1996 Volkswagen Jetta Oil Smoke

VOLKSWAGEN
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VDOUBLEUDAVE
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[b:6a15321b6a]96' volkswagen jetta, 105k.....my car has a bizare oil pressure problem. after only about ten minutes of normal driving, my oil pressure light comes on, flashing, and beeping. i have a coolant light that is always on, regardless of how much coolant is in my car, i dont know if the two problems are connected....also, i have a check engine light that comes on periodically, and when it is illuminated, it has a drastic decrease in power and acceleration. i noticed that i get some sort of pressure leak after a descent drive, something maybe sounding like coolant, radiator hose or something, and eventually if its driven long enough, it smells like burning oil, and i have noticed smoke a few times....also, i can here something of a valve chatter or noise, upon acceleration, only after it has been driven for a little while. i dont know if all these problems are connected, but maybe i could just get a few tips as to were to start looking, or what to look for.[/b:6a15321b6a]
Sep 8, 2006 at 11:33 AM
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SYNCRAIT
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it sounds to me like you have a bad either intake gasket or head gasket and oil is getting into your coolant so the computer is whining and is also probably leaking oil onto the exaust pipe underneath creating the smoke and running your enging low on oil making for less lubrication for the valves and cam followers which will sounds like a tapping sound.....good luck :)
Sep 18, 2006 at 6:18 AM
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CAPTAINMANIACDRIVER
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You need to thicken up your oil. It's probably time for 20w50. You were using 10w40 after about 60K miles, right? I used Lucas Oil and it really filled in the spots since 250K miles through 400K miles. You need a gasket too to stop the oil burning that leaks out to the exhaust area. No wait, Your oil presure sender could be a little broken needing more pressure than normal which is noticed on decents when your passive driving, the pressure drops a bit and your sender is over-working. I once changed the oil pump for nothing too.
Oct 30, 2006 at 8:49 AM
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FRIEDEMANN
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You have a few different problems and you are lumping them together. You got to seperate them into groups (electrical, cooling, mechanical) and solve them that way. Warning lights(electrical) and most times with electrical it is a bad contact or a bad ground.
That may even kill the low coolant light( but don't disconnect it and leave the wire loose) Something is wrong.

Make sure that all the connection tabs off the sensors are shiny clean and that the connector fits on tight and that the wire is not broken at the connector(happens alot on those thin wires). Is the connection grounding out when it shouldn't be or vice versa.? The low oil pressure light MAY be confusing the "check engine sensor and it comes on as a backup warning(both are related to trouble in the engine room. It could be the sensor is faulty, but I would hazard to guess the wiring connections are the problem first. Correct that and see what happens.
With the chatter noise, from your description reminds me of pinging. Try changing the brand of gas and higher octane. It is an easy way to check. Work from there. Maybe a change to cooler plugs would be all that is required.
The pressure leak subject needs some more clarification.
These are suggestions that have worked for me on past project vehicles which I have suffered through.
Step by step you can overcome.
Dec 11, 2006 at 12:39 PM
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Suggested Repair

Inspect for a failed intake or head gasket that may let oil enter the coolant and leak onto the exhaust. Check the oil level and external oil leaks, since low oil can cause valve or cam-follower tapping, smoke, and a burning-oil smell. Also verify the coolant level and warning-light sensors separately because the coolant light stays on.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 1996 Volkswagen Jetta reports an oil-pressure warning after about ten minutes of driving, a coolant light that stays on, intermittent check-engine light with power loss, a pressure-leak sound, burning-oil smell, occasional smoke, and valve chatter after driving. The expert suggests a bad intake or head gasket allowing oil into the coolant and onto the exhaust, with low oil reducing valve and cam-follower lubrication. Other replies suggest thicker oil, a faulty oil-pressure sender, electrical connections, or fuel-related pinging.

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