Smoke coming from the engine bay

[Grandsport]

Good evening... another problem with my 88' Esprit Turbo...

When I have been driving "hard" and stop the car (engine running or not), after a short moment there are some "clouds" of smoke coming from the engine bay,

As if they were some oil falling on a very hot part and then coming into smoke,

I just have the car serviced at Official Lotus Dealer for this problem, they "repair" one of the cam tower but the problem is still there,

I just read this topic : http://www.glcforum.com/esprit/forums/inde...am++tower++leak

where do you think I have to search next ? :

- the rear cam shft 'o' rings ?

- can it comes from a leak in the turbo ??

any ideas ? thx for your replies, V

[Artie]

Good evening... another problem with my 88' Esprit Turbo... 

When I have been driving "hard" and stop the car (engine running or not), after a short moment there are some "clouds" of smoke coming from the engine bay,

As if they were some oil falling on a very hot part and then coming into smoke,

I just have the car serviced at Official Lotus Dealer for this problem, they "repair" one of the cam tower but the problem is still there,

I just read this topic : http://www.glcforum.com/esprit/forums/inde...am++tower++leak

where do you think I have to search next ? :

- the rear cam shft 'o' rings ?

- can it comes from a leak in the turbo ??

any ideas ? thx for your replies, V

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The Lotus dealer may have fixed the problem but if the leak has been there for some time surely there is residual oil on the manifold/turbo that has not burned off completely. Give the engine a few days to completely burn the old oil off first, then if it still continues then you may still have a leak elsewhere.

Artie

[docf]

I had a major leak from the rear cam seals. Its a very easy fix and cured the problem. The o rings are $2 each from rdent. There was enough of a leak that the entire tranny was covered in a thin layer of caked on oil. Other places to check are the oil feed / return on the turbo and the handful of lines that make up the crankcase evac system. Good luck.

[Grandsport]

Thx Artie & docf, I will have a look this afternoon,

I'am not sure at all about translating into French, what is the "lower cam tower", how could you describe it differently ?

+V

[Grandsport]

I made some test runs,

When I drive under 4500rpm, (using the turbo of course, cant do without ), with moderate acceleration --> then no smoke at all,

When I go to 6000rpm with strong acceleration, smoke will appear when I stop,

It seems that the smoke comes from the exhaust manifold, any ideas ??

Artie --> the smoke is still there so I'm affraid my Lotus dealer didn't fix the problem

docf --> I see on my bill that my mechanic has changed one rear cam seal 'o' ring, but could there be another ?

Many thx for your replies, it could help (me &) the Official lotus mechanic....

Edited June 26, 2006 by Grandsport

[Artie]

I made some test runs,

When I drive under 4500rpm, (using the turbo of course, cant do without  ), with moderate acceleration --> then no smoke at all,

When I go to 6000rpm with strong acceleration, smoke will appear when I stop,

It seems that the smoke comes from the exhaust manifold, any ideas ??

Artie --> the smoke is still there so I'm affraid my Lotus dealer didn't fix the problem 

docf --> I see on my bill that my mechanic has changed one rear cam seal 'o' ring, but could there be another ?

Many thx for your replies, it could help (me &) the Official lotus mechanic.... 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would then assume that yes, your mechanic has missed a seal somewhere! Good luck.

Art

[Grandsport]

I would then assume that yes, your mechanic has missed a seal somewhere!  Good luck.

Art

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

erf

any ideas of where it can come from, could-it be related with the turbo ?

[Artie]

erf 

any ideas of where it can come from, could-it be related with the turbo ?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It could yes, but usually if a turbo seal goes bad, it will smoke progressively as boost and rpm rise. Is there oil on the outside of the center section of the turbo? You could also have a problem with the air/oil separator (green 3 input valve on the top of the transmission/engine union(beneath the turbo water line.). Check that the 1 way valve is working or intact. Also, check your oil level, if you are over the H by a bit the crank will throw oil foam into the intake tract and cause smoking(although usually at any rpm /boost). Just a couple of other ideas for you to chase!

Artie

[Grandsport]

It could yes, but usually if a turbo seal goes bad, it will smoke progressively as boost and rpm rise.  Is there oil on the outside of the center section of the turbo?  You could also have a problem with the air/oil separator (green 3 input valve on the top of the transmission/engine union(beneath the turbo water line.).  Check that the 1 way valve is working or intact.  Also, check your oil level, if you are over the H by a bit the crank will throw oil foam into the intake tract and cause smoking(although usually at any rpm /boost).  Just a couple of other ideas for you to chase!

Artie

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thx I may have a look here too,

There is oil on the outside of the center section of the turbo but as the smoke really come in the area of the exhaust manifold, I was much thinking about something related to the engine, (?)

I contacted Andyf who seems to have had the same problems few months ago, here is his reply : "It actually turned out to be 2 problems, a small water leak combined with a very small cam cover leak, basically the oil would slowly build up in the recess round the head and then once in a while a little water would exit the cooler, mix with the oil and rund down on to the exhuast manifold where it would vapourise making the situation look a lot worse than it actually was. "

Sounds like a good explanation.