What are the symptoms of a knackered PCV valve????

AWDMk1 · Apr 13, 2011

I started a previous thread about my S3 being smokey when warm and idling in traffic:

"Just in the last few days I've noticed my S3 is putting out smoke from the exhaust but only when it is warm and only when it is on idle....normally when it has been idling for a few minutes sitting in traffic etc.... ?

Any ideas as to what is the most likely cause???"

I am thinking of possible candidates one of which is the PCV valve... what would be the symptoms if this was failing, any thoughts???

I was thinking valve stem oil seals but I'm not convinced by that as it doesn't do it when accelerating after being off the throttle which I suspect it would.... It will basically sit and idle fine when warm for say a minute or so then any longer than that and it will start putting out blue smoke....

Thoughts would be much appreciated!!!

beachbuggy · Apr 13, 2011

Might not be the PCV has failed it could be that the PCV system is bunged up with oily gunk. The PCV is there to stop air going directly into the inlet under boost, so at idle it will be open.

Blue smoke is normally a sign of worn valve stem seals, but I have seen blue smoke on a car that like above turned out just to be a completely blocked PCV pipe.

s3dave · Apr 13, 2011

It would be usual for it to be a bad starter and bad smoke on start up if it was the stem seals

AWDMk1 · Apr 14, 2011

It starts fine, no problems and isn't smokey unless in a situation as described above....

Thanks a lot for the info guys, I guess I will pull it apart on saturday and go from there then!

Cheers

djarchive · Apr 14, 2011

I'm gonna pull mine apart aswell. Seems as though (for some miraculous reason) there 2-3 of us S3 owners this week raised the same issue.

Bad times lol

Westy · Apr 14, 2011

djarchive said:
I'm gonna pull mine apart aswell. Seems as though (for some miraculous reason) there 2-3 of us S3 owners this week raised the same issue.

Bad times lol

I think that's because the life span of the breather system hoses has come to an end. Time to rip it all out and go for a catch can

djarchive · Apr 14, 2011

Westle said:
I think that's because the life span of the breather system hoses has come to an end. Time to rip it all out and go for a catch can

My car is required at all times / can't be off the road you see... It looks like its far too much messing for my liking.

Would happily pay for it to be done though. Very tempted though. Hmmmm.

Westy · Apr 14, 2011

djarchive said:
My car is required at all times / can't be off the road you see... It looks like its far too much messing for my liking.

Would happily pay for it to be done though. Very tempted though. Hmmmm.

You lazy sod haha. It's maybe 4 hours work tops

DJ_Troopa · Apr 15, 2011

It's not the PCV valve. Mine was changed end of last year whilst mine was smoking and was still smoking afterwards aswell. It's oil in the IC pipes. When the bumper comes off i'm gonna clean them out and that will solve it.

Westle - Can you put a catch can in my AMK? I want one but don't have the foggiest on what to do! I'll give you monies :wub:

djarchive · Apr 15, 2011

DJ_Troopa said:
Westle - Can you put a catch can in? I'll give you monies

What he said.

Westy · Apr 15, 2011

DJ_Troopa said:
It's not the PCV valve. Mine was changed end of last year whilst mine was smoking and was still smoking afterwards aswell. It's oil in the IC pipes. When the bumper comes off i'm gonna clean them out and that will solve it.

Westle - Can you put a catch can in my AMK? I want one but don't have the foggiest on what to do! I'll give you monies

I have the same issue with oil in my SMICs, I know this because I dont get oil on the hose going into the 1st smic but I do get oil on the hose out of the 2nd smic so it is sitting in the smics somewhere. But I dont get any smoke!

I might be able to come to an agreement Trooper, I dont want money but I will except payment in the form of a case of budwiser :beerchug:

Welly · Apr 15, 2011

Westle said:
I dont want money but I will except payment in the form of a case of budwiser

Much the same thing.... lol

finesse · Apr 15, 2011

Sign me up!

Westy · Apr 15, 2011

finesse said:
Sign me up!

Haha, check out the oil catch can thread for the shopping list of parts then I'll do it for you when I have time. I'll have enough bud for a party.

DJ_Troopa · Apr 16, 2011

Then you can invite us to this party and we drink all your bud :laugh:

gsxrmark · Jul 7, 2011

any update or cure for this,as my a3 1.8t has just started doing the same thing,blue smoke on idle whilst in traffic,not on boost or over run,or on start up,this is confusing

djarchive · Jul 7, 2011

And now, mine's stopped. Horaaay.

gsxrmark · Jul 7, 2011

did you do anything to it?,or did it just stop?

DJ_Troopa · Jul 7, 2011

Mine's stopped doing this after changing the pipe which goes to the round black hockey puck thing. I read about this in another topic where Bill mentioned to change this pipe if it's very soft and could have a kink in it. Mine was soft and had a kink so i changed it with a 16mm 90 degree silicone hose from ASH on Ebay. Ebay item number: 160604331622

Car doesn't blue smoke anymore now!

djarchive · Jul 8, 2011

Was it easy to fit / get to Troopa?

Thanks

Joe

S3Lol · Jul 8, 2011

the 90 degree is very easy to fit. I had a beaded end connector and some more straight hose as well. Below is mine connected to the badger TIP

What are the symptoms of a knackered PCV valve????

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