Quick question about leakdown

[spencebm]

Hi everybody.  I have been getting some blue smoke in my 1.9 IDI engine when cold and there is some oil usage also.  How do I go about doing a leak down test and where can I get a good tester?  Thanks for any help and I apologize for my ignorance in this matter.  Ha.

[libbydiesel]

Engines can have excellent leakdown and still burn oil. 

[R.O.R-2.0]

bad valve seals (very common issue on these engines, causing oil usage) will NOT show up on a leak down test..

bad turbo seals also wont show up on a leak down, but will also cause oil usage issues..

leak down, if i understand it correctly, only tests that the valves are sealing good, and that the rings dont leak too much, correctly?

[spencebm]

Thanks for the replies.  Any way to narrow down this problem?  What should be checked given the symptoms?  Turbo seems fine and I have some moderate blow by if that helps any.

[libbydiesel]

How much oil does it use?

[spencebm]

I haven't been driving it that much to tell but probably half a quart per week.  It could be leaking some of this somewhere also.

[theman53]

I bet it is the extra comfort of the recaro seats so your car has to give you some sort of problem. If you need to get rid of them, I am ready

Check the timing belt side of the engine. The cam, crank, and IM seals can leak and not show much dripping because of the cover. Just a throwing it out there.

[libbydiesel]

1/2 quart per week is not a useful description.  How many miles do you drive in two weeks?  That will give us miles per quart.  If you drive more than 500 miles per week, I wouldn't worry about the oil usage.

[spencebm]

I am more concerned about burning oil than leaking because I can do something about that easily.  I don't drive it more than 500 miles a month. 

[libbydiesel]

So you drive less than 500 miles per month, so that's less than 130 miles per week.  If you use 1/2 quart every week, then that places oil consumption at a quart every 250 miles or so.  That's quite excessive. 

[CRSMP5]

fyi... ive seen this too often to not say it... DO NOT top it off till quart low... for what ever reson the 1st 1/2 quart burns faster then the 2nd 1/2 does...

the bluish grey can also be unburnt fuel when started cold... see that often on diesels... take a wif of it and see if it smells like fuel...

[spencebm]

I know it is quite excessive that is why I want to do something about it.  What I mean by smoking blue when cold is when I take off it will blow blue smoke out at higher rpm till warm.  Then it is fine and I am not totally sure how much oil it is burning because of how little I drive it.  Should the rings just be checked eventually? 

[Vangruver]

Hi everybody.  I have been getting some blue smoke in my 1.9 IDI engine when cold and there is some oil usage also.  How do I go about doing a leak down test and where can I get a good tester?  Thanks for any help and I apologize for my ignorance in this matter.  Ha.

Does the car smoke till the engine temp is warmed up?

i have had a similar symptom on my car as well.

only during cold start does the car smoke a lot, it's blueish Grey. Possibility of oil burning in the combustion chamber. the smoke stays evident during acceleration when cold, but goes away when the car reaches operating temp.

the oil consumption is minimal. I drive the vehicle 1000-1200 km [6-700 miles] and only have to top up .75, to 1 full liter of oil.

I do know that one valve seal is mildly torn, which could be a cause of it. The engine does not visibly leak oil onto the ground, and i have had the turbo rebuilt, so the seals are good there.

[spencebm]

I will start driving it more and see how it does to give you guys a better idea of what do think.  Thanks again for your help and patience!