White/grey smoke during acceleration

[brianB7]

Ive been having some problems with my car during acceleration.

When accelerating at a quick rate (not WOT) but relatively quick especially while entering highways, my car seems to shudder a little and then throws up a cloud of smoke that appears to be white/grey. It usually lasts about 5 seconds (during which I get off the throttle) then seems to drive normal. I have recently replaced the valve cover gasket but this did not fix the problem. I have also had a cylinder misfire and when I pulled the plug it seemed to be covered in soot on the end.(I am pretty sure the plug misfire was due to the plug being set at the wrong gap which I have replaced all four and haven't been misfiring since. However I cannot get it to stop throwing smoke. My next thought is that it may be somehow related to the BSH PCV fix that I installed. While removing the valve cover I noticed that there was lots of gunk in the tube that runs to the oil filter adapter. I have a new stock PCV on its way along with new gasket and both hoses.

My question is, do you think that this smoke could be related to the BSH PCV fix, and that returning it to the newest revision of the stock PCV valve will fix the issue?

My second thought is that it could be either the head gasket and/or piston rings. Is this possible or if these were bad is it more likely that it would smoke all the time and not just during higher boost?

I should also mention that while at idle my vacuum seems to be running at a low (or I guess it would be higher) my boost gauge is an electronic one from dynotune and only measures in PSI. (It usually runs at -11.2 PSI at idle which with rough math equates to 22.4 HHmg. But is now running at around -8.4 PSI.)
I am also throwing no codes other than one for my thermostat which will be getting replaced shortly.
Any help would greatly appreciated.

TIA

[FraggyA4]

Is it idling rough?

[brianB7]

Honestly its hard to say... the famous ticking noise sounds a little louder than normal (but that may just be in my head). However, the needle and the vacuum stay steady.

[Lensch09]

Sounds like a boost leak... Check dv and PCV.

[brianB7]

Thanks Lensch, but would a boost leak cause the exhaust to smoke? thats the only part that has me confused.
I mean it is possible theres a boost leak plus another problem.

[Lensch09]

Boost leak would cause abnormalities in the idle/level of vacuum, abnormalities in wot boost pressure, and a smoking exhaust due to running rich (car isn't getting enough air).

A healthy car pulls around -23in.hg at idle once warmed up.

[brianB7]

Alright thanks I really appreciate it. ECS has just sent an email saying my new pcv is on the way so I'll post here if it fixes the problem or not.

Thanks again

[Brillo]

I always thought if the car were running rich that the exhaust smoke would be black and sooty. White or light gray smoke is usually the sign of burning oil. Brillo

[Lensch09]

I always thought if the car were running rich that the exhaust smoke would be black and sooty. White or light gray smoke is usually the sign of burning oil. Brillo

If its running massively rich without a converter, yes.

[miles1324]

I have the same issue! I've had my PCV replaced again but it still is doing the same thing. My idle seems fine but after the smoke, my temperature gauge needle goes almost down to 1/4. I'm at 77k miles and have had my tb and thermostat replaced already. Also, my car has trouble going up hills and I have to take it easy just to make it up. I'm not sure what to check next. I haven't changed my valve cover or checked my dv yet so maybe that will help.

[Krusty]

Had the same issue and a catch can from 034 MS fixed it. Not really sure if that was it but since then the car runs great.

[brianB7]

Well the Pcv should be here by this weekend. Ill toss it on and see if it helps. But given that the idle isn't rough and it is only periodically smoking is it safe to say its most likely not the piston rings or head gasket I honestly don't have the time to tear apart the engine seeing I'm currently in the mid of my semester

[ChrisS417]

I have had the same issue. My mechanics and I suspect that the it was caused by oil in the intercooler being sucked out at high boost and burned in the engine. I just took her up to 6k RPM in 3rd gear on the highway for a bit and it went away.

[brianB7]

I'd love to try that Chris. But I'd hate to do it and have the issue be something else and cause a hell of a lot more damage ha maybe ill keep that in mind for a last ditch effort.

[brianB7]

On a side note does anyone know when water fest is this year. I live in Philly and have never been but def want to make it this year

[airbornerifleman]

Well the Pcv should be here by this weekend. Ill toss it on and see if it helps. But given that the idle isn't rough and it is only periodically smoking is it safe to say its most likely not the piston rings or head gasket I honestly don't have the time to tear apart the engine seeing I'm currently in the mid of my semester

The only way to tell is with a cold engine compression test.

[airbornerifleman]

I'd love to try that Chris. But I'd hate to do it and have the issue be something else and cause a hell of a lot more damage ha maybe ill keep that in mind for a last ditch effort.

You might damage your CAT

[brianB7]

I have a test pipe ... Sorry forgot to mention that in the original post

[Lensch09]

Under boost. The stock pcv system will actually re-route some air back into the turbo charger. This winds up dumping any oil/fuel in the PCV system into the intercooler or in through the intake.

Even a BSH PCV fix will dump oil into your intercoolers. Typically, most catch cans will too. The only way to fix the problem for good is to use a setup similar to mine seen in the thread below

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...rbon-for-Good!

