Re: Smokin' '88 90Q

[Nathan Belo <belo@eskimo.com>]

On Mon, 2 Mar 1998, Phil Payne wrote:

> In message <Pine.SUN.3.96.980302134734.2402C-100000@eskimo.com> Nathan Belo writes:
> 
> > I've got 170K miles and the car is smokin' bluish white smoke when I
> > upshift around 3,000 r.p.m. and downshift leaving a cloud.  It is erratic.
> > The car needs a tune up.  Tell me I don't need a ring or valve job and
> > it's just a tune up.
> 
> VERY approximate rule of thumb:
>  
> 1) White smoke - vaporised coolant, probably head gasket - usually the back
>    if an I5.  Acrid smell.
>  
> 2) Blue smoke on shifting - valve stem oil seals.  Find the right mechanic,
>    and it's a surprisingly cheap job.  Burnt oil smell.  
>  
> 3) Blue smoke on overrun without shifting - more serious wear, perhaps 
>    rings.  Very rare in Audis - common in Beemers.  Tends to smell more
>    of vaporised than burnt oil.
> 
> 4) Great blast of blue smoke on startup.  Seriously shot turbo bearing -
>    too worried to smell it.
>  
> 5) Grey or black smoke.  Seriously rich mixture.  Just plain stinks.
> 
> Modifications welcome.
> 
> -- 
>  Phil Payne
>  UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club
> 

I do have an oil leak from the back and have to add a quart a week.  Is
this part of the problem? I haven't been able to figure out where it's
leaking from.  Maybe the head gasket?