Hi all,

My PD130 produces a visible smoke cloud at startup. It doesn't seem to use any oil - I've never had to add any between services. It's a big enough cloud that when I start up in the mornings and reverse off the drive, it's still in the air as I reverse through it....

Smokes a bit when accelerating hard, but then it would, wouldn't it? I do drive it reasonably gently nearly everywhere, so is this a sign that it just needs a good thrashing now and again?

cheers,

Martin

Sounds as if it could be valve stem seals to me mate!

Try a diesel restorer sort of thing, stop smoke additives may work/slow down the process!

What colour is the smoke?

grey. Smells like diesel rather than oil IIRC

Sounds very similar to the PD100 in our Fabia but then that has 126K miles on the clock so I expect some smoking...

If it's not using oil, the smoke has a diesely smell an dis only on initial start up in this current cold weather (so it'll be overfuelling anyway??) than I'd not be too concerned.

As long as it's not white or blue smoke it should just be overfuelling. Is the bumper all covered in black soot after a few drives?

As long as it's not white or blue smoke it should just be overfuelling. Is the bumper all covered in black soot after a few drives?

No, just normal road grime. Exhaust is pretty grim though, but that's just diesel motoring for you.

Could be a leaking injector seal. Especially if it only smokes on cold start up.

My TDI 110 has been doing this for the last couple of years. Doesn't use any oil despite doing 500 miles a week and being on long life services. I used to worry about it, but (touch wood!) it keeps on going so I don't any more.

I would say that my smoke is definitely more blue than grey though, so probably oil, but I don't know where it's coming from.

Martin, from what you have descibed I wouldnt be overly concerned.

Our L&K does the same and is as you described. Doesnt use any oil at all and no leaks. The smoke is defo a diesel small not an oil smell. Unless its blue or white smoke and smells different then dont worry.

By the way I gave ours a bit of a blast to snipe the other night, nothing too heavy footed but was not normal tootling round town driving. It started to drive a bit better and smoke less on the way back. And by better I mean a little more responsive and a bit more poke. It only really smoke when under load/accleration or when first started up (especially on a cold morning).

Give it a blast on the motorway and see what happens.

DISCLAIMER: "IF" the engine happens to go bang when you take it for a run its not my fault

As others, this sounds to me like diesel smoke, not lubricant.

If you're really bothered, you could get the glowplugs checked for open circuit, and if they're all good, go on to checking for a dribbly injector.

Mine does it too! It's a 110 tdi with 90k on the clock, don't worry about it, it's fine as long as others have said its not oil then it doesn't really matter, mine only does it when it's really cold, come warmer weather it does smoke at all on start up.

Pretty much every TDI I've ever seen start has had a bit of smoke at start up.

Check the car over, then as Mark said, take it for a good hard run for an hour. Use ALL of the revs.

You'll be surprised how much better it will drive afterwards

grey. Smells like diesel rather than oil IIRC

If it is grey, then you may have a timing issue. When was the belt changed?

Check the glowplugs - should be between 0.7 and 1 ohm. Also check the voltage on the glowplug harness during preheat.

Mine does it too! It's a 110 tdi with 90k on the clock, don't worry about it, it's fine as long as others have said its not oil then it doesn't really matter, mine only does it when it's really cold, come warmer weather it does smoke at all on start up.

The same with my Fabia vrs .it smokes on start-up when it is cold ,then clears out after about a minute. BUT since i've done the EGR delete i don't notice any smoke.

The same with my Fabia vrs .it smokes on start-up when it is cold ,then clears out after about a minute. BUT since i've done the EGR delete i don't notice any smoke.

Would blocking the EGR help starting also? When it's below freezing it takes a turn or two to fire up rather than the usual instant start in + temperatures. My smoke lasts about 15 secs, if I pump the throttle twice it normally disappears.

@ mdon ---If you are pumping the throttle straight after start-up you are not doing any good to the engine. What I do(in the cold) is turn ignition on, wait for sign to come on ,then turn off and on again and start up after the light's gone out.

Would blocking the EGR help starting also? When it's below freezing it takes a turn or two to fire up rather than the usual instant start in + temperatures. My smoke lasts about 15 secs, if I pump the throttle twice it normally disappears.

Blipping the throttle at idle will turn the EGR on.

@ mdon ---If you are pumping the throttle straight after start-up you are not doing any good to the engine. What I do(in the cold) is turn ignition on, wait for sign to come on ,then turn off and on again and start up after the light's gone out.

I don't rev the t*ts off it so I won't be damaging the engine, I have tried cycling the plugs twice but it makes no difference. Once it's been fired up I can turn it off and restart a few seconds later and it fires immediately again, I think it may be the fuel is draining back or something, I'll wait until it develops/if it develops and then take it to the garage.