[Biturbos4] Unholy smoke

[Chris Newbold]

> From: Keman [mailto:keman at interwolf.net]

> What's your oil levels looking like?

I haven't noticed any change here (yet). Uses about 1qt/5000 miles and has
since new.

> Anything odd looking in either it or the coolant?

Not that I've noticed, though I should look more closely at it now.

> That it only does it on cold startup is interesting. Could be a valve
> guide seal. If it is, it'll blow smoke right after you let off the gas
> while driving as the high vacuum sucks oil from the valve covers into the
> intake ports.

Would a valve guide seal go bad so suddenly? I always though this was a
typical high-mileage wear item. I can't say that I've seen anything while
driving. But at the point I'm lifting on the throttle I usually have more
critical things to watch than the rear-view :-)

> Any misfire codes? How do the plugs look? PCV system?

Haven't pulled codes yet, but no check-engine lights. Pulling the plugs sure
would be enlightening, but that looks like it requires disassembling the
top-half of the motor :-)

What should I be looking at with the PCV system? From what I can tell, it's
plumbed into the drivers' side of the Y-pipe and maybe the TB, though that
might be part of the evap-emissions system. If oil is going in via the PCV,
where is it coming from? Valve covers? Crankcase? What's supposed to keep it
out?

About 4-5 months ago a dealer replaced a good number of PCV and
evap-emissions components to eradicate a rash of check-engine lights and a
horrific misfire (so bad it was flat-bedded in to the dealer).

Thanks for all your advice, Keman!

-Chris
2001.5 S4 Avant 6spd