T4 help! More smoke than a steam train!

[LogicprObe]

Like I said, it will be the valve stem seals.
It's the way the engine's designed.........1 and 2 run colder than the others and really need 'hot' plugs that I could never source in Aus.

[jets]

Not sure what the compression on these should be but that seems to be good If not a little high I’m not sure. Would any one know what the compression on a 2.5l petrol t4 should be?

I had a look in the Bentley manual that covers the AAF & ACU engines. I don't know what engine you have, is it the AET?
Anyway the AAF is quoted as 131 to 174 psi. The ACU is 145 to 189psi. All these figures are for a new engine, could be more with carbon deposits or higher compression engine.

[VR6kid]

I had a look in the Bentley manual that covers the AAF & ACU engines. I don't know what engine you have, is it the AET?
Anyway the AAF is quoted as 131 to 174 psi. The ACU is 145 to 189psi. All these figures are for a new engine, could be more with carbon deposits or higher compression engine.

I believe mine is the AET engine... all i know is the engine isn't low on compression at least, regardless though sounds like the head will need a rebuild.

[LogicprObe]

You never know.........the Slacks Creek guy may be able to change the stem seals without removing the head.
Always best not to disturb the head if at all possible.

[jets]

You never know.........the Slacks Creek guy may be able to change the stem seals without removing the head.

That is possible, but if the valve guides are worn that will be a waste of time.
I did that many years ago on a Mercedes 250 that would blow blue smoke after coming down a hill & accelerating again.
Mercedes & the aircooled VWs used to wear the valve guides & then the seals wouldn't work.

[VR6kid]

So i have finally figured out a consistent problem with the van. The first start of the day it never starts, it will sit around 500rpm for about 5 seconds then die, crank it again and it runs fine, no miss or obvious over-fuelling problems, it will run fine for as long as the car is on, doesn't matter if its warm or cold, hardly if any smoke at all either. Does not matter if i drive it 10 minutes to the shops or an hour to work it runs fine the first time its started. However once stopped and turned off it needs to sit for hours again to run this well, If i attempt to start it after 10-15mins it runs rich, misses and smokes a fair bit PLUS i used about 15l of fuel driving 50ks the other day because i had no other option. Ive got a fair idea that its cylinder 1 thats causing this but not sure it its just a valve or not, previous owner said he replaced injectors not too long before i bought it so maybe he has not installed it properly or damaged something. Any ideas fellas? Would anyone not a reputable VW mechanic around Ipswich/Brisbane? might get to the point ill make it someone else problem. Cheers.

[VR6kid]

SOLVED: Injectors were shot all 5 of them, even though previous owner said they were new... They were defiantly not! Seems to run fine now however can still smell fuel when driving.

[Sunny43.5]

Check your rear tailgate seal , they will compress and you could be smelling fuel from there .

[LogicprObe]

You can sometimes get a small leak around where the hoses connect to the fuel pump in the tank.
I had one there after a mechanic was checking for a fuel pump problem.

[VR6kid]

You can sometimes get a small leak around where the hoses connect to the fuel pump in the tank.
I had one there after a mechanic was checking for a fuel pump problem.

Probably worth checking but it being under the seat i dont think it would be from there as when the windows are up you can barely smell it, only when the windows are down is when it smells pretty bad. Will probably end up replacing all fuel lines eventually anyway.