I bought an A3 1.9TDI 59plate manual about 3 weeks ago but, when test driving the car, there was slight white smoke coming from the exhaust (put this down to lady/previous owner not having drivin it for about 3 weeks as she had a new car and was fine on motorway). Yesterday when driving (had it serviced 3 days ago) I noticed white smoke from under the bonnet, opened bonnet, and white smoke with a burning smell was coming from behind the engine area but hard to locate where (pictures attached). Now when driving a lot of white smoke is exiting exhaust pipe and sometimes there is white smoke from behind the engine area. Could it be too much engine oil put in by person servicing the car? Could it be DPF filter messing up? Engine cap seems fine no debris in there and coolant level is the same with no contamination so can't be coolant leak. slightly baffled.
White smoke
- Thread starter Tsta2
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Car is on 80,000 so not too much right? Can too much engine oil be the culprit? the smoke was no where to be seen before the service. Picture shows how much engine oil there is. It's way over max.
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I would drain a little oil then so it's on the max mark and see how it goes. As you say 80000 miles is not too greater milage.
The thing that doesn't make sense is, too much oil should release blue smoke, but many people online who have over-filled oil have had white smoke come out of the exhaust. Anyways shall be draining oil tomorrow and shall find out whether it was too much oil or if it's another wallet busting problem. Fingers crossed it was just too much oil.As a rule of thumb white smoke is steam, blue smoke is oil and black smoke is running rich
Drained oil. Still smoking from under hood and exhaust with a burning type of smell. Don't think it's turbo, no noise or loss of power, will see when taking it in for a mechanic to see. If the mechanic cannot see anything wrong, is there any point booking it in with Audi dealership?
This could be unburned fuel. Check glow plugs - they should throw an error on diagnostics (VCDS and similar).
Wouldn't have thought it would be anything relating to the glow plugs at this time of year. The glow plugs only tend to come in use when temperatures are below 4oC.
But I agree with getting the car scanned.
Just gave it in. Mechanic said because there are no warning lights on dash unlikely to give an error code but he will scan it if he can't find any issues with the car. Does that even make sense? You don't need warning lights on dash to get an error code right?
As Danny said, mechanic is talking trash and I'd just walk away from him if I were you.
Generally I would walk away but it's a highly rated garage on many different sites and I've had work done before which was done as expected. I think I may just have misheard him. He will report back tomorrow, hoping there's just a mouse smoking cigarettes in the exhaust(!)
Strange one this - I'm a bit puzzled. White "smoke" is usually either water vapour or (in a diesel car) unburnt (as opposed to partially burnt black coloured) diesel fuel. My understanding is that when a turbo oil seal fails it dumps a lot of engine oil into the combustion process meaning that diesel is not burnt - and hence smoke that appears mostly white. However, sufferers normally experience catastrophic engine oil loss, whereas yours is staying above the max line on the dipstick and very noticeable performance drop. Furthermore, as you say yourself, 80k miles is not high mileage for a diesel car. I'm wondering whether it was a combination of overfilling, harmless condensation build up in the exhaust and possibly an oil spillage when doing the recent oil change - servicing often given to apprentices
Drove it today to the garage, smoke was increasing from exhaust the more I drove it. Burning type smell, hoping it's not a head gasket issue, will report back tomorrow on how hard my wallet will be hit.
Not really? I was hoping (dreaming) it was a blocked pipe like a pcv valve that just needed replacing or a dpf that needed regen?Head gasket would be the cheapest possible option mate, pray that it actually is that.
Headgasket costs like 5 Euros... Though I might be biased as my family owns Audi and VW specialist garage so I don't pay for labour - guess labour for head gasket replacement could be expensive.
If a DPF is bad, you're into a world of trouble as new DPF is very expensive - never heard anyone having white smoke because of a dead DPF though.
Got it scanned, it's only showing faulty glow plug? That can't be the culprit right?
