BNR S4 oil consumption (intermittent white smoke)

[BuddySpeed3]

Ok so a little update...

Smoking is still happening only at WOT but has improved a little bit. It's worse if the oil hasn't fully warmed up. Compression was checked and resulted in 180 psi across all 4 cylinders. I've removed oil return line and verified no blockage in the line, engine block, and turbo cartridge. Puffs of whitish blueish smoke occur more noticeably if I hit the throttle hard as opposed to gradually going WOT. It's also noticebly smokey if I hit the rev limiter (accidentally). It seems very much related to crankcase pressure as it only happens at WOT. If I rev the engine out to high rpm at part throttle to raise oil pressure, it doesn't smoke at all.

Things that have helped but not fully cured the issue:

1. Gen 2 valve cover w/ Sp63 oil breather cap; VC breather still routed to turbo inlet for vacuum
2. DM stage 2 vented catch can with vent routed to turbo inlet for added vacuum
3. Oil restrictor bolt from BNR (smaller hole than JBR bolt)
4. Switching back to 5w30 (was running 5w40 Rotella T6) as it drains out of the turbo more efficiently as per Bryan.

I really don't want to have to send it out to Bryan to get rebuilt. Has anyone had a similar issue with the S4? If so what was your solution?

Thanks!
Erik

[Polish_Eagle]

Originally Posted by BuddySpeed3 Ok so a little update... Smoking is still happening only at WOT but has improved a little bit. It's worse if the oil hasn't fully warmed up. Compression was checked and resulted in 180 psi across all 4 cylinders. I've removed oil return line and verified no blockage in the line, engine block, and turbo cartridge. Puffs of whitish blueish smoke occur more noticeably if I hit the throttle hard as opposed to gradually going WOT. It's also noticebly smokey if I hit the rev limiter (accidentally). It seems very much related to crankcase pressure as it only happens at WOT. If I rev the engine out to high rpm at part throttle to raise oil pressure, it doesn't smoke at all. Things that have helped but not fully cured the issue: 1. Gen 2 valve cover w/ Sp63 oil breather cap; VC breather still routed to turbo inlet for vacuum 2. DM stage 2 vented catch can with vent routed to turbo inlet for added vacuum 3. Oil restrictor bolt from BNR (smaller hole than JBR bolt) 4. Switching back to 5w30 (was running 5w40 Rotella T6) as it drains out of the turbo more efficiently as per Bryan. I really don't want to have to send it out to Bryan to get rebuilt. Has anyone had a similar issue with the S4? If so what was your solution? Thanks! Erik

I recommend a leak down test to confirm the health of your engine. On my 3 I had burning oil issues and sometimes smoking. At this point I tested the compression and saw 180 - 185 PSI on all 4 cylinders. I then made a leak down tester and checked my engine and I was surprised to see 2 cylinders had ~40% leak and the other 2 had 20 -30% leak. From there I had no choice but to rebuild the engine and during the tear down I saw that all 4 pistons had cracked ring lands.

In my case, the burning oil issue was from the crankcase pressurizing and oil blowing past the rings. Also, since the crankcase was experiencing excessive pressure, my turbo wasn't draining properly, and this cause it to seep into the compressor housing.

[BuddySpeed3]

Originally Posted by Polish_Eagle I recommend a leak down test to confirm the health of your engine. On my 3 I had burning oil issues and sometimes smoking. At this point I tested the compression and saw 180 - 185 PSI on all 4 cylinders. I then made a leak down tester and checked my engine and I was surprised to see 2 cylinders had ~40% leak and the other 2 had 20 -30% leak. From there I had no choice but to rebuild the engine and during the tear down I saw that all 4 pistons had cracked ring lands. In my case, the burning oil issue was from the crankcase pressurizing and oil blowing past the rings. Also, since the crankcase was experiencing excessive pressure, my turbo wasn't draining properly, and this cause it to seep into the compressor housing.

Thanks man! I will definitely do a leak down test. In your case since having had all 4 ringlands cracked, when did you notice smoke and the most oil consumption? Was it mainly at WOT, or even at cruising and part throttle?

The reason I ask is because my engine consumes virtually no oil or cause smoking when cruising around at part throttle. It's mainly at WOT, and has gotten much better since installing a vented catch can and the sp63 oil breather cap.

FWIW we know oil pressure increases with rpm, and I can hold the rpm really high at part throttle to about 5000 rpm and see no smoke out the tail pipe. The smoking occurs only under load, which gives me a sense that my ringlands are not cracked

Thanks!