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t3kg
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Joined: June 14, 2006
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Location: Los Angeles
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 Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 7:39 pm Post subject: A little smoke from the oil filler and breather tube |
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This has been bugging me so I thought I'd post the question here: I'm seeing some light colored smoke/vapor from the oil filler and the breather tube after even short runs. It's an early '62, so no hose connecting the breather and air cleaner. The engine is freshly rebuilt with just 300 miles. Valves and timing are spot on, runs maybe a little on the warm side but not overheating, no oil light flickering. I just drained the oil immediately after a drive and the oil itself wasn't smoking hot. I've read all the breather smoke related forum posts and it looks like the possibilities are:
1. blow-by caused by bad rings
2. crankcase pressure too high
3. gas in the oil
4. not fully broken in yet
5. totally normal
The cylinders/pistons/rings are new and the oil doesn't smell obviously gassy. I'm thinking it's normal. What say you?
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Multi69s
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Tram
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| Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2015 11:01 pm Post subject: |
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I agree with the previous poster- until break- in is complete, there's no point in worrying about these things. Even then, if oil consumption is negligible, I wouldn't worry about "steam" from the dipstick or breather- that's pretty normal. You don't notice it as much on the later engines because they are vented better.
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| Bryan67 wrote: |
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t3kg
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t3kg
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Tram
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| Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 9:29 pm Post subject: Re: A little smoke from the oil filler and breather tube |
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| t3kg wrote: |
At 1000 miles this is still happening. I'm also noticing a few oil leaks from unusual places, like the base of the breather tower. I think the crankcase pressure is too high -- maybe the combination of an early inadequate breather system and 85.5 P/Cs? Not sure if this is something that I should worry about or not...  |
If the CC pressure is really too high it will pop the breather cap off in my experience, and leak oil absolutely everywhere. You likely just have a leak at the base of the breather.
How much oil have you used at 1000 miles? What oil are you running?
I'm still voting with #5
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t3kg
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VWCOOL
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 3:29 am Post subject: Re: A little smoke from the oil filler and breather tube |
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Normal. All engines breathe a little...
Stop looking for problems you don't have! |
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Erik G
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raygreenwood
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 10:56 am Post subject: Re: A little smoke from the oil filler and breather tube |
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Very light oil and moisture vapor is common from virtually every engine when you open the oil cap right after shutdown when the oil is fully warmed up. The more outside humidity...the more vapor.
My 2012 Golf even does it. Ray |
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Tram
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| Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 12:22 pm Post subject: Re: A little smoke from the oil filler and breather tube |
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| VWCOOL wrote: |
Normal. All engines breathe a little...
Stop looking for problems you don't have! |
This.
Oh, and don't ever buy an old Mercedes Diesel... you'll die of unease! 
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t3kg
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ataraxia
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t3kg
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