3R with a smoking habit

[T&T]

Could anyone advise please ?

I'm a newbie , who's used this forum as an invaluable tool for real world knowledge on M12's , and I'm finally seriously looking for one now.

I went to look at a 3R at a dealers today, and took it for a short blat of about 10 miles. Got back to the forecourt, and was letting it idle whilst chatting to the sales guy, and the car stank of oil fumes. After a min or so the car stalled. It started after a few go's , and while the engine was running I looked under the rear clam. On the over-run from blipping the throttle small wisps of smoke could be seen from the filters.

Do the 3R's pressurise the crank to this extent ? I drove X-factors at a airfield day last year , and don't recall this being usual , although the dealer assures me that they all do this ...hmmm

I don't recall seing any smoke from the back during the test , and it's done 18000 miles

Is this anything to worry about ?

[gadgeroonie]

well

if it was smoking at idle or on the overrun then there my be a faulty turbo or leaky valve rubbers

was it a 2.5 or a 3.0 ?

what sort of mileage had it done

to check for a faulty turbo

1. take it for a good blast
2. let it idle for a few mins
3. give it a hard rev

lots of smoke means the tubo is on its way out

[T&T]

tx for quick reply

It's a 3.0 with 18000 on the clock.

The "smoke" was oil vapour, rather than burnt oil , and was being pushed back out of the air filters rather than the exhaust. ( when blipping the throttle with no load )
The crankcase vents back to the inlet manifold , but is it usual that it "backs-up" , for want of a better term !, and comes back out of the air filters ?

The exhaust was clear, but I guess if the turbo seals are dodgy exhaust pressure could get into the crank thru the oil feed , so I think I see where you are coming from.
Is it the case that you would get both exhaust smoke and excessive crank pressure when the seals are on thier way out, or is it an either/or situation ?

cheers

[ajg31]

could you pm me the dealer please. i am looking for the same car and dont want to waste my time treking around the uk on cars that are not up to my standard.

[mr.man]

If it's any help my GTO3 with 18,000 miles does not do that.

[D_G]

My GTO3 with 19k doesn't do it either. Any modern engine shouldn't smoke regardless what the salesman might say.....

Dave

[tonyf]

My M400 with only 6k doesn"t either. ( I should hope not to !)

[gadgeroonie]

oil in the inlet tract is not uncommon

but it could be a sign that the turbo oil seals are on the way out

or the breather system is blocked

[T&T]

Thanks guys


Given it's up at top dollar and they don't want to negotiate , I don't think it's worth the risk ( even though I'm gagging for one now!!)

Another thing that puzzled me was that the top turbo hose had a section of ally tube (marked vegantune) let into the silicone hose, but no dump valve , just a straight thru hose , with no blanked off junctions. Do the silicone hoses collapse/swell , hence is this an upgrade , or is this a sign of a de-installed dump valve ?

(Adam , I've Pm'd you with details for what they're worth)

[ajg31]

Emailed you back. Personally if a modern engine cannot even tick over i would say there is something wrong. I am sure i read something about Nobles not liking to be hot started. I have no idea if this was a problem, or a quirk though of Noble ownership

Edited by ajg31 on Wednesday 21st February 22:38

[D_G]

The only running quirk with mine is slightly erratic running just after hot start, clears when throttle blipped or driven short distance (always OK at next junction).

Edited so say - Should have silicon hoses, may have had dump valve previously and a straight pipe fitted on removal, not a bad sign though.

Dave

Edited by D_G on Wednesday 21st February 22:54