3B Smoking; flunked Emissions Test

[Jeff.Bernstein at pneumaticscale.com]

Alan,

I have had turbos that developed full boost but smoked at idle due to worn
oil seals.  I don't know if this is common but I know I have had this
happen.

It really depends on if the bearings are going bad which causes the seals to
go too.  This situation will usually cause less than full boost.  If the
bearings are in good condition and just the oil seals go bad then you still
can get full boost.  The seal most likely to fail is going to be on the hot
side of the turbo which shouldn't cause any loss of boost problem.  Water
cooling of turbos has really limited the seal bearing failures in turbos.

Jeff Bernstein

-----Original Message-----
From: Sullivan, Alan [mailto:alan.sullivan at lmco.com]
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 10:47 AM
To: Jeff.Bernstein at pneumaticscale.com
Cc: 200q20v at audifans.com
Subject: RE: 3B Smoking; flunked Emissions Test


Jeff,

It smoked both before and after the oil change.  I have not ruled out the
turbo, but it puts out full boost.  I've been told (and I do not know if
this is correct) that an oil seal failure in the turbo would manifest itself
by reducing the amount of boost the turbo provides.

Alan Sullivan

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff.Bernstein at pneumaticscale.com
[mailto:Jeff.Bernstein at pneumaticscale.com]
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 10:27 AM
To: alan.sullivan at lmco.com
Cc: 200q20v at audifans.com
Subject: RE: 3B Smoking; flunked Emissions Test


Alan,

Was it smoking before you changed your oil?  I would still consider getting
the oil level a little below the full mark especially if it wasn't smoking
before the oil change.

I have had some Turbo Porsches that would smoke at idle when the turbo was
going bad but it has been my experience that the turbo on the 200-20v is
extremely durable.

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Sullivan, Alan [mailto:alan.sullivan at lmco.com]
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 8:19 AM
To: Jeff.Bernstein at pneumaticscale.com; Sullivan, Alan
Cc: 200q20v at audifans.com
Subject: RE: 3B Smoking; flunked Emissions Test


Jeff,

I changed the oil (& filter) immediately before the emissions test --  it
had only five or ten miles on it when I flunked the test.  I checked the
dipstick -- it's right at the "Full" marking.  Air cleaner filter is clean
also.

Alan Sullivan

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff.Bernstein at pneumaticscale.com
[mailto:Jeff.Bernstein at pneumaticscale.com]
Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 7:28 AM
To: alan.sullivan at lmco.com
Cc: 200q20v at audifans.com
Subject: 3B Smoking; flunked Emissions Test


Alan,

I would change your oil every 3000 miles and I would definitely change it
right before I went for emissions testing.  Be sure not to over fill it as
this will cause some smoking at start up and idling also.  Most of the
smoking issues with these cars over the last few years have been from
slightly over filling the oil after an oil change.

Jeff Bernstein
Canton, Ohio