I have recently got a 03 plate VRS that has just ticked over 100,000 miles. It has got a pretty comprehensive service history and drives really nice and tightly.

However, the other day I pulled over and left it ticking over for a few minutes. Next thing I know their is clouds of smoke pouring out the back of it. I jump in the car (It was not parked somewhere I could stay for long) and moved it. The smoke pretty much vanished and it appears ok now, apart from the occasional puff now and then. I had not been driving it hard before hand. Any ideas what this could be, as I am obviously a little concerned as I have only just got it. If it is bad I will try to return it to the garage I got it from as I don't want the hassle of spending loads on it.

Isnt this the turbo seals? Was it blueish smoke?

Edited 28 January, 201313 yr by Liverpool-Lad

what colour smoke white or blue?

could be turbo oil seals perhaps.

Isnt this the turbo seals? Was it blueish smoke?

lol smart thinking batman:> we posted that at the same time!

Sure it's not just steam, they do blow a lot of steam this time of year

Sure it's not just steam, they do blow a lot of steam this time of year

+1

you maybe worrying over nothing buddy.

These cars do chuck out a lot of steam on warm up.

Also if the back box in going you can sometime's get water dripping from tailpipe back into the box and then this heats up and steams out the back.

Mine was really bad. I replaced exhaust for a stainless system and never got the issue again, or no way near as bad.

so maybe you have no issues........

+ 1 for it being steam

Keep an eye on your coolant and oil levels in case also.

Edited 28 January, 201313 yr by Liverpool-Lad

need to know colour of steam/smoke really, we can better work it out once we hear more from the op

steam is normal on startup due to condensation in the cat/exhaust (especially when cold) but the op infers they had been driving 'i pulled over' and left it ticking over, if its run for a while, then the steam/smoke could be more of an issue, ie oil seals, piston rings, or headgasket etc, so do keep any eye on coolant levels and oil.

Mine steams quite a bit this time of year, even after it's warm, and yes my collant level is fine

Mine has steamed since I got it. Same as David above, even when warm it can be steamy. Not a drop of coolant lost and covered 15k miles like this. Can be very dense steam at times too but nothing to worry about IMO.

If it's rings then there would be blue smoke at high revs.

Sounds like steam to me too.

Edited 28 January, 201313 yr by VRS-Steve

I get steam like others have said. Can travel a fair distance and then next junction or traffic lights it can come back.

It's a scary situation and you always think the worst. I guess it could have been steam. It was white I think. I also let it run later on and it did the same. I put my hand in it and it didn't smell to bad. I'm gonna take the plugs out tomorrow and see if they are oiled up which should indicate rings.

The issue was that it was a lot of smoke and the car was up to a good running temp. It always sits very happily at 90 degrees. Coolant and oil both fine.

Thanks for replies by the way. Sorry it takes so long for me to reply. I'm at work.

Also how loud do people's turbos whistle. All is totally standard.

Also how loud do people's turbos whistle. All is totally standard.

these cars do have a reasonable whistle and can be heard inside car as well. Change the Dump Valve to somethong like a Forge and you will hear even more noise

I did also wonder if the Inlet could be a bit manky if the EGR valve was still connected. Maybe if I remove the EGR and have a clean up it might help.

Do we have EGR's on these??

I thought what most thought was an EGR is the SAI combi vale

Do we have EGR's on these??

I thought what most thought was an EGR is the SAI combi vale

Correct, VRS don't have EGR, just the combi valve for the SAI system

Oh. What is the difference then?

Just a little update on this.

I put it into a garage today. They have done loads to it. It has been pressure tested. Checked for play in turbo, head gasket check, Checked coolant levels and oil levels (I'd already done that) removed plugs etc. All seemed fine. Conclusion..... Pretty much what you guys said. He reckons where it has been sitting on a forecourt for a little while it got excess water into the exhaust. He has actually drilled a couple of small holes into the bottom of the exhaust boxes to allow water out and when he did this he said water did acually come out of the exhaust.

All in all he reckoned I have got a really good, sound car. I now feel nicely reassured and am considering getting her remapped.

Thanks for the responses and advice.