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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: bondbill2k2 on 30 June 2009, 22:57

Title: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 30 June 2009, 22:57
Ive noticed my mk4 has been leaving clouds of white smoke sometimes, not all the time. Only had it happen when warm

When does it happen? Well thats the problem, random, not had it when ive put my  foot down, had it when downshifting (on a hill, not using engine braking)

and when just changing a gear before or accelrating abit.

My mate also noticed/heared a sound when it happened last, sounded much like the exhaust so its got me thinking something to do with the box or cat?

 :cry:
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: richw911 on 30 June 2009, 23:51
Ive noticed my mk4 has been leaving clouds of white smoke sometimes, not all the time. Only had it happen when warm

When does it happen? Well thats the problem, random, not had it when ive put my  foot down, had it when downshifting (on a hill, not using engine braking)

and when just changing a gear before or accelrating abit.

My mate also noticed/heared a sound when it happened last, sounded much like the exhaust so its got me thinking something to do with the box or cat?



Could be a number of things which engine do you have?

Could be head gasket or a valve  :undecided:
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 30 June 2009, 23:55
Its a 1.4. Worst fears are something expensive  :undecided:
Could explain why previous owner was selling it.
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: richw911 on 30 June 2009, 23:58
Its a 1.4. Worst fears are something expensive  :undecided:
Could explain why previous owner was selling it.

I would say head gasket - get the head pressure tested IMO.

http://www.benplace.com/pressure_test.htm
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 01 July 2009, 00:06
It only does it rarely, my dad followed me back from collecting it (80mile trip) and did it once or twice whole journey.
Still worth checking out?
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: richw911 on 01 July 2009, 00:08
It only does it rarely, my dad followed me back from collecting it (80mile trip) and did it once or twice whole journey.
Still worth checking out?

Yeah for sure good garage wont charge a lot - also have a look to see if you coolant is going down  :smiley:
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: james2 on 01 July 2009, 08:29
head gasket :wink:
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 01 July 2009, 09:14
bet that wil be costing me my arm and a leg.
Going to call and take it to Vw rescue get them to do VAG diagnostics and a check over, get to bottom of it and find if anything else needs doing.

http://www.vwrescue.co.uk/index.php
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: AlanD on 01 July 2009, 09:54
If it is the headgasket it wont be cheap.

But lets not jump to conclusions just yet.
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: linz on 01 July 2009, 10:18
could also be down to coilpacks
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 01 July 2009, 10:42
Booked in for 9am tommorow ,full diagnostic check
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 01 July 2009, 12:13
Fingers crossed its something to do with the cat or exhaust as its rattled every time its done it,and rattles sometimes when turning alot like a roundabout.
 :smiley:
Excuse for a milltek me thinks
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: Ben_1uk on 01 July 2009, 12:31
Don't you sometimes get white smoke from the welds inside the exhaust (if it's an aftermarket one)???
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 01 July 2009, 15:28
Don't you sometimes get white smoke from the welds inside the exhaust (if it's an aftermarket one)???
Happened while out in it couple more times now, every time the exhaust rattled before hand when revs were low (not mega low) think it might be a little loose, not had it up on ramps and looked under it yet.
Title: Re: White smoke from exhaust
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 02 July 2009, 09:20
Bk from garage, piston rings gone and somethin else cant renember what he said bt basicaly said full engine rebuild but not worth it on car of that age/value of course  :cry:


They didnt run diagnostics on it just reved it for 20secs, checked oil and its v low (was fine last week)
Im concerned how the ysaid its that withing a minute of just reving the car
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 02 July 2009, 11:28
Well checking thru the documents the mot was done a week before i purchased the car.
With it having burned off over a pint of oil in a week since ive owned it, theres no way that would of passed an emissions on the MOT.
We dont have a copy of the MOT emissions, just the mot document, called the previous owner and asked if has one he thinks he might have one somewhere with the failure sheets (which previously he said it passed the MOT with flying colours and was no failure sheets)

Dodgey MOT?  :undecided:
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: james2 on 02 July 2009, 11:50
piston ring gone would make blue smoke :wink:
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 02 July 2009, 12:04
piston ring gone would make blue smoke :wink:
It looks white to me  :grin: but googling it the videos which say blue smoke on youtube look pretty white  :rolleyes:
Honestly dont know.

