Smoke at Start Up - Leaky Injectors? 2.0 TDi

As above really. Car starts well but after a long rest period, usually overnight, it produces quite a cloud of pale grey smoke for a few seconds. This is accompanied by a moment of lumpy idle but quickly cleared by a blip of the throttle.

Do you think this diagnosis is correct? Is there a way of confirming this without stripping injectors out and testing? What are the likely costs of remedying this?

Can't find much info on this for the BKD engine on this forum. Lots of injector talk relating to the VRs lump. Sorry if this is covered else where. I do have extended warranty which might cover this but I'd like to find out a bit more before taking it to the dealers.

Ta

Nick

Edited 11 September, 201213 yr by Golf-Fiend

I'll be interested to hear comments on this as my car has been doing the same for the last 2-3 months...

It starts perfectly when warm/hot but first start up in the morning, it fluffs a bit whilst spinning on the starter then bit of grey smoke followed by a lumpy idle for a couple of minutes then is OK for the rest of the day.

oh, and mine is an 05 Octy II BKD (and DSG box) with 93,000 miles on it

Edited 11 September, 201213 yr by peterg1955

Injectors would be where I'd start, possibly look at the glowplugs too. I would get a VCDS scan done to see if any errors have been logged too.

Not sure on their cost for the BKD, haven't heard of any issues with them really. Other option would be to look for a set from a scrapped/crashed example.

But I'd get a scan done and take it from there.

How many miles have you done on it?

If it's about 80k, then I'd suggest a few steps before going too far down the line.

The first would be to replace the fuel filter and get rid of the water that will have built up over the course of time.

Also while you're doing that use an injector cleaner, such as forte in the fuel filter tank. Then put some more in the next tank of derv.

Glow plugs are worth a check (Happy to scan them for you) as it's starting to get slightly colder, but not enough that I'd think it's a major issue.

After that if you find there is nothing wrong, I'd look at getting the nozzle either replaced or sonically cleaned, to get the spray pattern back.

Oh and an italian tune up on the A46/M4 won't hurt either

Grey smoke from a diesel, as opposed to black?

oil leaking from the turbo?

Grey smoke from a diesel, as opposed to black?

yep, it's definitely grey for mine on start up, not blue (oil) or black (soot) and not water vapour either...

Mine was serviced only a couple of months ago (and the car was already doing this when 'cold') but the garage didn't identify any fault codes or try to sell me extra work. I'd replaced the 'throttle body/anti-shudder valve' thingy after I got back from France at the beginning of June and the fault codes for that may well have been in there when it went in for a service but they'd have spotted the shiny new alloy part and realised that had been done already

How many miles have you done on it?

If it's about 80k, then I'd suggest a few steps before going too far down the line.

The first would be to replace the fuel filter and get rid of the water that will have built up over the course of time.

Also while you're doing that use an injector cleaner, such as forte in the fuel filter tank. Then put some more in the next tank of derv.

Glow plugs are worth a check (Happy to scan them for you) as it's starting to get slightly colder, but not enough that I'd think it's a major issue.

After that if you find there is nothing wrong, I'd look at getting the nozzle either replaced or sonically cleaned, to get the spray pattern back.

Oh and an italian tune up on the A46/M4 won't hurt either

Thanks for the offer CM, I'll PM you.

It's only on 56k. The fuel filter was done about 12k miles ago. Guess it could do with an new one now. I'll get one and some Forte or Millers.

Can you read real time data such as injector quantities at idle and at certain RPM with VCDS? Might be worth a shot to see if they are playing up?

I do give it some revs and hard acceleration from time to time - mostly the two dual carriageways between Bath and Bristol. Usually to around 4.2k rpm but don't hold it for long. Also I like to keep a good 3k for a good 5-10 mins on longer runs to try and keep stuff hot and clean etc.

- - - - - - -

Definately not black, sooty smoke. Definately not white coolant steam etc. Definately not oil from Turbo seals - turbo was replaced last year.

Also the other day the car had a bit of a lumpy idle when hot and at a junction, so much so that SWIMBO noticed it - and she never notices things about cars! It went away at the next junction though.

Edited 11 September, 201213 yr by Golf-Fiend

Thanks for the offer CM, I'll PM you.

It's only on 56k. The fuel filter was done about 12k miles ago. Guess it could do with an new one now. I'll get one and some Forte or Millers.

Can you read real time data such as injector quantities at idle and at certain RPM with VCDS? Might be worth a shot to see if they are playing up?

I do give it some revs and hard acceleration from time to time - mostly the two dual carriageways between Bath and Bristol. Usually to around 4.2k rpm but don't hold it for long. Also I like to keep a good 3k for a good 5-10 mins on longer runs to try and keep stuff hot and clean etc.

- - - - - - -

Definately not black, sooty smoke. Definately not white coolant steam etc. Definately not oil from Turbo seals - turbo was replaced last year.

Also the other day the car had a bit of a lumpy idle when hot and at a junction, so much so that SWIMBO noticed it - and she never notices things about cars! It went away at the next junction though.

You've not had the timing belt done recently have you?

That idle can be caused by the injector timing not quite being spot on IIRC.

I'd go the fuel filter, get rid of the water/fuel in there and then fill it with a pot of forte diesel injector cleaner and run it all through.

It's a cheap first step and probably something that should be done anyway.

You've not had the timing belt done recently have you?

That idle can be caused by the injector timing not quite being spot on IIRC.

I'd go the fuel filter, get rid of the water/fuel in there and then fill it with a pot of forte diesel injector cleaner and run it all through.

It's a cheap first step and probably something that should be done anyway.

Timing belt was done over a year ago, so I'd discount this.

Is the fuel filter quite straight-forward? I notice that there are two options/sizes for this. Any idea which is for a 2.0TDi?

Do you put the whole pot of Forte in the filter housing and then top up with diesel, OR do you put the pot of Forte in the tank? Sillly question but there are 50,000 hits for each on the interweb (slight exageration :think: ) Do you have to purge the air from the housing or does this happen by itself?

Ta

Nick

Iirc there are 3 types for your car.

You need to read the number off the sticker on the side of the filter housing. It's wing side.

I think you put the addative in the filter but it depends which you use so check with the bottle or seller.