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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Golf mk3 how to guides + info => Topic started by: alanapone on 28 November 2011, 17:35

Title: VERY smoky GTi 8v
Post by: alanapone on 28 November 2011, 17:35
Hi their peeps.

Been having a problem with the missus car. It an 8v and it smokes like a trooper!

It seems to be running okay, No chasing revs or lumpy idle, it just seems to plough out extraordinary amounts of grey smoke!

at idle it doesn't seem too bad, it will sit ticking over quite happily. When you put some revs on I can turn it into a military smokescreen generator VERY easily!

Checked a few bits the main one being from the stickies in here. The two relays feel warm after it's been running for a bit. The plugs are quite black and one was smelling of fuel.

I don't know any of it's history as it was bought off eBay CHEAP and came with the latest MOT cert and not much else.

Any idea's please?
Title: Re: VERY smoky GTi 8v
Post by: dubpirate on 28 November 2011, 20:47
not got too much oil has it

my m8 just did his and his was smoking badly

he didnt drain the oil for long enough and put the book 4L in for his 1.6

i checked the oil and it had way too much in (well over max)

drained about a pint glass out and it stopped right away
Title: Re: VERY smoky GTi 8v
Post by: alanapone on 28 November 2011, 22:57
I'll check tomorrow :)

To add... It was running fine for a bit then has suddenly gone like this.

I did put some STP injector cleaner in with the tank of fuel it has in it (it was a free sample!) I don't suppose anyone has had any bad experiences with it??
Title: Smokey
Post by: sharki786 on 02 December 2011, 12:08
Could be a number of things. The relays your on about are for the cutting out issure. Worse case could be the piston rings need replacing or the stem valve seals need replacing as a cousine of mine had a simular issuse but only giving it the beans. (Grey/brown smoke)
Title: Re: VERY smoky GTi 8v
Post by: alanapone on 05 December 2011, 16:23
Well, I've ordered a ODB2 lead off ebay and "found" a copy of VAGcom. Hopefully the lead will be here next week and I can plug in and see if any fault codes are coming up.

If that shows nothing then I think it'll be time to whip the head off and have a closer look inside!

That's all I can think of at the moment!  :cry:
Title: Re: VERY smoky GTi 8v
Post by: alanapone on 27 December 2011, 13:21
Can't get this copy of VAGCOM to recognise the car SO, as of tomorrow, i'm going to make a start on getting the head off it to see whats going on.
Title: Re: VERY smoky GTi 8v
Post by: alanapone on 09 January 2012, 19:58
Well, looked into this a bit more to find some people had issues similar to this and changed the water temp sensor. this then sorted the issue.

Done this tonight but no... still VERY smoky runs a lot smoother now though ;)

Thinking I'm going to be left with no choice but to pull the cylinder head off and see what's going on!

Might just see if I can find another head first, get that refurbed with new stem seals, pressure tested and a new head set then just do a swap rather than take this one off, check it then fix it then rebuild it.
Title: Re: VERY smoky GTi 8v
Post by: twotwofour on 19 January 2012, 15:31
Surely it would be easier to put another engine in it? They can be had for £100
Title: Re: VERY smoky GTi 8v
Post by: alanapone on 21 January 2012, 13:37
True!

Had a barney with the missus about this now so it's going to the local garage. I give up, i've tried all sorts!

Theres a garage up the road, I'll nip it in to them and see what they say. At least that way I know exactly what the problem is and I can make a decision as to what to do then.
Title: Re: VERY smoky GTi 8v
Post by: Wayne on 24 January 2012, 20:23
Grey smoke is mixture / not running right, oil being burnt is blue.
Title: Re: VERY smoky GTi 8v
Post by: alanapone on 28 January 2012, 12:55
Right took it for the short drive to the local garage... LOTS of white smoke and when we got there, there was lots of mayo coming out of the exhaust!!!

Head gasket is JUST on it's way out. The guy wanted £400 to do the head gasket, skim, cam belt kit and service. While I'm all for paying local business to do work that I can't be bothered / have the knowledge to do, there is no way we can afford it at the moment.

He suggested I try some block sealer that he had as a temp measure. So that's today's job, drain the water out, flush the block and rad them dump this stuff in and keep my fingers crossed :-/

He said some people get another couple of months with it, and other customers come back every 12 months to buy some more and just keep running it! Must be good stuff then :D

I'll update later as to whether it has worked.
Title: Re: VERY smoky GTi 8v
Post by: alanapone on 29 January 2012, 14:07
NOPE!!!!!!

Left it running for an hour today... much longer than the guy at the garage said it would need. it's still smoking like hell and I noticed it has used nearly half a tank of fuel!!!!!

Sounds like it's running on three cylinders still and the no. 3 cylinder spark plug is wet and smell funny.

I'm just going to set fire to it I think. If it wants to smoke, I'll make it bloody smoke!