1.9afn VW cold weather possible issue

[ssray]

My 1999 Audi A4 (b5)
It's quite smokey currently,but not all of the time.....

Today -4.5 and about 3 miles into the run I get to a 60 limit and accelerate to 60, not too many revs, but visible smoke behind (not black/Rollin coal style) light grey.
I understand leaving a bit when pulling away into a roundabout etc what with it not being a PD lump.

The temp gauge never got above sitting still, would it be that is just too cold and it's not reaching a temperature where it can perform correctly

Would blocking about half of the radiator help?

[colin_p]

They do not make cars as good as that anymore, stay with it! That engine in particular is quite amazing, not as powerful as the PD's that followed it but incredibly good on fuel.

First things I would are;

Coolant temperature sensor, change it.

and whilst it is drained down also change the thermostat.

Almost all cold running problems are caused by these little buggers. I would also consider having the glowplugs checked

[ssray]

Thanks, it starts really well (wait for the I broke down post tomorrow)
It probably needs new coolant, so I will do those at the same time.
Just did a short -2.5 run I've cleaned the rear window and even in the dark I couldn't see any smoke with vehicles behind me in their headlights

[stevieturbo]

ssray said:

My 1999 Audi A4 (b5)
It's quite smokey currently,but not all of the time.....

Today -4.5 and about 3 miles into the run I get to a 60 limit and accelerate to 60, not too many revs, but visible smoke behind (not black/Rollin coal style) light grey.
I understand leaving a bit when pulling away into a roundabout etc what with it not being a PD lump.

The temp gauge never got above sitting still, would it be that is just too cold and it's not reaching a temperature where it can perform correctly

Would blocking about half of the radiator help?

You have said there was smoke, but you have not mentioned a change in performance ? So is it one or both ?

Get a proper scan tool to see what temperature the engine is actually at. Don't change parts at random, it's just stupid. It may be possible that if the engine appears too cold, there might be some safety that reduces performance.....unlikely, but not impossible. But again, get a scan tool and see what temperature the sensor is reporting in case it is either crazy, too cold, or something else.
At least it would be a starting point.

[ssray]

stevieturbo said:

You have said there was smoke, but you have not mentioned a change in performance ? So is it one or both ?

Get a proper scan tool to see what temperature the engine is actually at. Don't change parts at random, it's just stupid. It may be possible that if the engine appears too cold, there might be some safety that reduces performance.....unlikely, but not impossible. But again, get a scan tool and see what temperature the sensor is reporting in case it is either crazy, too cold, or something else.
At least it would be a starting point.

Ta, I've got forescan for the ford Kuga on the laptop, can I get a Audi equivalent? Or is it a scanner?
Ta Ray

[andrebar]

ssray said:

Ta, I've got forescan for the ford Kuga on the laptop, can I get a Audi equivalent? Or is it a scanner?
Ta Ray

Try the free version of VCDS:-
https://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/

[ssray]

andrebar said:

Try the free version of VCDS:-
https://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/

Thanks

[ssray]

Checked the oil today........

Sludge, my fault,it was supposed to be just changed when I got it a couple of k ago, so today off to Halfords oil, drain pan and we don't have that filter

Found out the local motor factors was open, got the filter.
Up on the ramps,had to get it above the snow, no key for the sump plug.......no time to get one so that's for tomorrow
I've chucked some diesel into the oil filler to help break stuff down.
Luckily I'm at work from 0345 tomorrow so back a bit earlier than normal people, so I will get the key on the way home, oil and filter change then repeat in about 1k

The odd thing is it doesn't sound any different to the day I got it and drove 150miles home.
The sump will be dropped when I have a day off

[camel_landy]

stevieturbo said:

Get a proper scan tool to see what temperature the engine is actually at. Don't change parts at random, it's just stupid. It may be possible that if the engine appears too cold, there might be some safety that reduces performance.....unlikely, but not impossible. But again, get a scan tool and see what temperature the sensor is reporting in case it is either crazy, too cold, or something else.
At least it would be a starting point.

^^^ This...

Never take the built in thermometer as gospel. Get yourself an IR hand-held thermometer to make sure you can get an independent reading.

M

[the-norseman]

colin_p said:

They do not make cars as good as that anymore, stay with it! That engine in particular is quite amazing, not as powerful as the PD's that followed it but incredibly good on fuel.

I had this engine in my MK2 Golf (it had been transplanted) and the previous owner connected up a PD150 turbo kit and had the ECU tuned to match, it went very well Circa 170PS.

[stevieturbo]

camel_landy said:

^^^ This...

Never take the built in thermometer as gospel. Get yourself an IR hand-held thermometer to make sure you can get an independent reading.

M

IR guns are unreliable too, they will report different temps on different surfaces and finishes.

And that oil doesn't look like it has been changed in a very very very long time. And not convinced putting diesel into the oil and running the engine is a sensible thing to do either.

[ssray]

stevieturbo said:

IR guns are unreliable too, they will report different temps on different surfaces and finishes.

And that oil doesn't look like it has been changed in a very very very long time. And not convinced putting diesel into the oil and running the engine is a sensible thing to do either.

I'll let you know.......

[camel_landy]

stevieturbo said:

IR guns are unreliable too, they will report different temps on different surfaces and finishes.

