Hi everyone. I changed the oil recently to Castrol Edge 0w-30. it has the right VW spec etc but I think it may be a little thin for the age and mileage of the car. Its a little bit smokey but has only been noticeable after I put on a decat and I can't see it using any oil on the dipstick. It smells pretty horrible but again only since the decat. It smokes for a few seconds say if i let the car heat up for a minute before heading off in the morning and then give it a little rev to get out of the driveway then nothing for the rest of the journey or once up to heat. it's hard to see with the amount of steam that comes out of it this weather though. I'm hoping it's nothing serious and is just that the oil is a little too thin.

Anybody have any experience with this?

I did notice a while back that my crankcase breather system was quite dirty because of a kinked pipe. and the blue smoke started when I changed the pipe for a new 19mm one. is there any way to diagnose problems there without just replacing the PCV valve. catch can etc? What is the function of the little hockey puck on top of the TIP from the breather and should the inside of breather pipes be oily or clean?

wanted to get the car to a mapper this week but don't want to if there is something serious wrong.

By the way my only fault logged is the catalyst efficiency below threshold.. (not there)

hope somebody can help

5w30

Think the smoke and smell is from fitting the decat. Mines the same, its just coz theres no cat on to filter the exhaust fumes.

Really? That would be the best news ever Rosco. I was thinking that initially but I am a thinker and a worrier, so I've managed to convince myself that something else is up.

Yeah I wouldnt worry about it mate. And the oil u used is spot on. Get it remapped n enjoy it

Removing the cat shouldn't make it smoke, none of the gasses burned off by it are visible.

What colour is the smoke? Sometimes reducing back pressure in the exhaust can show up worn turbo seals which would generally give you blue smoke at idle which goes away when driving.

It doesn't smoke at idle just when at cold start after sitting for a day or so i rev it to get out of the drive. It is definitely blue smoke but not dense or persistent at all. Took off the hockey puck shaped thing today and it was wet with oil going into the TIP, should there be oil that far up the breather?

Never really thought about the effect of reduced back pressure on the turbo seals. The old downpipe was dry coming off and would it take a while for the turbo to heat up enough to burn it off?

I USE 5W 40 DEALER STUFF IN MINE

oops shouting again 139.962 miles

cheers, I think I will change the oil in another while.

I would just feel terrible changing it so soon. it's only been in it for 1000 miles. I'll get it from Skoda next time round if they're reasonable in Ireland too.

TBH if its only at startup I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

If you're sitting in traffic for a few minutes does it puff blue when you pull away?

no, it's just on startup and not even all the time. I'm really fussy and particular so it is probably just the car showing it's age a little.