oil/air separator part fail????

[adamos]

After spirted drive, got plume of white fluffy smoke coming out of the exhaust for good five mins,, after initial panic drove car home working well. pulling hard in all gears etc, oil level fine, water level fine, everything "normal" been a week now, no smoke, not even on start up, had diagnostic on it, no fault codes,

now either i have magic car that fixes itself, or the oil separator failed , however why is it not "failed"now,
theory 1. oil filled to max, got hot expanded and spilled out.
theroy 2. oil separator seals worn out leaking under load, (driven hard since no prob)
therory3.to much town driving, first hard drive since last summer, build up of sh't
any ideas? go ahead change separator now, wait till it gets worse,
*smoke, white, no smell of oil, very similar to start up plume, which i rarely get,

 

[Richard_Hamilton]

The AOS has probably split inside, and it isn't likely to self-heal. If it was me, I would just go ahead and change it. They are about £65, and the book time is 48 minutes, so reckon on an hour and a half of your time, or £50 labour at an Indy.

If it isn't doing it's job properly, it will be contaminating the oxygen sensors, and ultimately the cats.

 

[adamos]

Thank you Richard , apparently AOS has diaphragm which was breached when cornering hard, causing smoke,

You completely correct, have booked car in to have it changed,

Thanks

 

[bazhart]

The diaphragm shuts off the connection between the inlet system and the oil in the sump when there is a high vacuum (otherwise it would suck all the oil up into the inlet system when the vacuum is high at very low revs or tickover).

When the throttle is open there is much less vacuum so when the perforation in the diaphragm is small the smoke can clear during driving - only to return if left ticking over for a long time. Sounds like it is on its way out - after a while the diaphragm completely splits and then its a good smoke screen job and can such in so much oil it can hydraulic lock the engine with resulting damage.

Baz

 

[adamos]

AOS getting done Thursday Am,
Thanks for advise

 

[berty987]

There is a test for the AOS , try a search for pelican parts AOS on google.

 

[Geoff_Fields]

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/Boxster_Tech/09-ENGINE-Air_Oil_Separator/09-ENGINE-Air_Oil_Separator.htm

 

[adamos]

AOS, changed this morning, air filter too as working on intake side, and all covers were off,

Old one was contaminated, so thank you all for pointing me in the right direction, £185 whole job, parts and labour, couple of hours, max, would of been bit quicker if I didn't "help" but hey my money, and if I want to play mechanic []