It could be it (friend had white smoke, changed glow plug and the smoke went away on his Vectra). I'd go from there if I were you, replace the glowplug and see if it changes anything.
Changing them will report back in few days time.
It could be it (friend had white smoke, changed glow plug and the smoke went away on his Vectra). I'd go from there if I were you, replace the glowplug and see if it changes anything.
Am I better off replacing all 4!? I've only given one to replace. Can give rest tomorrow. (Work on car will start tomorrow anyways)
Its likely if one is faulty then the others won't be far behind.
Personal preference I guess.
I always used to replace all 4. Also I always went with Bosch ones and they lasted for 2 years on average.
Still giving out white smoke after Change of glow plugs. Mechanic wants to regen dpf. Is that a good next step? What would you guys recommend as a next step?
When DPF is regenerating, the injectors throw in more fuel into the cylinders... I wonder, did you notice a drop in your fuel economy? Even better question, what is your fuel economy?
Because if you think it isn't turbo, maybe car is stuck in DPF regen mode (if that is even possible... anyone?), dumps in more fuel and thus white smoke.
EDIT: Also, white smoke could be due to bad combustion. I'd do compression test, check head gasket and fuel pump.
Because if you think it isn't turbo, maybe car is stuck in DPF regen mode (if that is even possible... anyone?), dumps in more fuel and thus white smoke.
EDIT: Also, white smoke could be due to bad combustion. I'd do compression test, check head gasket and fuel pump.
Fuel economy for a full tank on the 1.9 TDI I'm not sure but on a full tank the car was showing as able to travel 330 miles. I would presume that is normal?
My previous 2.0 TDI 140hp could return 500 miles per one fuel tank. Something is seriously wrong with your car mate.
Minimum I'd expect from 1.9 TDI is 45mpg which should cover 540miles.
I wouldn't believe anything the DIS says, should be more than that without a doubt.
Although it depends on how you drive and the type of roads.
Based on what his DIS says, he is averaging 27.5mpg which is only slightly better than 2017 S3 which has about 300hp.
My 8P DIS had good calculations regarding my remaining miles by the way, would never miss more than 30ish miles.
My worst ever fuel tank with my 8P was 310 miles, but the car was tuned to 220hp and I was driving it like I stole it on that fuel tank.
My 8P DIS had good calculations regarding my remaining miles by the way, would never miss more than 30ish miles.
My worst ever fuel tank with my 8P was 310 miles, but the car was tuned to 220hp and I was driving it like I stole it on that fuel tank.
Sorry not full tank. Have never tanked it before. £40 from near reserves was giving 360 miles. Is that still bad?
Plus I live I've a really hilly area. Nearly Every road had a steep uphill or downhill
Plus I live I've a really hilly area. Nearly Every road had a steep uphill or downhill
Don't panic about your mileage too much - you've only had the car for 3 weeks so are adjusting to it but also so a hilly area 330 miles isn't too bad. If you've replaced the plugs and that didn't resolve it then go with the mechanics recommendation and do the DPF regen. The difficulty is, without knowing what the issue is he/she is going through a process of elimination which could be costly.
I may have missed it earlier but did you purchase privately or through a dealer?
I may have missed it earlier but did you purchase privately or through a dealer?
Privately(unfortunately). The dpf may not be regenerating properly due to some seals that are loose so I'd rather the machanic takes car apart and looks at headgasket, turbo seals etc before doing a regen
You can tell if the car is doing a regen without plugging it in.
It will be idling higher (1k rpm), it will smell a lot more and the exhaust tips will be hot.
Exactly. Slightly confused as to what the issue can be. Am I any better taking it to Audi for them to diagnose the problem?
Do you have a good VAG Specialist near you, where are you located - maybe we can suggest? Audi will charge min £80 just for diagnosis then rinse you on the rest. If your current guy isn't getting nearer a solution then you need to look elsewhere...
