Howdy, just finished a drive through Transylvania - it’s really a beautiful place, much like Tuscany maybe 30 yrs ago.
I have had the chance to floor it a few times while merging onto the highway and I noticed a puff of white smoke behind me after the 1-2 shift from redline. Doesn’t seem to happen when the Transmission shifts from 6000 in a higher gear. Any ideas on what to look at?
While, I have not seen any smoke from my tailpipes, I took off at full throttle from a stoplight while my boss was in a car next to me, and he reported that he saw a little smoke (he specifically said that it was not steam, it was smoke) coming from my tailpipes when I first stomped the gas and during the 1st to 2nd gear shifts. I have not investigated it simply because (aside from the fuel pump issue I reported a few days ago) I have not had any issues, and my car doesn’t seem to be burning oil or water at a higher-than-normal rate. Also, I’ve never seen the smoke myself, the puffs were never large enough to make an appearance in my mirrors.
I’ll be interested to say what anyone else might have to say about this.
I did another check, and the puff is definitely coming from a redline downshift, but it’s probably in 2 or 3, not 1. Doesn’t seem to happen if I shift a little earlier
Downshift or up shift. The oil separator would be part to blame. This is something the RS4 guys see from time to time. There is going to be an exaggeration due to the automatic.
Downshift. I just had a talk with my mechanic and he said about the same. I had him take out the broken flaps on the IM and he thought the vacuum on downshift was sucking the oil from the separator. We’re getting some strange VAG-COM readings these days that might suggest some wiring problems and/or a clogged cat. May have to take the engine out sometime soon. 
To me that would make the most sense. A clogged cat could come out of this if that has been going on for long enough. If your pulling the motor its a great time for headers LOL…
I seriously considered the headers but in the end I think I wouldn’t really use the extra performance. I’m running a flap-less IM at the moment, and the valves are still covered with carbon (mechanic didn’t know about the oven cleaner trick) but the car still does great passing on those 2 lane country roads. I think if I could just get to my factory 435BHP I’d be happy.
The header project is extra third over my purchase price when you add in the catback, and I’ve also got a few annoying issues with my chassis besides the occasional MIL. What I’d like is a trouble-free ownership so I may follow V8A6 and replace water pump, etc. when the engine is out. Is there a kit for all the wear-prone engine seals that can be replaced?
I would consider going with piggie pipes so I wouldn’t have to deal with engine-out o2 sensors anymore. I sent CV a message to see if he had an ECU tune for that. We’ll see.
I was just wondering - does the modified intake manifold (flaps removed) exacerbate this problem? I was under the impression that the IM flaps are open and out of play at high RPMs so it would not make a difference.