hey guys,

so I am rebuilding my head and swapping turbos. I bought this car a few months ago for $800. It's a 2001 A4 Quattro 1.8T. This is my second A4. My symptoms are billows of white smoke, and when I say billows I mean my neighbor's house looks like it's been attacked by a SWAT team when I turn the car on. Also there is a distinct clacking noise. I thought it could be piston rings, but when I remove the dip stick, no smoke comes out and when I remove the PCV no smoke as well, so rings are out. This car had the head rebuilt when the timing belt snapped , so my next thought was, well they were cheap so they decided to either a) not install new valve seals, or b) installed them incorrectly. I bought an engine for it and it ended up being a total piece of crap (legal battle with ebayer in process). I did however have the head of the crap motor rebuilt, it's perfect now. I also have two turbos for the car, one has 84k, the other has 73k on it, no shaft play on both. Today I removed the front end on the car and it was slightly different from my B6. For one, this car doesn't need to have the A/C purged to remove radiator support...very handy considering the B6 does. So tomorrow morning I will begin head removal...I am sure that will tell me what exactly is wrong with this car. My guesses are bad valve seals - explains smoke and chatter, broken retainer - uh really horrible implications, I do have new pistons, but I'd rather not, not to mention I really don't want to yank the engine out, bad valve guide - also explains all of the above, will be fixed by new head.


Has anyone had anything similar happen? My only other experience is doing a full rebuild on my 180k 1.8T, which really didn't even need it - Mobil 1 Synthetic with large filter from day 1 = all bearing clearances within factory spec. So diagnosing this is something new for me. I am stoked about it to be honest with you, provided it works out, I need a DD that gets over 22 mpg. I am driving a 88 jeep grand wagoneer right now, 10 mpg everywhere I go.

Any input of general discussion of the topic is accepted...also if you need any advice on a rebuild...feel free to ask

Ivan

 

swap the turbo first since you have one, chances are it's the turbo!!!
typically valve seals will smoke on start up or vary the amount of smoke.
also check the plugs, if no oil in combustion then more likely from the turbo, although it's possible just the exahust valves are leaking but still should get oil in the combustion and show up on the plugs if it's that bad.
sometimes a turbo will smoke very badly on idle the clear up when driving (just changed one like this last week it filled up my shop with smoke in about 30 seconds is smoked so bad but take it down the road in 200 yards no smoke) also a turbo can smoke all the time but for the most part a turbo smokes bad when the Cat heats up so they generally don't smoke when you first start the car, it takes a few minutes, where Valve seals will "generally" smoke as soon as you start the car.
Also you don't need to remove the front end, just loosen it and let it tilt forward. drain you oil and remove the oil drain line from the oil pan not the turbo this will save lots of time and headakes.

 

as for the clatter, could be low oil pressure or timing chain tensioner going bad!

 

Jschick you were right on the money. Got the head out about a week ago and it seemed ok. No eztra loose valves, nothing bent, decided to take off turbo and examine it...glad that i did. The exhaust side turbine was off!!! It was just rattling in the housing. I will try to post pics later, but it was pretty bad. That explains the rattling and smoke, now i am kicking myself for taking the head off, but since the rebuilt head is paid for it's going on the car. I think i will get this turbo frankenturboed. Use it on some other car.

Btw i picked up a 02 tt with a full K04 kit today with a bad misfire problem. Will be needing help with that soon too