Maybe so but in this context... "It's close enough for Government work".

M

[Demelitia]

ssray said:

Checked the oil today........

Sludge, my fault,it was supposed to be just changed when I got it a couple of k ago, so today off to Halfords oil, drain pan and we don't have that filter

Found out the local motor factors was open, got the filter.
Up on the ramps,had to get it above the snow, no key for the sump plug.......no time to get one so that's for tomorrow
I've chucked some diesel into the oil filler to help break stuff down.
Luckily I'm at work from 0345 tomorrow so back a bit earlier than normal people, so I will get the key on the way home, oil and filter change then repeat in about 1k

The odd thing is it doesn't sound any different to the day I got it and drove 150miles home.
The sump will be dropped when I have a day off

That looks like more than a couple of missed oil changes.

I’d be looking to drop the oil and replace, run it for 20 miles or so at least and then check it; drop it again if it’s a complete mess.
Buying a bulk cube of oil might be a good idea.
I’ve had good results with Seafoam as an engine flush.
Repeat until it doesn’t look like primordial ooze.

There are a couple of people in the b5/b5.5 passat owners group ok Facebook who also have this engine in their car, or cars that have had an engine swap; It might be worth asking in there as well.

[ssray]

Demelitia said:

That looks like more than a couple of missed oil changes.

I’d be looking to drop the oil and replace, run it for 20 miles or so at least and then check it; drop it again if it’s a complete mess.
Buying a bulk cube of oil might be a good idea.
I’ve had good results with Seafoam as an engine flush.
Repeat until it doesn’t look like primordial ooze.

There are a couple of people in the b5/b5.5 passat owners group ok Facebook who also have this engine in their car, or cars that have had an engine swap; It might be worth asking in there as well.

The oil looked ok when I first got it, the previous owner had used veg in it, homemade bio and neat veg as well.

Thanks, I did the diesel as flush , yesterday I added 2 litres to the remaining engine oil ran it for a little bit and left overnight as it was Sunday and the local places Halfords etc didn't have a filter
So today I added about 2 more litres of diesel and ran it up , I then drained it , it seems to have flushed a lot of rubbish through,
New oil and filter, started up and sounds no different to when I first got it.
The oil and filter will be changed again shortly.
It's a bit smokey at times, so I'm thinking turbo may need a bit of looking at, a rebuild kit is less than £20

[Demelitia]

ssray said:

Demelitia said:

.

The oil looked ok when I first got it, the previous owner had used veg in it, homemade bio and neat veg as well.

It's a bit smokey at times, so I'm thinking turbo may need a bit of looking at, a rebuild kit is less than £20

One of the main suggestions when running WVO and byproducts seems to be changing the oil very regularly due to it gumming piston rings up.
Any idea how much blow by you’re getting?
There should be a crankcase breather, probably feeding back in to the intake tract. If it’s drowning in oil, I’d check the turbo for excess oil leaks and stick a catch can on the breather pipe and see if the smoke reduces.

I doubt the diesel in the oil will do the turbo shaft and seals any good due to the reduction in viscosity. Go steady with that method if you’re wanting to keep the car any length of time.

[ssray]

Demelitia said:

One of the main suggestions when running WVO and byproducts seems to be changing the oil very regularly due to it gumming piston rings up.
Any idea how much blow by you’re getting?
There should be a crankcase breather, probably feeding back in to the intake tract. If it’s drowning in oil, I’d check the turbo for excess oil leaks and stick a catch can on the breather pipe and see if the smoke reduces.

I doubt the diesel in the oil will do the turbo shaft and seals any good due to the reduction in viscosity. Go steady with that method if you’re wanting to keep the car any length of time.

Thanks, I'm planning to redo the oil and filter shortly
I will check the breather
Ta

[ssray]

So Monday and Tuesday up at 0230-0300
Started first go(as it always has) left a bit of blue smoke when pulling away, felt much better on the way to work, can't imagine why,now it's got oil and not just dry sludge

Even letting the turbo spool up a bit , nothing obvious from the tailpipe
Just hoping it's not just drank all of the new oil.....

[Demelitia]

ssray said:

So Monday and Tuesday up at 0230-0300
Started first go(as it always has) left a bit of blue smoke when pulling away, felt much better on the way to work, can't imagine why,now it's got oil and not just dry sludge

Even letting the turbo spool up a bit , nothing obvious from the tailpipe
Just hoping it's not just drank all of the new oil.....

Hopefully the flushing out hasn’t washed away the gunky mess that was keeping oil from peeing past the turbo oil seals.

I imagine the flow to and from the turbo wasn’t great with that slime in there, so worn turbo oil seals wouldn’t be a surprise.

I don’t think I’d be able to keep from having a look at the turbo to avoid it running away on its own leaking oil or destroying the turbo and ingesting it.

[ssray]

Demelitia said:

Hopefully the flushing out hasn’t washed away the gunky mess that was keeping oil from peeing past the turbo oil seals.

I imagine the flow to and from the turbo wasn’t great with that slime in there, so worn turbo oil seals wouldn’t be a surprise.

I don’t think I’d be able to keep from having a look at the turbo to avoid it running away on its own leaking oil or destroying the turbo and ingesting it.

That's the plan for after Xmas, sumo off, oil mesh pickup etc cleaning