poor fekers eased off and smoke stopped and back upto cruising at 70 grrrrhh As for start stripping 'the car' ! I've had 2 disco 300tdi, a series 2 disco 4.0V8 and 2 freelander TD4 and done all the work required mi sen but lift bonnet on this thing and I'll need to be a contortionist, have a degree in origami and arms as long as an orangutang, might be a bit out of my depth, but if and when I sort it I'll let you all know meanwhile still hoping someone else has had the same issue. Thanks guys for your patience.
tomcat59alan
Well-Known Member
You will get oil dragged down worn valve guides on overrun but the colour is wrong, don't know where you got the vac pump from.Exhaust side turbo seal sounds feasible.
ifloochies
Well-Known Member
My money is on the seals on the exhaust turbine side of the turbos having failed. As Gazbo said, in that instance, the oil would collect in the exhaust pipework until it burns off with increased exhaust gas temperature when you give it the beans.... I know access on these modern motors is a pain, but you could ascertain the validity of this theory by cracking off the turbo down pipes and find out what's going on behind the turbos. Had a similar problem a few months back with my ancient 200tdi after a regular oil change. Turned out the new lighter oil was leaking past the worn exhaust turbine seals of the turbo and straight out the pipe...
Gazbo
Well-Known Member
Thing is that unless you completely neglect the engine oil level it may never ever "blow up", it may continue to smoke out all the poor punters following in your wake though, and may draw the attention of your Environmental Pollution Police.
That old Saab 99 turbo I referred to in my previous post got thrashed mercilessly daily, smoked like a navy frigate on "camo" exercise and was still powering on at nearly 500,000K, the guy was intent on blowing it up 'cause it was worth next to nothing, while he kept oil in the engine it kept on going, so we replaced the turbo out of pure respect for a job well done by the Saab, a good second hand reco'd turbo cost as much as the car was worth.
