v70xc smokes sometimes

James1216 · Post by **James1216** » 11 Dec 2015, 16:59

Hi guys. I have been doing a lot of work to my V70XC. The PCV system was just done by me last month. My car will blow a lot of blue smoke every other day or so, not all the time. Sometimes it will go two days with no smoke. Is there a way to know if its a turbo issue or engine internals? It has 198K and always smoked since I got it.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 11 Dec 2015, 17:36

When does it smoke? At first startup or when it gets hot? A turbo seal leak would typically smoke all the time after the car heats up.

When you serviced the PCV are you sure you got the PTC all the way clean? I have had smoke on deceleration on turbos that tracked back to a pluged up PTC nipple.

...Lee

Post by **alschnertz** » 11 Dec 2015, 18:06

Worn valve seals are also a possibility.
Generally the symptoms are smoke after a couple of minutes of idle when warm or smoke after a long deceleration.

James1216 · Post by **James1216** » 12 Dec 2015, 05:11

Some days it smokes right after I start it and doesn't stop. It smokes most at idle and doesn't get worse with acceleration or deceleration. Then It can go a day or two with no smoke at all.

James1216 · Post by **James1216** » 12 Dec 2015, 05:23

I did not clean the PTC because nothing looked too plugged up throughout the PCV system as a whole. I will clean it.

James1216 · Post by **James1216** » 17 Dec 2015, 07:31

Hi Guys I just pulled the PTC and it was clean and clear. My question is could the turbo make the car smoke on and off and how? Is there engine oil supplied to the turbo or is it just bearings inside? I heard bad turbo seals could do this but Im not 100% on where the oil leaks from. I just want to find out if its motor or Turbo because if its turbo I will fix it, if valve guides or rings it is what it is and I'm living with it. Any thoughts would be great.

Post by **Ozark Lee** » 17 Dec 2015, 17:00

The oil normally only circulates inside of the cartridge between the impellers. The is an oil seal on both the hot side and the cold side. If the seal on the cold side leaks it will soak the intercooler hoses, as in dripping with oil. If it leaks on the hot side it will smoke all the time after the car warms up.

It is totally normal for the intercooler hoses to have a coat of oil on the inside of them so if you pull them off for a visual inspection don't be alarmed and automatically think it is a leak. A turbo oil leak is actually surprisingly rare.

...Lee

Bluevanacd2005 · Post by **Bluevanacd2005** » 17 Dec 2015, 17:01

Oil is supplied to the turbo from the engine oil pressure. It then returns back to the pan. An easy check would be to take apart some intercooler piping, looking for lots of excess oil from the turbo. At the same time you can try yo check the turbo shaft play with you finger. This is easiest through the inlet of the air side of the turbo. Once the turbo seals fail, it sends oil into the intake and exhaust piping. How do the spark plugs look?

You could make sure the oil return for the turbo is clear... If there is any back pressure it can cause too much pressure at the turbo seals.

Spenser

James1216 · Post by **James1216** » 18 Dec 2015, 16:18

The plugs look ok and I just replaced them with OEM Volvo branded plugs 500mi ago. I am going to check out the intercooler pipe and turbo play next.
Thanks.