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I'm kind of in shock, kind of scared too. I opened up the air box/air filter cover yesterday of my 1.4 6n2 Auto. The thing was soooo dirty, and filled with oil. I thought it wasn't normal, so tried to wash it. Anyhow, i put it back, didn't start the car the whole day.

Then today, a day after messing with it, i started the car, and their was loadsssssss of smell of petrol/oil, and the smoke was sort of blueish greyish. I think i might have done something wrong. Was a realllllll strong smell of petrol, and i mean it was BAD! It DEFO wasn't normal. Anyway, the smoke went after about 5 mins of driving. Could it have been because i revved the car as soon as i started it up, because it was really freeeezin cold outside? My brother said that i may have ruined some metal, because you shouldn't excessively rev when it's freezin cold and only been started.

Also, when i did turn on the car, the wipers started, even with the stalk in the off position. I messed about with the stalk for 2 mins, turned it to max, then to low, then max again, then low, and it finally switched off when i put it in the off position. Thing is, i'm doing the install for my ICE, hence the wipers (i'm guessing). Would anyone recommend that i dis-connect the battery before i carry on with rest? I haven't even touched the fuse box yet, but was messing about around it, tryna get a wire through. If someone could let me know how to dis-connect the battery.

I'll upload a photo of my dirty airfilter.

P.S. - How much are brand new filters from VW? I need one TEMPORARILY, before i either get a BMC carbon, or a K&N airfilter or induction kit.

I'm really worried that my car is gonna do something stupid soon, so it's kinda 5hittin me up. Please help, why the smoke? I only washed the filter and put it back in.

you washed a paper filter?
go buy a new one from halfords, cost about a tenner.
you get a bit of oil in the airbox from the breather pipe but not much.

mikegti wrote:you washed a paper filter?

Bugger missed that bit - that'd make her run a bit rich and smoke for a while

WOAH!

Thanks for the information guys. Knew you'd save my life.

By the way, do i need to buy a new filter from halfrauds? Or should i get one from VAG?

Also, how long will it smoke for?

Do i have to put a lil oil on my new filter? Or is it supposed 2 b clean?

OK.

I to have had the smokey start crap and the oily filter. Basically the 1.4 (not sure about the others) does this a lot. The baffle for the breather isn't that effective. Relies mostly on gravity and at high RPM tends to draw some oil through. Generally it should go straight into the throttle body, but the oil rail at the top of the airbox is about as much use as a handbrake on a canoe - so it does get back to the filter and soaks it up.

Suggest you try the following two mods.

1) use a k&n filter instead of paper. They don't suffer from being blocked by soaking up oil. And they are easy to wash.
2) reduce your oil to half way between min and max. At or over Max will result in it breathing and smoking a bit.
3) Avoid starting the car for just a few minutes then stopping. This seems to make mine go rich for a while on the second start.

The oil consumption on these cars can be quite high and still be in the specification. Your cat will not get poisned unless its really excessive for a long time, it tends to burn off.

for your last couple of queries.

1) Halfords will do fine, VAG isn't more expensive, it just depends if its on your way.
2) Hopefully it will stop smoking pretty much immediately. You might try cleaning the throttle body too, as its probably caked.
3) never wash or add oil to a paper filter it will block it totally.

JWC, your the man. Thankyou so much.

Thanks to everyone else who has also posted.

Love this place, shame theirs hardly any users around, but those that are, know their stuff, and are willing to help others.

kapur wrote:Love this place, shame theirs hardly any users around, but those that are, know their stuff, and are willing to help others.

Its probably more the case that there are a few posters who have dropped by and looked at the thread and then not posted, like myself, because not all of us have the technical knowledge to help out - I'd rather not post, than post something like "oh sorry mate, can't help you there"...

But have to agree that when you do need some important info, theres always someone that can help you off in the right direction, if not straight to the solution. Who needs Haynes?

I always wondered why people would phone into a television show and say they don't know!? You can tell its rigged then!