Sudden blue smoke and power loss during a hill climb is often an indication of a melted piston. The coolant loss indicates a problem that may have contributed to the failure. Melted pistons are usually caused by a piston/ring problem, engine lugging-overload, a lean cylinder or over advanced ignition timing. It was probably knocking and pinging before the failure although the pinging may not have been heard. Good luck with this. Dennis -----Original Message----- From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Bruce Todd Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 4:43 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Ohh those VW gods...billowing blue smoke. So I just finished climbing a short hill and felt the power of the 2.1 in my Westy decline slightly...a heard a honk and then saw people from the sidewalk staring. I glanced out the rear view mirror and there was a very large cloud of bluish smoke behind me. I quickly pulled over and turned the ignition off. Nothing leaking - oil or water but the coolant refill tank was bone dry - previously at the max level a few days ago when I checked. The smoke smelled of burning oil. I quickly restarted the motor just top see if I could see or hear anything. Motor sounded fine but was blowing blue. The temp guage was fine throughout this ordeal. Anyway just about to get her flat bedded to a shop for repair. Theories, thoughts, words of wisdom?
BT Freshly painted 86 Syncro Westy. |
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