Smoking Exhaust on Idle

[jimmyVX]

I have a 2004 Vauxhall VX220 Turbo. Its done around 40k miles. If I start the car from cold or near cold after a minute or so at idle it begins to smoke out of the exhaust. It really billows out in a white/blue colour. Once up to temperature and running normally it is clean as a whistle and its not something I had ever noticed before. In usual practice I push the car out of the garage get in start it and drive off so dont notice it. My MOT tester made an observation about it but when I went to see it it ran beautifully and he couldnt explain it but now I have seen it for myself. Now in all fairness I have no idea how long this has been like this as performance does not seem to be reduced and the car doesnt use any oil to speak of.



I must confess to not being too familiar with turbocharged cars, but im leaning towards the start of worn valve stem seals, but I guess could be a turbo issue?!



Any advice would be greatfully recieved.

[Evoluzione]

Probably turbo oil seals.

[littleredrooster]

My first thought is 'condensation', because when a gallon of petrol is burnt almost a gallon of water is produced. This would be visible on a cold day, but not a hot afternoon. Does it smell oily?

If it can be seen this weather, it must (may be/probably!) be oil and as you have already identified, possibly from stem seals or turbo seals.

[Chromed]

My money's on the turbo .

[Mr2Mike]

Almost certainly turbo seals IMO. Worn valve stem seals can cause smoke at start up, but normally only fairly small amount that clears pretty quickly.

littleredrooster said:

My first thought is 'condensation', because when a gallon of petrol is burnt almost a gallon of water is produced. This would be visible on a cold day, but not a hot afternoon. Does it smell oily?

Blue smoke means oil is being burnt.

[andyiley]

Mr2Mike said:

Almost certainly turbo seals IMO. Worn valve stem seals can cause smoke at start up, but normally only fairly small amount that clears pretty quickly.

littleredrooster said:

My first thought is 'condensation', because when a gallon of petrol is burnt almost a gallon of water is produced. This would be visible on a cold day, but not a hot afternoon. Does it smell oily?

Blue smoke means oil is being burnt.

^^^^ What he said!

100% agree with the above statement if you are after a concensus.