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[Ian_D]

Went to the VBOA meet this weekend towing the Caravan with my 3.0 V6.

Towed really really well all the way (slightly spirited towing lets say  )

Anyway, my mate who was following me said that it randomly kept chucking out thick dense smoke for a few seconds every now and then.

I said 'ah it will be the chip making it run a bit rich when I booted it' and thought no more of it.

Half way home, I happened to see the smoke in my drivers side wing mirror... It was then that I realized it was NOT from me booting it, and the smoke was blue  It was disturbingly dense too.

I came off the throttle, and the smoke continued  :-? I decided to boot it and see what happened... basically it smoked like a trooper for about a second, and then cleared?? Didn’t notice any smoke the remainder of the way home.

Got home and noticed that ALL the front of the caravan has a light covering in engine oil 

Any ideas? 

[Ian_D]

anyone?  :-?

[nick v6]

whats your engine oil level like after the run

[Marks DTM Calib]

I assume the obvious things such as breathers and air filter are all clear?

[NiallyV6CDX]

Valve stem seals going possibly?

[Omega man 2]

Sounds i almost the same as on JamesV6CDX's astra with bad stem seals :-/

[Ian_D]

whats your engine oil level like after the run

After 400 miles (towing), the level has maybe only dropped 1mm or so on the stick.

[Ian_D]

Valve stem seals going possibly?

I did wonder that, but it doesn't smoke after its been sat all day - I thought thats what happened if it was the valve stems?

[Ian_D]

Used the car today, and didnt notice any smoke  Having said that, it was only a 15 min / 4 mile drive 

Other thing I thought of, could the smoke be related to engine temp? At the time, it was a tiny fraction below the 100degree mark?

[Lee A]

I had a Vauxhall Viceroy 6 cyl (remember them?!  ) that used to do the same thing as you are describing.

I replaced all the valve stem seals and it still did it, then i realised the breathers hadnt been cleaned in ages, a good clean out and it never did it again.

I would imagine if they are blocked the oil gets forced past the seals, especially when the engine is working hard.

Just my newbie 2 p worth 

[Tony H]

Went to the VBOA meet this weekend towing the Caravan with my 3.0 V6.

Towed really really well all the way (slightly spirited towing lets say  )

Anyway, my mate who was following me said that it randomly kept chucking out thick dense smoke for a few seconds every now and then.

I said 'ah it will be the chip making it run a bit rich when I booted it' and thought no more of it.

Half way home, I happened to see the smoke in my drivers side wing mirror... It was then that I realized it was NOT from me booting it, and the smoke was blue  It was disturbingly dense too.

I came off the throttle, and the smoke continued  :-? I decided to boot it and see what happened... basically it smoked like a trooper for about a second, and then cleared?? Didn’t notice any smoke the remainder of the way home.

Got home and noticed that ALL the front of the caravan has a light covering in engine oil 

Any ideas? 

A sooty, oily deposit from a diesel exaust can be quite normal

[Ian_D]

Went to the VBOA meet this weekend towing the Caravan with my 3.0 V6.

Towed really really well all the way (slightly spirited towing lets say  )

Anyway, my mate who was following me said that it randomly kept chucking out thick dense smoke for a few seconds every now and then.

I said 'ah it will be the chip making it run a bit rich when I booted it' and thought no more of it.

Half way home, I happened to see the smoke in my drivers side wing mirror... It was then that I realized it was NOT from me booting it, and the smoke was blue  It was disturbingly dense too.

I came off the throttle, and the smoke continued  :-? I decided to boot it and see what happened... basically it smoked like a trooper for about a second, and then cleared?? Didn’t notice any smoke the remainder of the way home.

Got home and noticed that ALL the front of the caravan has a light covering in engine oil 

Any ideas? 

A sooty, oily deposit from a diesel exaust can be quite normal

Tis petrol mate 

[Ian_D]

I had a Vauxhall Viceroy 6 cyl (remember them?!  ) that used to do the same thing as you are describing.

I replaced all the valve stem seals and it still did it, then i realised the breathers hadnt been cleaned in ages, a good clean out and it never did it again.

I would imagine if they are blocked the oil gets forced past the seals, especially when the engine is working hard.

Just my newbie 2 p worth 

I will have a look at the breather box thing (dont know its correct name is - but I know its a pig to get at)
The pipes which run across the top of the plenum are fine as I had them all off exactly a week ago when it was missfiring - turned out to be a faulty dispack, and water in the HT leads. 

[Marks DTM Calib]

So, you dont want answer my questions then 

[Ian_D]

So, you dont want answer my questions then 

I did read it mate! Air filter is clean....

But I didnt check the breather box down the back of the engine - which I knew you would question!    So I didnt want to waste your time, by you having to ask 'check the breather box'