Lots of Blue Smoke

[GAJ52]

Hi I have just done a short flight, and during the flight I went to external view and noticed lots of blue smoke coming from the exhaust leaving a smoke trail behind the aircraft. All instrument readings were normal, but I diverted to the nearest airfield and after shutdown went into the hangar. The mechanic reported "aircraft like new" ?? Oil contents were fine

Any idea what happened ?

[Lewis - A2A]

Hello,

what was your altitude and also did you perform a pre-flight check? Sounds like oil issue if it was blue smoke.

thanks,
Lewis - A2A

[lonewulf47]

Just a shot in the dark: You might also check whether by coincidence the "Automixture" has been enabled. This box should definitely be unchecked.

[GAJ52]

Just checked the auto mixture and its definitely unchecked.

I was flying at 4000 ft with the mixture leaned slightly, the oil pressure was fine, the smoke definitely looked blue..ish indicating an oil problem. On the ground I checked the oil contents which were ok, I also did a compression test just in case I damaged a piston ring or something, everything was ok with the mechanic telling me the aircraft was "like new".

It certainly seems to be simulating an oil problem but nothing is showing up in the hangar ?

No, I didn't perform a pre-flight, I'll try it again with a pre-flight and report back.

[Lewis - A2A]

Check the oil condition in the aircraft. If its getting old it might be time to change it.

thanks,
Lewis

[GAJ52]

Without fixing anything I have just done another short flight, this time doing a pre-flight first. Not sure how to do an oil condition check, but the oil was fairly clear on the dipstick.

Anyway after take off I climbed to 3000 ft and after a few minutes went to the spot view and no smoke, all looked normal. My engine has only done about 17 hrs because I once pressed the Complete Engine Overhaul button by mistake. If it was a genuine problem I assume the fault would have been remembered for the next flight (as I didn't fix anything), so it may have been just a glitch.

It was a great simulation of an oil problem though, very realistic

Glen

[Lewis - A2A]

Ahh yes, if you clicked complete overhaul any issues would be automatically fixed.

thanks,
Lewis

[GAJ52]

No that was long before I got the blue smoke problem, the engine has done 17 hrs but I got the blue smoke yesterday. If it happens again I will repost here, hopefully with a bit more detail.

[Molly - A2A]

Did you by any chance take off in rainy conditions? There is an old FSX bug with the rain spray effects where they will continue to follow you around about 10 ft below the aircraft until you quit or restart the flight (just a thought.)

[GAJ52]

No, this was definitely blue smoke from the exhaust outlet. A2A have made a really good job of simulating this, I think my initial problem may have been a graphic hiccup because the next flight was fine and I didn't fix anything in the hangar.

[SkipperMac]

I had this happen once as well. I was taxiing out at Bonners Ferry when I noticed the clouds of blue smoke. I took off anyway, just to see what would happen, but disappointingly the engine ran just fine. Next time I loaded the aircraft everything was as normal and I've not burnt and engine out yet lol.

I guess some sort of initialisation glitch

[Olih01]

I had this issue, turned out it was to fsx smoke trail, just press i to turn it off!

[Lewis - A2A]

Yes if the FSX effects key is pressed some effects will be triggered so watch that 'i' key for sure

thanks,
Lewis

[vbazillio]

Sorry to revive this old post. Just encountered same blue smoke with a 18 hours engine, leaning done. Divert and went directly to the hangar. Didn't see any issue

[Nick - A2A]

Vincent,

As mentioned above, is there any chance than an inadvertent press of the "i" key which by default toggles smoke effects is responsible in your case?

Thanks,
Nick