damo_4701

There has been a twist in the story..... The smoke kind of stopped. Driving to work and lost a lot of power and wouldn't rev above 4k. Thought it went into a limp mode. Nope.... Talking with a couple of mechanics we may have got to the bottom of this. Looks like the smoking eventually blocked the cat turning it into an asthmatic. I cut a portal into the side of the cat to inspect and gutted it as it had collapsed. All the power back, but also the smoke. The cause of the smoke is the valve stem seals. It has me confused as in my experience that usually makes it smoke on start up, but not so in this case. When in slow traffic or with my foot off the accelerator going down hill, the vacuum sucks the oil past the stem seals making it run a little rough and blow smoke. I changed the seals last week and have driven about 1000 km. No smoke and the oil hasn't gone down noticeably. All this nonsense over 60 bucks with of seals. I changed them without removing the head after chucking a bore scope down the plug holes to inspect. Now I just have to get a new windscreen after I got a monster crack 2 weeks ago. Thanks to everyone for help and suggestions. The old girl lives on.

If I go down the path with the other wrecked car, it will be complete. It is still'drivable' apart from the structural damage. Again...if that is the case, I would end up with a car that I would be able to keep as a second car in the longer term. I love driving the A3. More research would need to be done to locate all canbus systems required to move across. I've put my feelers out for use of a compression tester to check anyway. I wouldn't inflict Fosters upon anyone...

Well...... Changed the thermostat and the temp gauge has stabilised but it has not improved the smoke situation. Trying to get hold of a compression tester at the moment. Also talking to a friend of a friend that has a newer 8P that is statuary write off from a side impact that I might be able to get really really cheap. Not sure yet but I have also been offered a hoist and a spare pair of hands....

Thermostat is certainly a cheap option to look at. I'll try that next and get back to you all.

Also 1.6lt petrol

Thanks guys for the information and understanding. The coolant leak was a cracked coolant manifold. Fixed for 20 bucks and not lost a drop of coolant after. The smoke is greyish.... Smell.... Not able to say as I have pretty much no sense of smell anymore. I put 1lt if oil in about over a month or about 1500km. The coolant temp seems to be pretty consistent, but the gauge will drop to about 75C on the highway but no more than 90: the rest of time. Turning the heater on helps a little bit with the smoke, but doesn't stop it. After an hour on the road, it's not a problem, but when in traffic it will smoke after about half an hour.

Money for me is the main factor. I am only after a stop gap solution. I should probably give you an idea where I am currently at. For the last 2 years my wife has been dealing with cancer and I have been the primary carer for her and our 3 daughters. We had to sell her car last year which left me with only the Audi. I am working 3 different jobs so we are able to keep our house so money is a big thing for me. We are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and I just need for this car to make it to about February next year. Skill set is not a problem to replace the pistons and rings as I am a mechanical fitter by trade but I no longer have access to a car hoist. Just wanting too know if it is possible to access both top and bottom end while still in the engine bay. Not sure about the UK but here a second hand used(unknown) engine go for nearly 1K, so not really an option

Have done it before... I'm a bit of a !Removed!... I've owned Alfa Romeo, Jaguar and land Rovers

Anyone had experience in replacing piston/rings without pulling the engine out? It looks like I should be able to after a quick look

I have been looking for that info but getting conflicting information. Is there a specific place to look?

Update time. Coolant manifold decided it had had enough and dumped fresh coolant onto the driveway. Not a biggie. I found my leak down tester and did a quick test on the A3..... Rings are stuffed. Not sure where to go next

Not noticeably. I'll go down to Supercheap Auto(Aussie thing....) and pick up a tester for the coolant to check for hydrocarbon. I did have one here somewhere from when I owned an Alfa. Haven't seen it for a while though

I'll have to dig a bit deeper as the temp gauge always shows normal.... Possible head gasket issue?

The heater on seemed to work so far. Apart from sweating my nads off.... Any ideas as to why this is the case?

I saw that thread while searching and thought it was the closest to my issue. I will try the heater next time although as I am in Australia I don't use the heater very often..

Hi all, new here and I have been looking through the forum and not really found an answer to my current issue. I have a 1.6 petrol that runs great. I have an hour commute each way and usually no problems. When I pick the kids up from school I have to drive through city traffic for a bit near the end of the trip. After hitting the city traffic for a bit, the engine starts to run a bit sluggish then blows a whole heap of smoke for about 10 minutes. Then clears up again and runs properly. Not sure if it is rings related or valve stem Seal related. I have been typing up the oil a bit now. Any ideas?