This post is more a tragic story how the loss of a trusty 1.9TDI workhorse.

My 1.9 TDI Octavia has developed some blue smoke etc. The first conclusion is a head gasket gone, but the engine has around 160k miles on it and the car isn’t worth very much. The chances are that when its open even more of the engine parts need replacing and I will have a bill of over £700+ and that isn’t worth it, but just in case I have missed something, I am going to describe how the faults developed as they did, in a tragic tale.

 

It started with one day the coolant light came on and there was low coolant. It was topped up at the time and the light went off, the car ran for a few months fine, until a similar thing happened but then then the heater would either blow really cold air or really hot air. The coolant issue became more prevalent. It would happen more often. At this time there was also a PCV valve that was broken. Engine power was good however.

 

Fast forward a few months and the issue gets worse and some slight traces of oil on the top of the coolant reservoir.  In true blood sucking fashion this was blamed by mechanics as the oil cooler which goes on the cars a lot apparent, so a brand new one is fitted. The coolant problem remains but the oil in the reservoir problem has disappeared, this issue with loosing coolant remains.  By this time the heaters hot air issue has fixed itself. The thermostat was replaced anyway but the heating was fine.

A few weeks later the car starts really leaking coolant and it is traced to a hose, this is fixed and the PCV valve is replaced and the car picks a little bit of power up. The coolant issue had been resolved.

 

Fast forward another few weeks and now the car begins to sometimes struggle to start. The starter motor doesn’t even attempt to start the engine, but after a few attempts it would start. The head was then tested for compression. Cylinder 1 had high compression when turning over but then became normal, the rest were fine, ruling out a cracked head gasket surely???

 

Moving on another week and this is where things get really tricky. There is some oil leaks from the oil sump nut so it is in need of some putty to stop that. The car is left at another garage for oil change and sealing the nut. Soon after this, the engine has the same power but a blue smoke develops from the back, it is oil that is burning. The coolant issue has re-cropped up, but for some unknown reason the starting problem has stopped. If you open the dipstick while the engine is running steam comes out, and the top of the oil cap has white marks. No really sign of ‘Mayo’ like oil.

 

So the car goes for diagnostics, there has at no point been an ECU management light come on, so not error code to find. The live engine run shows no problem at all. The suggestion being either fuel or oil contamination?? Going in for a closer look myself I can see that there is oil in the exhaust pipe, my conclusion is that the engine is knackered. Even at this point no error codes, no issues on the live run and no engine pulling problems or any shakes.

 

For those who did manage to read the whole post any suggestions would be appreciated.

If anyone needs any parts, they are also available; at the very least there is new oil cooler in the car that could be of some use. The gearbox is fine and all the panels are good as well.

Oh yeah and any good suggestion for a replacement, I need a strong car, prefereably another TDI, has to be an estate. Looking at another skoda, cheap and cheerful is what I need. The interior gets ruined anyway with tools etc.. so no point in buying an Audi

Edited 28 September, 201312 yr by naza911

What is the oil level like on the dipstick. Overfilling after sump nut replacement can cause smoke. Equally, water getting into the oil could raise the oil level. 

Has anyone checked the Turbo yet? Although it does sound like a Head Gasket Problem or worn Piston Rings to me.

Going in for a closer look myself I can see that there is oil in the exhaust pipe, my conclusion is that the engine is knackered. Even at this point no error codes, no issues on the live run and no engine pulling problems or any shakes.

 

Oil seals in the turbo starting to fail....?

I have suspected that, but getting a good turbo and labour added to the fact the car seems to be on a slippery slope with problems arising every other day, I think it's time to cut my losses

hi I had oil coming out exhaust thought it was rocker cover gasket was leaking but turned out it was turbo bearing had gone got the turbo rebuilt

Stuart