1998 V70 GLT 188K......when car is at idle every 30-60 seconds or so the engine idle will 'weaken' a bit and the motor will puff out some bluish smoke out the exhaust, and when wifey drops off our 3 year old at school there is a significant hill to crawl up, and when on the incline and stopping & going, the exhaust plume worsens substantially....
Car runs and drives fine otherwise, we just had it tuned up (Sept 21!!) cap/rotor/wires, all filters, throttle body update, turbo return line hose fixed, solenoid- no CE/ service lights on...our trusted mechanic did not see the smoking and wifey didn't tell me the smoking, just figured it would be fixed!!!!

Now I well know that it could be an array of issues, but can anyone offer me
some suggestions as to what is happening and why, also so I can brace my wallet $$$ again!!

Thank you...Mike!

My 96 850 GLT n/a will start puffing blue smoke (oil burning) after idling in traffic for a few minutes. On the road and normal stop lights are not a problem. I expect it is either valve guides/seals or rings. I have 345K miles on it. At idle, your engine is pulling maximum manifold vacume, because the throttle is closed. It will suck oil around any worn parts, rings or valve guides and seals. My car is using a quart of oil every 1500 to 2000 miles depending on my driving style. Fuel milage is still 30 on the highway and 26 in town. The idling along in school traffic will suck oil in to burn and the giving some gas to move up the hill will belch it out pretty good. Could be a turbo problem as others describe or could be a worn engine. A compression check will confirm worn rings. If you don't have a turbo engine, then I say it is a valve job. If you have a turbo, try what the others have posted and if doesn't improve, then back to the valve job.

good luck,

Keith

Hello, I'm going to guess that the turbo's shaft bearing seal is going. Removing the turbo and fitting a rebuilt unit shouldn't be prohibitively expensive (Translation: I don't know how much it should cost). I doubt it's valve guides because she'd be smoking all the time.
Try an oil change using an oil with an ACEA rating of A3,B3. I read it's a turbo bearing additive.
An occaisionaly smoking turbo in the family doesn't anymore and a neighbors HEAVILY smoking turbo smokes truely 95% less immediately after changeover. Mobil 1 0W-30 and Castrol 0W-30 European Formula are two which are commonly available.
You could clean your intake system of any pooled oil as well. Do try one of those oils. Kira

FWIW my personal oil research has lead me to believe that Diesel oils (that also carry the API gasoline spec of course) are probably the best choice for my car.

- they have more 'TBN' for acid resistance (short tripping)
- they have more phosphorous and zinc (ZDDP) additives than ILSAC allows for gasoline oils (has a 'plating' effect to prevent metal-to-metal contact)
- synthetic oils are available MUCH more cheaply than normal gasoline oils


I had a thread running at bobistheoilguy.com on this in case anyone is interested :
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2002438&page=1
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1998 V70 AWD->FWD Turbo 200k+

Time to check the PTC nipple and make sure it is clean.

Sounds like the turbo intercooler is oily and needs to be 'blown out' by a good high speed run in 2nd gear.

Klaus

+1

I have heard of people cleaning their intercoolers with warm slightly soapy water as well. Pull the upper and lower intercooler ducting and pour it in.

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1998 V70 AWD->FWD Turbo 200k+