Strange smoke from engine compartment, only when motor is warming up

[KeatS4]

So since I purchased the car 4,000 miles or so ago and I've noticed that I get a burning oil smell and white smoke escaping from the fenders and hood while my car is not at optimal temps. For example, if I start it up and let it idle for a few minutes, or if i go for a short drive (4 miles) under normal driving conditions, my engine bay with be releasing white smoke and I can smell burning oil only outside of the car or when the window is down. The smell does not come through the vents, and if i smell the smoke directly it is odorless. It is bone white, not grey or tinted any color with the characteristics of water vapor/steam.
Now here's the confusing part, car has 128,000 miles and had a complete Audi certified $8,000 service at 110,000 miles. I have receipts from Audi from 2006 proving $23,000 worth of maintenance (not repairs), and the previous owner was extremely anal at maintaining the car. I did not lose any oil, coolant, or any other fluid over the course of my 4,000 cycle so far. Oil is exactly where it was on the stick 4,000 miles ago when I changed it. To further this confusion, if I drive it for more then 5 miles or if i drive it hard and got her nice and hot it stops, disappears, and will not return until the car is off and cold until next start up. I always let it warm up and cool down between driving cycles. Car is stage 1+, I bought it 100% stock so the tune, DVs, and hoses aren't just new but it had this odd problem(?) when it was stock as well. There's no oil on my motor and if it was just burning off excess I would imagine 4,000 miles, 1,400 of which was in a straight line for 24 hours, would have been burned off by now. Any idea?

Thanks

[mikay1814]

Sounds like it could be a coolant leak from the cylinder head coolant pipe onto the DP heat sheilds? Maybe the leak only shows up when the thermostat is closed and there is more pressure in the system.

[Zba]

Did you run over a trash bag?

[KeatS4]

hmm, I didn't think of that. I'll have to take a look see in that area. If there is a leak, it must be awfully small to not put a dent in my reservoir or radiator levels

[Zba]

How much smoke are we talking here? Billowing smoke? Any of your buddies playing pranks on you? To have oil smell but no leak is odd.

[Boosted4dr]

He says he smells burnt oil. I have the same issue and my problem are the valve cover and cam tensioner gaskets.

[christianb5s4]

Sounds like valve cover gaskets, you would know if it was coolant because burning oil and burning cool smell completely different. It doesn't take much oil to create smoke or burning, 4,000 miles is not a ton of time for a small leak to make a dent in the 7 quarts that are in the engine.

[KeatS4]

How much smoke are we talking here? Billowing smoke? Any of your buddies playing pranks on you? To have oil smell but no leak is odd.

Enough where if you sit in the drivers seat you can see smoke coming from the both fender wells and rise up above the hood and disperse

Sounds like valve cover gaskets, you would know if it was coolant because burning oil and burning cool smell completely different. It doesn't take much oil to create smoke or burning, 4,000 miles is not a ton of time for a small leak to make a dent in the 7 quarts that are in the engine.

Family of mechanics and it's def an oil smell. If it is the valve gaskets I'd be surprised they're going bad again this soon. Luckily something like that will only impede my time and not be a mechanical challenge. I've never worked on the 2.7l before but from what I've researched its not too different then other V AG products. In worst case scenario my father can show me, he has some experience with them. Thanks for the input!

[zillarob]

When the car is running, the pcv system is applying a slight vac to the crank case and helping keep the oil in the motor.
When not running, no vac holding it in, so the oil can get out and end up on the ex mani.
This is prob why you get smoke the first time you fire it up and romp on it, but good after that until you shut it down.

[blitz2190]

Enough where if you sit in the drivers seat you can see smoke coming from the both fender wells and rise up above the hood and disperse



Family of mechanics and it's def an oil smell. If it is the valve gaskets I'd be surprised they're going bad again this soon. Luckily something like that will only impede my time and not be a mechanical challenge. I've never worked on the 2.7l before but from what I've researched its not too different then other V AG products. In worst case scenario my father can show me, he has some experience with them. Thanks for the input!

mine failed after 10k, since then I have replaced them and added the "right stuff" gasket maker to both sided of the valve cover gaskets (thin layer) and let it sit over night, no leaks now and I'd be willing to bet that it holds a lot longer this time.

[jbain2]

Sounds like valve cover gaskets, you would know if it was coolant because burning oil and burning cool smell completely different. It doesn't take much oil to create smoke or burning, 4,000 miles is not a ton of time for a small leak to make a dent in the 7 quarts that are in the engine.

I am going leaking vcg's, cam plugs or tensioners as well. At startup, the oil that has leaked down onto the exhaust burns off, and then stops after it is all burnt off. Is the smoke coming from 1 side or the other or both?

[ajee622]

I say leaking vcg. Same thing with my first s4


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