1.8 gti smoke??

Hi i have just got a 1.8 gti cabriolet and the head gasket had gone. I have changed the gasket etc and that's all fine but it now has oil smoke but only when warm and when under load. I have done a compression test and all fine. I was going to change valve stem seals next but have heard it should smoke on startup if they had gone which it doesn't.

thanks in advance for any help.

What colour is the smoke?

hi it a more blue than white smoke and smells of oil. could it just be the breathers blocked if it's only when warm

Certainly won't help - blue is oil as you've determined, did you check the bores when you were in there ?

got to be honest didn't have a really good look but when I cleaned them had a quick look and was no marks etc. also compression was all good can't remember figure but was high.

If good compressions then you could be looking at valve stem seals or worn guides, unfortunately it's a head off job to check.

I bought a Campaign a few years ago and spent a fortune trying to cure smoke -

Head gasket, new piston rings head pressure tested. new main bearings, new big end bearings.

Each time taking head off.

Turned that between the top of the valves and under the rocker cover sits an oil deflector.

It stops excess oil getting back through the breather.

Cost 50p from a scrapyard!!!

They have them listed at VW heritage as part number 026103547 theyre a fiver, got to be worth a try!?……..

Did the engine get cooked when the gasket went?

This can weaken the rings by tempering them and making them less springy.

Cero said

If good compressions then you could be looking at valve stem seals or worn guides, unfortunately it's a head off job to check.

hello all, sorry to disagree   but you can check guides for wear and obviously change valve stem seals (with the right tools) with the head in place.
Personally I think you need to make sure you have the splash guard fitted because without it you will be burning fumes    

tubbett said

Cero said

If good compressions then you could be looking at valve stem seals or worn guides, unfortunately it's a head off job to check.

hello all, sorry to disagree   but you can check guides for wear and obviously change valve stem seals (with the right tools) with the head in place.
Personally I think you need to make sure you have the splash guard fitted because without it you will be burning fumes    

Totally agree with you, but have you tried it    
It's a nightmare to do in-situ even with those tools.

  yes it is a nightmare, very very fiddly, ive always found that if they need that much attention your just as well to remove the head anyway, after all the gasket is really a consumable item and its to easy to loose a collett
cushx you need to remove the valve cover and check to make sure you have a splash guard fitted before you do anything else bud

thanks for all the replies guys. i have bought new seals was going to do it with the head in situe but now will just take it back off as its easy enough. only problem is now it wont start it tries but cuts off straight away    

oh dear
my question is "do you have a splashguard?"

hi yes i have a splash gaurd if its the right part when i take the rocker cover off there is another cover underneath ontop of the cam is that the one you mean?

  thats the one
so i take it youve already had the head off? it really needs checking with an engineers edge to make sure its true.
I also have to assume you have a torque wrench too? preferably calibrated, and all the relevant technical data for re-installation of the head?

Please forgive me but I often hear stories when people dive in and make everything worse for themselves  

yes have already had the head off as head gasket went on previous owner. and i work at a macheine shop so we put it on the machine and timed the head and wasnt warped. stupidly whilst i was in there i should of fully rebuilt the head inc stem seals etc but i was too quick in wanting to get it back together whilst we still had some summer with top down. also yes i have all the relevent torque renches etc for the job.

I understand you having too ask i know people that try to do the jobs without the tools 

  well if your at a machine shop thanks for taking the tools remark so well  
guide check and stem seals all round then i reckon, be quick before we loose the sun!

thanks mate i will put some pics up of the valves etc when i take it apart and just change the guides and seals all at the same time then its done. Thanks again for the advice.