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take the intercooler off , is there a lot of oil in it , there will often be some , are you using a 0 or 5 / 30 something oil as that’s often too thin and puts more oil in the intercooler , are the rocker gaskets mainly drivers side leaking on to the hot exhaust / up pipe ? if it’s running fine and not using oil do you need to worry about it ? 👍
forgot to add , blue smoke in theory oil , white water , black fuel , the black which of all three is the most normal for example boot it it will dump a load of extra fuel in 👍
I think if you take it out and shake it you should hear it rattle loosely. If not then it could be stuck. It could be sending too much oily vapour back into the plastic inlet to the turbo, gets forced through the intercooler and down into the inlet manifold, thus you can get smoke from the exhaust.
The Video above shows the USofA PCV arangement which is different to a UK setup.
The WRX hatch arrangement, like the majority of UK models, the PCV valve screws directly into the back of the inlet manifold and there is NO white plastic oil sensor (US only) on the PCV "Y" pipe.
Also due to the WRX Hatches different intercooler/inlet manifold arrangements the "Y" pipe itself is a somewhat different shape
Valve complete-control, 11810AA060
Last edited by Don Clark; 28 August 2021 at 10:01 AM.
If it hasn't been changed in a while, might be worth changing.
Cross section of typical PCV valve
When engine is idling or off boost the valve allows crankcase "fumes" from the engine's breather system to enter the inlet manifold and is burnt off during the normal combustion cycle.
When the engine comes on boost the valve is forced to the left, closing off the entry port. Due to the "Y" pipe configuration, the "fumes" are re-directed to the turbo air inlet pipe and then to the inlet manifold.
If the valve becomes contaminated/saturated with oil residue, which they can do after a number of years, it can stick and not close properly under boost conditions.
As in the vid the internal valve should move freely as the spring is very light.(rattle when shaken)
Given what's needed to remove it for inspection/cleaning, most people consider it a consumable item and replace rather than clean.
The Video above shows the USofA PCV arangement which is different to a UK setup.
The WRX hatch arrangement, like the majority of UK models, the PCV valve screws directly into the back of the inlet manifold and there is NO white plastic oil sensor (US only) on the PCV "Y" pipe.
Also due to the WRX Hatches different intercooler/inlet manifold arrangements the "Y" pipe itself is a somewhat different shape
Many thanks, I have found and removed my PCV and it is rattling a lot so I presume it's faulty so going to order a new one
is the image here the one I need to order for my WRX 2.5 230bhp 2008 UK Hatch?
Originally Posted by Don Clark
I believe so. the connection to the right of it is the brake servo vacuum hose.
Although that image is not of a UK car
"Similar" but slightly different setup on a JDM 2.0L Legacy GT below
Many thanks Don 👍 part ordered hopefully it fixes my issue, failing that I will be swapping my turbo over for a spare 60k miles one compared to my 121k one
They should be very rattly. That generally means they're fine, but doesn't hurt to replace it.
[QUOTE=JC-Impreza;12110014]Many thanks, I have found and removed my PCV and it is rattling a lot so I presume it's faulty so going to order a new one
is the image here the one I need to order for my WRX 2.5 230bhp 2008 UK Hatch?
[/QUOTE]
it doesnt sound like the turbo in my opinion, when my 2004 wrx turbo started to give up it would smoke on idle and and a little on start up but would clear when on boost. it was worst on idle chiffing out lots of blue smoke, replaced with a low mileage unit and it was sorted
Thanks for help and advice on this matter, it turned out to be the turbo (i guess turbo seals) as replaced my 120,000 miles unit with a 60,000 miles turbo and car has stopped smoking completely
Thanks for help and advice on this matter, it turned out to be the turbo (i guess turbo seals) as replaced my 120,000 miles unit with a 60,000 miles turbo and car has stopped smoking completely
i was about to chime in with similar experiences, just for the record:
Back in the days I had '05 STI and it would create white 'ish smoke only when braking hard with engine, meaning with higher revs. Then it started to do it with lower revs also, for example coasting downhill with a gear engaged and gas depressed. Very small puffs, not always even visible via rear view mirror - just by a friend driving behind me. Car pulled strong, did not consume oil (Castrol Racing 10W-60 in summer, 0W-40 in winter), did not consume coolant. Eventually went ahead and took turbo out and yeah, the seals were busted.
26 August 2021, 10:57 PM
Smoking Car