Had a call bk from previous owner, he said he doesn't have the emissions certifiate, and he has called the garage which told him "we dont issue them with MOT or keep record"

Well i've just called the garage who are looking into it and doing a print out for me, and they did issue it with the MOT. It also had work done to the front suspension bushes and steering rack on the same day  as it failed on these(there is no reciept for this or failure sheet) which fair enough he might not put it in but it sounds dodgey when someone has tryed to hide its been done then continue to lie about not been given one and lie about calling the garage 
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: Horney on 02 July 2009, 12:10
Doesn't sound good mate, you can do an online MOT check that brings back all the MOT's sonce the computer system started.

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/

That should give you the emissions readings and what it may have failed on.

Nick
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 02 July 2009, 12:25
Doesn't sound good mate, you can do an online MOT check that brings back all the MOT's sonce the computer system started.

http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/

That should give you the emissions readings and what it may have failed on.

Nick
Thanks,already checked that, no details of emissions just its failure details, ive got the feeling he might of known someone and got it passed  :smug:
If you know what i mean. Fact that less than a month after im told the engine needs a full rebuild  :grin: Doesnt happen overnight and only done couple hundred miles since mot


Date of test:   30/05/2009
Certificate issue refused (Fail)
Odometer reading:   78,760 Miles
Test number:   900620559152
Test station name:   P J & P S GODDARD
Test station number:   44477
Test station telephone number:   014578 64129
Test class:   IV
Reason(s) for refusal to issue Certificate
-Nearside Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) (2.2.A.1b)
-Offside Steering system has excessive free play detected at the steering wheel (steering rack fitted) (2.2.A.1b)
-Offside Front Suspension arm rubber bush deteriorated resulting in excessive movement (2.4.G.3)
No Advisory Notice issued


Date of test:   30/05/2009
Certificate issued (Pass)
Odometer reading:   78,760 Miles
Test number:   661370059175
Test station name:   P J & P S GODDARD
Test station number:   44477
Test station telephone number:   014578 64129
Test class:   IV
Test expiry date:   10/06/2010
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: Horney on 02 July 2009, 12:27
Humm not a good prognosis mate. Engine rebuild will be pointless as it'll be more than the car is worth. You'll either need to source a good used lump or sell the car on and start again.

They done dry and then wet compression test yet to confirm it's the rings?

nick
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 02 July 2009, 12:37
Humm not a good prognosis mate. Engine rebuild will be pointless as it'll be more than the car is worth. You'll either need to source a good used lump or sell the car on and start again.

They done dry and then wet compression test yet to confirm it's the rings?

nick

Thats what i was worried about, had a quote for £550 full engine rebuild. Not really worth it on a T reg 1.4 tho.

Didnt do a compression test, guy reved it in car park abit and said yer defo that. Was at that VW rescue, had it booked in for diagnostics and said
"no point doing it , its scrap."
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: Baylez8v on 02 July 2009, 12:46
tht sounds like a hasty diagnosis to me.... smoke when reving could be loads of things, and besides i was pretty sure that piston rings meant that oil was getting burnt, which equals blue smoke
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: Horney on 02 July 2009, 12:58
Get them to test it properly, you can't make a choice as to hat to do on a quick rev in a car park.

nick
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: Adam on 02 July 2009, 13:07
Piston rings gone gives out blue smoke. Shadys cars rings are gone and you can clearly see light blue smoke.
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 02 July 2009, 13:27
Just topped oil up and yer theres a fair bit of smoke when rev it now, much more then before.


http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v207/Bondbill2k2/?action=view&current=02072009023.flv

Just deciding what to do now, sell it on?
Repair it and use it?

Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: james2 on 02 July 2009, 14:29
BUY SOME SMOKE STOP FLUID FROM HALFORDS ,SHOULD HELP THEN SELL IT  :wink:
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 02 July 2009, 14:51
Nvm, gd news kinda!

dads mate who runs a small family run garage doing it for £300. Rebuild, new rings, skim head etc...
 :smiley: cheap enough to make it worth while doing
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: dai-cymru on 02 July 2009, 15:18
from that video i would keep driving it and not worry, thats feck all smoke
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: topher on 02 July 2009, 15:20
If you still want to run vagcom over it i'll be at r-tech's workshop tomorrow at about midday, i'd be happy to run a quick scan for you.
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: bondbill2k2 on 02 July 2009, 15:46
from that video i would keep driving it and not worry, thats feck all smoke
Little worse at higher revs, bt wen just cruising below 3,000 revs dont even notice, drove up and down road couple times and dad kept eye on it, nothin hardly.
Title: Re: Piston Rings (white smoke)
Post by: rheady on 06 July 2009, 10:14
Every time I have a MOT they always supply the emmisions certificate, could be worth checking if the garage is supposed to supply them with the MOT. Could the smoke be down to the valve stem seals??