If the car has NOT lost some power and runs great, it can be the valve guides.
If the car has lost some power and make blue clouds when releasing the gas pedal and pressing it again (best try if running in 2nd gear a downhill without pressing the gas for at least 4-5sec.) it may be the piston rings.
If you have a TD100 or JTD105 and the smoke is visible mostly when starting the car, is the turbo: the turbo shaft have some bushings instead of ball bearings, if they are worn oil will leak and fill the engine air intake, so when you start the car it will sucks this oil and burn it. To test the turbo bushing, simply remove the rubber pipe in turbo air intake and try to move the turbo shaft with the fingers, if it "rattle" you need some service to the turbo

julieiito said:

Anyone help I have a (2001) Brava starting up I get a bit of smoke and can smell oil burning on a 45 minute run what is it? I also have to top up over a pint of oil every month Is it anything to worry about. Thanks.

Click to expand...

It runs perfect no loss of power

julieiito said:

It runs perfect no loss of power

Click to expand...

So it may be the valve guides, if they are worn oil can leak in the intake when gas is released, but as this don't influence engine compression, you have smoke and oil consumption without loss of power.

But if your Brava make blue smoke only when starting and for the following 45min s, and is a diesel, it can be the turbo.

Have you had any work done to the car recently, like a service? Any stains or puddles on the floor under the car. I'm just trying to rule out the obvious and cheapest methods first.

I.e. The oil filter may not be screwed on tight, then as the engine gets hot, the oil starts to burn on the engine and give you that unpleasant smell through the ventilation system. Sump plug may not be screwed tight. Cracked Sump. Etc. Is your camshaft cover leaking oil?

The smoke on start up, is that through the exhaust? What colour? Blue or White?

Other possible causes....

- Wrong Grade of Oil
- Oil Seal Leaking
- Sump Seal Leaking
- Cylinder Head Gasket Leaking
- Piston Ring or Cylinder Bore Wear

JoskeJTD said:

Have you had any work done to the car recently, like a service? Any stains or puddles on the floor under the car. I'm just trying to rule out the obvious and cheapest methods first.

I.e. The oil filter may not be screwed on tight, then as the engine gets hot, the oil starts to burn on the engine and give you that unpleasant smell through the ventilation system. Sump plug may not be screwed tight. Cracked Sump. Etc. Is your camshaft cover leaking oil?

The smoke on start up, is that through the exhaust? What colour? Blue or White?

Other possible causes....

- Wrong Grade of Oil
- Oil Seal Leaking
- Sump Seal Leaking
- Cylinder Head Gasket Leaking
- Piston Ring or Cylinder Bore Wear

Click to expand...

Hi JoskeJTD, Thanks for your reply and well do my best answering the questions.


I bought my car in November and booked it into the garage I had full service and had a new Sump fitted and rear main was leaking and that too was repaired, until a couple of months ago I noticed oil leaking again it was the sump the garage kept my car for a few days to make sure it wasn’t leaking, and recently my car has to go back to the garage on Monday 7th as the rear main has started to leak. On start up the smoke is coming out of the exhaust it looks blue to me.

I have to top up the oil every month over a pint approx 400 miles. I did see a guy from the AA he did a computer check and told me that nothing is wrong with my car but I’m not taking his word for it. He did show me the emission test that was right this is going back three months ago. It looks to me the smoke has increased a bit more since I bought my car. It’s not sluggish runs very well it drives like nothing wrong with it and no problems with the fuel or emission.

The first thing is I always check for any oil leak under the car
No oil leak coming from the camshaft
I make sure I buy the right oil grade
I don’t have any other leak only what I have mentioned

Thanks, Julie.

Hi,

It would be a good idea to have a compression check done on the engine. It should show any problems associated with a worn engine or faulty component.

I assume the oil is at the correct level on the dip stick and not over filled.