R56 Car smoking after downpipe install
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2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2014
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Car smoking after downpipe install
Hello, I recently installed a catless downpipe on my car. The car now occasionally smokes. I assume the car did this beforehand but it was caught by the converter. Most the time it is just a little bit of smoke under load, however sometimes on take offs there is a decent puff and it goes away.
I have heard it could be the PCV system has failed thus dumping oil into the intake, valve seals could be bad, or it could be failed seals in the turbo.
When I had it apart for the install I did not notice any shaft play at all.
On top of this the car keeps going through valve cover gaskets, I have installed 2 since buying the car in December, and the front main seal once. The valve cover gasket is leaking again and I believe the main seal is as well. I have heard this could be a cause of failed PCV system as well.
Any ideas on what to check first, or is it a "start with the cheapest thing" type of scenario?
Thanks in advance.
I have heard it could be the PCV system has failed thus dumping oil into the intake, valve seals could be bad, or it could be failed seals in the turbo.
When I had it apart for the install I did not notice any shaft play at all.
On top of this the car keeps going through valve cover gaskets, I have installed 2 since buying the car in December, and the front main seal once. The valve cover gasket is leaking again and I believe the main seal is as well. I have heard this could be a cause of failed PCV system as well.
Any ideas on what to check first, or is it a "start with the cheapest thing" type of scenario?
Thanks in advance.
When I installed my Catback exhaust it had a coating on the inside of the piping for when it was in storage (I'm assuming that's what it was for) and burned off as a white smoke. I just did some hard driving and it burned all off.
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 814
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From: Uruguay
I would check the oil level weekly to discard definitely that there is not an engine oil leak...
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2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2014
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It is going through oil, however it keeps leaking from the valve cover. I have replaced the gasket twice and it is again leaking from a different area than before. I’m either bad or doing gaskets (never has them leak on me before) or I have an underlying problem. I have also replaced my front main seal/crank seal and it’s leaking again.
I have read a malfunctioning PCV valve can cause gasket failures, however at $400 a pop for a valve cover to replace the PCV valves that’s a lot change to throw at something.
The leak from the cover is external so it wouldn’t be getting into the intake and thus doesn’t allow me to decipher how much oil is being burnt.
I am am unsure if the problem was happening prior to the downpipe swap as it could have been masked by the catylitic converter. Just strange it literally started happening the day I did the downpipe.
I have read a malfunctioning PCV valve can cause gasket failures, however at $400 a pop for a valve cover to replace the PCV valves that’s a lot change to throw at something.
The leak from the cover is external so it wouldn’t be getting into the intake and thus doesn’t allow me to decipher how much oil is being burnt.
I am am unsure if the problem was happening prior to the downpipe swap as it could have been masked by the catylitic converter. Just strange it literally started happening the day I did the downpipe.
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,260
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From: Pacific NW
The MINI's turbocharger has no oil seals, it relies on close tolerances of the pedestal bearings. If there is no play in the compressor wheel, then the turbocharger is not the source of the leak.
You could do a compression and a leakdown test, to eliminate the rings as a possible source.
You didn't mention how many miles are on the car.
Try taking the oil fill cap off there shouldn't be any pressure there, when the car is running. a bad head cover will cause pressurization of the crankcase and seals will leak. it sounds like you have a bad head cover. I have read about people having good luck with cheaper aftermarket head covers purchased from Ebay.
You could do a compression and a leakdown test, to eliminate the rings as a possible source.
You didn't mention how many miles are on the car.
Try taking the oil fill cap off there shouldn't be any pressure there, when the car is running. a bad head cover will cause pressurization of the crankcase and seals will leak. it sounds like you have a bad head cover. I have read about people having good luck with cheaper aftermarket head covers purchased from Ebay.
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2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2014
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Did not know that about these turbochargers. Good information, thank you.
The car has 93k miles on it currently. Leak down was on my short list of things to try out.
I have removed the cap with the engine running and there is a slight "vacuum" giving some resistance to remove the cap.
The car has 93k miles on it currently. Leak down was on my short list of things to try out.
I have removed the cap with the engine running and there is a slight "vacuum" giving some resistance to remove the cap.
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