I came into this 850 turbo wagon automatic w/ 174,000 miles recently and love the room and ride quality but have had some issues. The car had a new head, pcv system cleaned, timing belt, and radiator about two years ago, when my dad owned it. Recently replaced the mass airflow sensor, things were
good for a week, I was sitting at an idle and suddenly I was smoking so bad I thought there was a fire.
1. I have a smokestack coming from my dipstick and oil fill when running and warmed up.
2. This went from bad to worse, was using 1q every 700ish miles, suddenly used 2.5 in 160mi trip.
3. Smoke is now at the super embarrassing "get off the road jacka** stage" sometimes, sort of intermittent, having trouble nailing it down, happens sometimes at idle, sometimes under boost...
4. It has oil in the fresh air intake tube going from the air cleaner to the turbo


I am trying to figure out if I go through the trouble of cleaning the pcv system or is this more classic turbo seal bit the dust. Thanks for any help

 

I feel for you!! I cannot help but laugh due to that fact that today as I was driving to Chick-fi-a my turbo seal went out lol. I feel like I am smoking so much weed and sharing it to the world. Smoke is just pouring out my exhaust constantly. I know it is the turbo seal because my pcv only has around 5k on it. I replaced that when I bought my T-5R.

Anyways, for you it sounds like you need to check the pcv. Make sure everything is buttoned up accordingly. Also what do you mean by cleaned? I ask that because the easiest thing to do is to replace everything.

If it was your turbo seal you would be like me and just have smoke pouring out no matter what, not intermittently like you said. Sounds like the increased pressure is just starting to really affect some of your seals.

Btw, I am at the get off the road Jack*** stage right now :P

 

Right on, I frequently have a little smoke, then it flairs up and I get that big cloud all the way down the block, then I have almost nothing. I know parts of the pcv system were replaced two years ago, I wasnt sure about the long plastic lines, but compressed air flows through those fine.
Thanks for the input, I will take the upper intake & fuel rail off and see what I can do. I guess I will order parts, I was under the impression they could be cleaned out.

 

What weight oil are you using?

 

5w30 oil
Intercooler weep hole is dripping oil on the ground when I park.

 

I guess the turbo wouldn't cause what looks like blow-by coming out of the dipstick and oil filler so the pcv is probably a more likely culprit. A local guy took a look at my car today and he noticed that when we took out the dipstick that the idle changed pretty significantly.

 

What is your location?

 

I rdered pcv sytem parts, hopefully I ordered all the right hoses. Funny how fast this whent from bad to worse as far as syptoms go. It had been replaced two years ago so I figured it would be fine. The rubber glove blew up, and for the first time today the dipstick was pushed up and sprayed oil out. I have to drive to work tommorow then I will be off work for two weeks and will be able to park teh car untill I fix it.

 

I would do a compression test before you put any more money into the car. The reason I asked about your location is there is a chance that you are using the WRONG weight oil. I have read that a guy wore out 3 motors in less than 30,000 miles running oil that was to thin.

 

20w 50 is a better oil for that old turbo motor.

 

well I started doing the pcv system tonight since I already had the parts. Checking with my dad to see what weight oil he ran in it. Good news is if he was running 20w50 then I have only put a 1000 miles or less of adding 5w30 to it, so an oil change will be in order and I doubt that will have done much harm

 

Still do NOT know your location. The owner manual warns AGAINST running oil that thick.

 

Birmingham Alabama

 

I am in St. Louis, MO. I have heard everything from synthetic 10ww30-dino 20w50

 

Good question. I am driving a non-turbo with 300k on the clock. It does use a good bit of oil, and I wonder if 20W50 would help it. That is not my style, but 300k miles is a lot.

 

If there is an overwhelming majority that insists 20w50 is better I would give it a go but generally I would think it's a bad idea to step outside of manufactures recommended weight oil.

 

Well that was a bust. I replaced all the hoses on the pcv sytem and still have somke and pressure from dipstick and oil filler.

Question, should there be presure from the hose that goes from the oil seperator to the head, If I take that off the head it blows pressure from hose which doesn't seem right to me, maybe I am missunderstanding how the system works.

The ptc valve passages are clear but it seems a bit loose in the intake tube, not falling out loose but loose

I need to do the compression test.
Has anyone actually had blow-by so bad that it caused oil spray on the hood, smoke in the exhaust, and still run and idle great and have strong acceleration?

 

Yes. The turbo will push the car past other issues.

Do the compression test and go from there.

 

I will do a compression check as soon as I can get my wife out to give me a hand.
I found that the fresh air intake tube to the turbo is not sealing well, guessing this effects the suction through the ptc valve and the pcv system. I am going to test a tube that a friend has and see if this effects the syptoms at all too. Temporaryly I have a tub going from by oil check tube (dipstick removed) going to a glass bottle (allowing gasses to escape but collect oil spray). There is no smoke from the exhasut now, at least makes it bearable to drive. I am changing the oil to 10w40 tommorow, dont expect that to solve much but I may as well have that corrected.