Time to call Hartech? :(

[m444ttb]

Just started my 2002 Carrera 4 after not using it for two weeks. Started perfectly until I reversed it out of the garage and noticed it was blowing bluey smoke from the left exhaust. It was still smoking a bit once the other exhaust had burnt off the little condensation. On the strength of that evidence and I likely to be in big trouble or is there something small (and cheapish!) that could cause the same symptoms? I'm sue I read about some sort of oil breather getting blocked?

The car was purchased from a garage in December so I suppose the SOG act may still be on my side IF it could be proven there was an existing problem. Otherwise the rubbish warranty would probably pay out £1k. Small consolation.

[m444ttb]

Thanks guys. I only ran it for a few mins then put it back in the garage. It smoked all through this time. Didn't want to take it on the 130 mile trip I was about to embark on. I'm taking it back to the garage by total coincidence tomorrow for the satnav unit to be replaced. I'm going to fill their forecourt with blue smoke if it's still doing it!

Can anyone recommend a good specialist in the sphere of Swindon. Autofarm in Bicester appeals.

[m444ttb]

Seemingly Northway and Autofarm are near enough exactly the same distance and travel time. May go with Autofarm and lay Bicester village a visit, which my wife will enjoy.

[m444ttb]

Car smoked a little initially this morning then stopped by the time is left my estate and no sign when I got to work. Took the car out and lunch and no sign either. However I did have the oil pressure garage throw warning. The needle seems to 'bounce' as far as I saw. No issues afterward nor before. Annoying if it's a coincidence.

Assuming nothing changes in just going to carry on as normal but book the car in with Autofarm after my holiday (so mid-March). It will only do a few hundred miles in that time and keeping an eye on oil consumption anyway.

[m444ttb]

Thanks. Steve Bull is definitely a lot closer mileage wise although it doesn't look that much different time wise. My wife likes to idea of Autofarm so we can go to Bicester village. As if the trip won't be expensive enough!

[m444ttb]

Thanks Vaughan, that's a very kind offer. Hopefully I won't need to take you up on it. I will arrange for the car to be independently boroscoped in the next few weeks. I did mention it to the garage yesterday as they asked how the car was going. The response was 'we see that quite often if they have been sat in the workshop / forecourt for a couple of weeks'. From some posts above that sounds plausible and the garage so pretty much only sell Porsche and (fast) Fords (along with vans, just to make it a really odd combo).

[m444ttb]

I topped it up and reset the trip counter 100 miles ago. It has used c1/3 of the dipstick. Bad news. Smoking again today too

I'm going to make some calls tomorrow to get it properly looked at and a report done. I suspect the garage will want their own person to look at it and then there will be an offer to fix it that I'll find sub-standard. On that basis Id rather be refunded and 'only' out of pocket several hundred pounds. I suspect I will have a MASSIVE fight with the garage over it though. Really not what I wanted.

Edited by m444ttb on Saturday 24th January 07:51

[m444ttb]

I've booked the car in at Autofarm for next Saturday (poss the Sat after but just need to confirm Monday). Took the car out again today and it smoked a little on start up each time. Seems to smoke more the longer it has been left. Both tailpipes look equally black for what it's worth. The dipstick was down to half at 160 miles so I've topped that up and re-set the counter.

[m444ttb]

Short video of the car cold starting this morning. The initial smoke after standing for two weeks was worse but his seems to be standard if used every few days.

http://youtu.be/QgDtddCz_Wk

[m444ttb]

Ha mine did look like that after Id left it standing a few weeks. I'm glad it doesn't look like an F1 engine that has let go as I'd probably not drive it at all.

Car has now booked in to Autofarm for 7th Feb (couldn't fit it in next Sat) so I'll just have to sit tight until then. Thankfully MObil1 was on special offer and I still have 3.5L left. Good for for 1,000 miles at current usage rates!

[m444ttb]

Today's the day I find out. Off to Autofarm in 20 mins.

[m444ttb]

So it turns out that the bores are all just as you'd expect for a 90k engine. Nothing horrible. Oil separator appears to be fine also. So I'm going to keep an eye on the oil usage and try to drive it further more often.

Autofarm found a few other bits to do though:
- Rear boxes are starting to split. Somewhat inevitable I guess
- Need a new oil pressure sender (obvious from a few posts above)
- There's an oil leak. Oddly it doesn't drip on my garage floor.

They also found and sorted a coilpack cover on the wrong way round and one coilpack with an overly long bolt and another that wasn't bolted in properly either. Otherwise it was notes to drive really well and the clutch felt good.

Now back to the plan of getting a major service with plugs and transmission oil done. I'll also have the pressure sender. The oil leak, in its current state can wait for the clutch change next time.

[m444ttb]

Indeed. Have to use the car more too. Shame...

[m444ttb]

Only 700 miles ago. I've no idea what was used so planning to have a proper major service.