VW Virtus: White Smoke Signals PCV Valve Trouble

Had a similar issue with my 2019 VW Polo last year. As someone with moderate experience working on VW engines, the symptoms you describe match exactly what I experienced, white smoke, rough idle, and reduced power. The PCV system was indeed the culprit. The crankcase ventilation valve had failed, causing excessive pressure buildup and oil being pushed through places it shouldnt go. This explained both the smoke and the oil leak. The repair involved replacing the complete PCV valve assembly and cleaning the intake manifold. Total cost was 360€ including parts and labor. Since the fix, no more smoke issues and the engine runs perfectly. To provide more specific advice for your case, could you share: Current mileage, Engine size and type, When you first noticed the symptoms, Any recent maintenance history, Whether the smoke changes color during warm-up These details would help determine if your issue is identical to what I encountered. The ventilation system design is similar across VW models, but there can be variations that affect repair approach. The smoke during idle particularly suggests PCV issues, but its best to get a proper diagnosis since similar symptoms can have multiple causes.

Latest service was just 2 months ago at 24000km and the symptoms started appearing last week. After checking maintenance records, I noticed the PCV valve wasnt inspected during service. The white smoke changes to a more grayish color when the engine is fully warm and gets worse during idle. No previous issues with the ventilation system before this. Will any standard VW crankcase valve fit, or does it need to be an exact match for my engine type? The repair costs mentioned seem reasonable, but wondering if there are other components I should get checked while they are working on it.

Thanks for those additional details. Going through the same repair on my Polo, I learned a few important points that apply to your situation. The crankcase ventilation valve must be an exact match for your specific engine type. Using a standard PCV valve can cause fitment issues and wont properly regulate the crankcase pressure. While they are working on the ventilation system, I recommend having them: Check the intake manifold for oil contamination, Inspect the valve cover gasket for leaks, Test the turbo seals if your model has one, Clean the throttle body These additional checks only added about 80€ to my total repair cost but prevented future issues. The oil contamination from a faulty PCV valve can affect multiple components in the intake system. The color change in the smoke you mentioned, from white to grayish, matches exactly what I experienced. This typically happens when oil is being pulled through the failing ventilation system into the combustion chamber. Since your symptoms started suddenly after the recent service, getting it fixed soon will prevent any lasting damage to other engine components. The leak can worsen quickly if left unchecked.

My engine is a 1.5L TSI with 24000km on the clock. Looking at the similarities with your case, especially regarding the smoke color changes and idle behavior, Im now quite confident its the PCV system. Its good to know about needing the exact match valve, will definitely mention this at the workshop. Planning to get it checked next week and will request those additional inspections you suggested. The total cost of around 440€ including the extra checks seems reasonable to prevent future problems. Better to address any oil contamination now before it causes more expensive damage. Thanks for sharing your experience, its been really helpful in understanding what Im dealing with. Will update once the repair is done in case anyone else runs into similar crankcase ventilation issues with their VW.