Smoking hot...

Hi all

My car (83 GTi) smokes quite badly when it gets hot sitting in traffic. I'm talking people on the pavement waving the smoke away in an exaggerated manner while I cower in the car trying to hide my face. Or cars behind hanging back a way as if to prove a point. You get the idea.

It seems fine when at normal running temperature, no smoke under acceleration etc, and it will clear once I pick up speed for a while and cool the engine. Does this sound like valve stem oil seals to you guys, or something more sinister ?…piston rings etc.

Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks

sure it aint steam? What colour is the smoke? If you have a split hose or a leak somewhere it maybe water/steam escaping

Smoke is blue with a white tinge. Pretty sure it's burning oil, mainly because of the smell ?.

Check the crankcase breather under the cam cover isn't blocked. They get gunged up and give symptoms like a worn engine burning oil.

I have seen the seals on the drive shafts leak and as you drive throw oil onto the exhaust manifold , so when you stop the oil gets hot and smokes. Look at the inner cv's , if there covered in oil, well theres your problem.