Hi Everybody!
PLEASE bear with me on this one....sorry it is so long.
My son borrows my car. Starter motor fails, so dad gets it transported back home. New starter fitted and on first test drive (to recharge battery) SMOKE! SMOKE SMOKE! ( headlights come on the cars behind! ) I get home after 1/2 mile driving. Burning smell from the white smoke. It is like a very think fog. Later I dip the oil level, NOTHING, zilch, zero, no oil in the engine. I don't know if that was case prior to starter motor problem, but at no-time during the test drive did the oil light come on.
On returning to the car later I noticed oil droplets on the floor under each exhaust pipe at the rear. I admit that I nothing about engines and stuff, but doing some you-tube research and asking locally.... could there be a problem with the pvc thing? My mechanic mate thought that it could have something to do with the filter/cleaner thing on the car that 'cleans' the exhaust fumes and isn't working...does that sound like anything sensible?
Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Videoman
L322, 02 plate, TD6 engine
Should this be in 'Technical' ? 'Knowledge Is Power'

Smoke and no oil in the engine points me to head gasket failure and if really unlucky cracks in the cylinder head. Could be piston rings or valve seals but I'll go for the head joint area.

What was the oil level, what is the coolant level.

Fill the engine with oil, start the engine and pull the dipstick out

If oil comes pouring out, the PCV filter is blocked

Hopefully thats all it is, but I have seen it cause turbo failure...

Blue smoke is generally burning oil, white smoke means water is getting into the combustion chambers , black smoke means it's overfueling.

If there's no oil on the dipstick I'd have expected the smoke to be blue.

As above check the breather filter on the rear of the engine. This should be replaced on every oil change but is often overlooked. If it gets blocked it can cause the car to smoke like crazy and often damage the turbo.

Be careful you don't over fill it with oil or that will cause a bigger catastrophe.

Just my pennies worth but white smoke that smells can also be unburmt diesel 2015 4.4 AB
GSXR 1000 K5
R1 1998

Thank you all.
The water in the rad was well-up when I checked it at the same time as I originally dipped the engine for oil, Clive. The engine didn't have any oil in at all.
The smoke was probably 'blue' then, Paul, as there appeared to be plenty of water in the system. I will have a look on the web and see where the breather valve is and take a look.
Mickey, I have refilled with oil, prob about 5 lt, I will check the depth with the dipstick later, and I will then start her up. Where will the oil come pouring out from please, if it is the pcv ?
Cheers everyone.... More suggestions are welcome.
Videoman 'Knowledge Is Power'

I believe it will come out the dipstick hole when you pull the dipstick out with the engine running.

When you sort everything, replace the crankcase breather with a vortex one. Won’t need changing at all then. It’s what BMW upgraded to but Land Rover never got it as they had been sold to Ford by then....

http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/topic9811.html?highlight=vortex

 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8

Previous cars :
2003 Range Rover Vogue TD6
1999 Discovery Td5 ES
1995 BMW M5 3.8 6 speed
1992 Range Rover 3.9 Efi Vogue
1992 BMW M5 3.8
1988 BMW 735i SE
1989 Ford Sierra XR4x4 2.9i
1981 Ford Fiesta Supersport

Interestingly BmW already had the vortex breather way before the launch on the L322 as I have one on the M3 which is a 98... There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

Hiya,
I did start the engine... by jove! The smelly smoke gushed out and nearly choked everyone within 20 yards! I only left it running for two mins, ticking over, and when I took out the dipstick, no oil came gushing out.... I don't know if thats good or bad! :blue:
Is the crankcase breather the same as the PCV ?
Thank you. 'Knowledge Is Power'

Crank case breather same as PCV  There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

[quote="mjdronfield"]I believe it will come out the dipstick hole when you pull the dipstick out with the engine running.

No oil from dip stick hole  'Knowledge Is Power'

Sorry but Ive been on holidays....
So! I have left the engine ticking over twice, both times massive amounts of white(?)blue, choking smoke. There isn't any oil being squirted out of the dipstick tube. However, and Im pretty sure thatches is the case, the engine is actually running on the oil that is in there. I have dipped it twice now, both prior to running the engine, and both times after running it the oil level is lower.... and that is why there wasn't any oil in the engine from my original post. So, what causes it to burn its own lubricant please?
Thank you. 'Knowledge Is Power'

One reason could be turbo seals blown or other issues with a turbo leaking, in my case an impeller shaft snapped letting the oil into the exhaust. 2015 4.4 AB
GSXR 1000 K5
R1 1998

Thank you. I need some info on looking to see which is then now really.... at least I have ascertained the ( probable ) real issue....? Mine looks a bit like this when started up...
 'Knowledge Is Power'

I'd avoid starting yours again until you diagnose it because if the above happens to you then your engine will be toast.

You need to pull the intercooler pipes and check for oil, if there's loads then it's more than likely the turbo seals in which case a new turbo / rebuild will be required.