-Dan

[Lensch09]

Also forgot to add that carbon buildup can cause your car to smoke as it makes the car run rich. Reason why I ruled that root-cause out is because carbon buildup wouldn't fuck with your vacuum pressures

Also, the wastegate actuator arm anneals over time as and makes it so your car will eventually request goofy boost numbers. Lots of high mile 2.0t cars suffer from "lost boost" because the actuator arm is not annealed well enough from the factory. No one has actually come out and said that's what causes this phenomenon. But, I'm telling you and everyone else right now that this is the root cause. Reason why I ruled waste gate control out is because while it does mess with boost numbers, it’s almost unheard of for cars running stock boost. Also, a wastegate acting goofy most likely wouldn’t mess with vacuum levels at idle.

-Dan

[ChrisS417]

Tryin to bump this up for more info....

Not sure about everyone else's issue, but I'm only smoking under high boost, and it seems to be happening all the time. Car is totally stock. I did have the PCV replaced to the new model under warranty, but it seems like something related is allowing oil to be dumped into the turbo and/or intake as well as the intercooler I suppose. I little bit of oil getting sucked in is acceptable, but enough to cause so much smoke tells me theres something wrong. I'm also suffering from excessive oil consumption.

[airbornerifleman]

^ do a compression test

[brianB7]

Tryin to bump this up for more info....

Not sure about everyone else's issue, but I'm only smoking under high boost, and it seems to be happening all the time. Car is totally stock. I did have the PCV replaced to the new model under warranty, but it seems like something related is allowing oil to be dumped into the turbo and/or intake as well as the intercooler I suppose. I little bit of oil getting sucked in is acceptable, but enough to cause so much smoke tells me theres something wrong. I'm also suffering from excessive oil consumption.

Im also having excessively high oil consumption. It sounds like were in the same boat. Its odd that your having this with a completely stock car, I guess that means it has nothing to do with my aftermarket parts. Ill be putting on the new pcv saturday. I'll let you know if it changes anything. I guess after this I'll either be doing a compression test or just dropping the 200 or so bucks to let audi tell me whats wrong with it.

[Lemon123411]

Wow My car smokes also and I didn't know it was the car running rich. I tried the pcv delete where I have to run a intake manifold plug and the car runs rich causing it to smoke. Why does running the plug cause the car to run rich. Also I know it's not burning oil because running the the normal pcv, it doesn't smoke.

Boost leak would cause abnormalities in the idle/level of vacuum, abnormalities in wot boost pressure, and a smoking exhaust due to running rich (car isn't getting enough air).

A healthy car pulls around -23in.hg at idle once warmed up.

[Lensch09]

Wow My car smokes also and I didn't know it was the car running rich. I tried the pcv delete where I have to run a intake manifold plug and the car runs rich causing it to smoke. Why does running the plug cause the car to run rich. Also I know it's not burning oil because running the the normal pcv, it doesn't smoke.

What?

[Lemon123411]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...30#post8451130

What?

[brianB7]

Update: I installed the new stock PCV and immediately the idle was erratic and there was a high pitched whistling noise (I'm guessing boost leak but why would putting the stock pcv on make it worse?) I'll be reinstalling the BSH pcv revamp tomorrow so its at least drivable. So im trying to figure out what my next move is. Any thoughts? I may just have to take it in to the dealer and let them diagnose it for me, at least that way I'll know exactly what it is.

[hemantpd1]

Update: I installed the new stock PCV and immediately the idle was erratic and there was a high pitched whistling noise (I'm guessing boost leak but why would putting the stock pcv on make it worse?) I'll be reinstalling the BSH pcv revamp tomorrow so its at least drivable. So im trying to figure out what my next move is. Any thoughts? I may just have to take it in to the dealer and let them diagnose it for me, at least that way I'll know exactly what it is.

Is your problem fixed? I am facing the same issue.

[brianB7]

Is your problem fixed? I am facing the same issue.

So it's been awhile since I have been here. I no longer own the Audi and haven't for a few years but I saw this in my email and wanted to get you an answer. Did you also replace the I think it's called breather valve? It's the silver metal tube looking thing? Turns out the revamped pcv required a revamped one of those as well as they changed something in the pcv that required it.

[hemantpd1]

So it's been awhile since I have been here. I no longer own the Audi and haven't for a few years but I saw this in my email and wanted to get you an answer. Did you also replace the I think it's called breather valve? It's the silver metal tube looking thing? Turns out the revamped pcv required a revamped one of those as well as they changed something in the pcv that required it.

Thanks for your reply. I will check breather valve and DV today. I have started a thread and wrote my symtoms at: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ing-on-freeway
Can you check if you were facing exactly the same issue?

[brianB7]

Thanks for your reply. I will check breather valve and DV today. I have started a thread and wrote my
symtoms at: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...ing-on-freeway
Can you check if you were facing exactly the same issue?

Ok I didn't realize you were talking about the smoking. Turns out I had a turbo seal leak one way to check this is to pull the ic pipe off the intercooler and kind of tilt it down. You may want to put something underneath it because when I did this a ton of oil would come out. If that's the case chances are you're going to need a new turbo. I picked one up in the classifieds for about $200.

[hemantpd1]

Ok I didn't realize you were talking about the smoking. Turns out I had a turbo seal leak one way to check this is to pull the ic pipe off the intercooler and kind of tilt it down. You may want to put something underneath it because when I did this a ton of oil would come out. If that's the case chances are you're going to need a new turbo. I picked one up in the classifieds for about $200.

Will check that.