Help 1.8t 190ps avant quattro burning oil!

[JohnyCat]

Hi guys. I really could use some advice please. I bought my A4 avant sport quattro190ps on an 03 plate just over a year ago. The car has done just over 70,000 miles. I have had some mix feelings about this car and I have only just begun to understand its strengths and love it. Now I have a new problem and im frustrated again. First off, I bought this car as a third family car for running our dogs around to agilty shows and days out and its been fine for this purpose. I used to have a number of quattro coupes in the past that I used to really love. My first impression of this well maintained very highly spec car was one of quality.
However reliability does not seem to match my experiences with the quattro coupes. My 1.8t 190 break engine has been under performing from the start. Performance isnt a big issue for me in this car as I have two other cars that are high performance and fun mobiles. But 190 ps? My driving style in this car is so different to my sports cars. Change at low revs gentle acceleration. Cruise at 3000rpm. Car will not pull until 3000 revs. At 2500 in second it feels like I could walk quicker. Now, as time passed a number of issues have risen which have improved things. A coil
needed changing which I understand is common on this engine and it pulls and performs a little better. I have just found out that perhaps a MAF change could help as this is some times an issue. Regardless of these issues I am beginning to appreciate the build quality on this car especially for its age and how tight it feels and how well it looks for its age.
However I now have a problem that is cheesing (polite) me off bad and the car is in the garage as we speak. Its been burning oil for a while now and I have been topping up regularly. I am aware these engines use a little oil. However, recently its been blowing clouds of blue smelly smoke out of the exhausts when warm and having been at idle for 5 mins or so. Never happens on start up even after a week stood parked. General oppinion to be confirmed today is Turbo seals. In view of my miss daisy driving I am surprised at this or is my low rev torque demanding style actually part of the problem here?. Would a long term MAF problem have contributed to this fault and would changing the MAF improve its very poor low rev performance? I know that this is a technical question but I also wanted to give a general opinion on the car. I do really want to love it. I wish i had gone for the 3 litre V6 but at the time the now dropped goverment retrospective emmissions tax would have cost me 450 pound a year. Now of course they have gone and dropped it! Anyway, any advice re the burning oil and MAF would be very greatfully received.
Cheers

John

[towcestervag]

air mass meter would cause low performance and doesnt necassery throw up a code
i would agree on the turbo causing oil use
turbo engines should idle for a minute before turning off to cool the oil around the bearings/seals otherwise the oil carbonises around them
the damage could of been done pre purchase and your use just topped it off

[JohnyCat]

Thanx towcester. Didn't know about idle before shut down. It makes a strange turbo wine on shut down. My wifes 2.0T vrs doesn't make aturbo wine on shut down. I do wonder if former owner had it chiped. I am going to replace maf next week. I had coil changed two months ago after code warning and has improved low end pull a little. I do like the car. It's got all the xtras for the model. I like the black aluminium interior, looks up to date and the whole car cleans so easily inside and out. That's where the quality shows. Nice tight drive after upper steering/suspension bushes replaced. Not in same league as my 2.8 v6 quattto coupe 91 plate. Wish I still had and let's not mention my old UR! Cc over turbo every time 4 me. Skoda catching up too. My wifes vrs is awsome drive. My old Porsche in avatar, reminds me what german cars should be about. Thanx again for your time T. Much appreciated.

[docurley]

i would replace the sparkplugs while your at it and may be replace the DV with a 225TT unit as this can also effect the performance of these cars also boost should start around 2500rpm but I have to say these cars need remapping to get the best out of them.