I took my new Octy III for its first run on the motorway yesterday. When I got home there was a strong smell of burning (rubber smell). There was also smoke coming from the engine (this may only have been noticeable because it was dark and being caught in the headlights).

Is this normal? Is it just stuff in the engine burning off?

its normal, that will be the DPF doing a regen which you interrupted by turning the engine off. During a regen the exhaust is made deliberately hot and this can cause the symptoms you describe, expecially the first few times. The regen will be reattempted the next time you drive the car.

Phew! I nearly cried!!!!

I took my new Octy III for its first run on the motorway yesterday. When I got home there was a strong smell of burning (rubber smell). There was also smoke coming from the engine (this may only have been noticeable because it was dark and being caught in the headlights).

Is this normal? Is it just stuff in the engine burning off?

 

Did the fan run on for a few minutes after you switched off the engine?

Not that I am aware of. However I may have missed it given my panic!!

Normally when you interrupt a dpf regen by switching off the engine the fan tends to run on for while.

 

In anycase you have the same car as me and mine has done a few in the first 1000 miles. From comments made by others on this forum it is quite normal and tends to settle down in time.

Thanks jonnybgood

No offense, but did you at any point during or after the "panic" consider reading the manual of the quite expensive car that you bought? Wouldn't that have been quicker to just check if it is normal or not and if maybe you should call the fire department instead of going online?

 

I know it sounds mean, but if you read the manual for your TV, maybe you should do it for a 20k car as well...

Info from Skoda on DPFs Covered here

http://www.skoda.co....ng-a-skoda-faqs

 

The hot smell you noticed is normal because the ECU injects diesel into the cylinders after ignition to increase the temperature in the DPF to perform an active regen. This makes the DPF very hot so if you switch off your engine when its doing a regen the DPF is still very hot which is why the fans then come on to cool it down. Active regens occur when the soot reaches a certain level or every 1000km if no active regen has been performed.

 

More info here:

 

http://www.briskoda....-dpf-questions/
 

 

 

No offense, but did you at any point during or after the "panic" consider reading the manual of the quite expensive car that you bought? Wouldn't that have been quicker to just check if it is normal or not and if maybe you should call the fire department instead of going online?

 

I know it sounds mean, but if you read the manual for your TV, maybe you should do it for a 20k car as well...

 

I did check the manual and found no reference to it.  If you could point me towards that page it would be appreciated.

 

Calling the fire dept. seemed a bit excessive.

 

I therefore chose to ask for advice on this forum where on the whole I have found people to be very helpful and quick in their responses.  Thank you everyone else for your constructive comments, help and reassurance.

The manual really doesn't tell you much for what is in reality quite an unusual event.

 

I'm used to it now but the wife wouldn't walk away from the car at first saying "There's something wrong, why's the fans still running, what's that smell".

 

Easiest response is just "It's meant to do that every now and then"  far easier than explaining what a DPF is and why it needs to regenerate!

It isnt easy to find in the manual, so dont worry about it. I never even knew it was in there until told. In fact, it doesnt go into much detail, so this site is still best. I just knew about regens etc after reading on here.

Page in manual is 23. Enjoy the car

I'm used to it now but the wife wouldn't walk away from the car at first saying "There's something wrong, why's the fans still running, what's that smell".

 

Easiest response is just "It's meant to do that every now and then"  far easier than explaining what a DPF is and why it needs to regenerate!

 

I just tell my missus its hot and needs to cool down, If I start talking about DPFs she'll fall asleep....

Is this now the post 461 or 462 regarding this particular issue? I have lost count.

I'm with Tudor on this...yes the forum is all about help and advice but surely a little bit of self-initiative wouldn't hurt.

Also, milbil - you made 30 posts in this forum so far, I would have thought it is almost impossible not to come accross the regeneration issue as there must be a thread on it every week.

 

Right, let's talk about delivery times, not sure there is a thread yet on that topic.

Is this now the post 461 or 462 regarding this particular issue? I have lost count.

I'm with Tudor on this...yes the forum is all about help and advice but surely a little bit of self-initiative wouldn't hurt.

Also, milbil - you made 30 posts in this forum so far, I would have thought it is almost impossible not to come accross the regeneration issue as there must be a thread on it every week.

 

Right, let's talk about delivery times, not sure there is a thread yet on that topic.

 

Now 31...and last.

 

It just seems a shame that forums like this, and the great help and advice offered by some, can be spoilt by the self righteous negativity of others!

 

I consider my backside to be rightly spanked and I am firmly back in my box.

 

Apologies for wasting your time.

Edited 10 January, 201412 yr by milbil

, but if you read the manual for your TV, maybe you should do it for a 20k car as well...

Does anyone read TV manuals?! I certainly don't!

 

It seems to me that the fact that so many people have to ask the question means not that they are incompetents who can't look after themselves, but rather that Skoda dealers need to be more proactive in warning first time buyers about this understandably worrying burning smell...

Does anyone read TV manuals?! I certainly don't!

 

It seems to me that the fact that so many people have to ask the question means not that they are incompetents who can't look after themselves, but rather that Skoda dealers need to be more proactive in warning first time buyers about this understandably worrying burning smell...

 

Well said. And whilst they're at it can they please tell people how to use the heated mirrors?

Eh, Bichti- the fact the OP asked on here means he obviously hasnt seen a post on it on here. Its a bit much picking on someone because of what you think they should have read on here. So well done, you have given someone the impression that this forum is full of nasty self righteous  a**eh**es who have no time for anybody else. Tell you what. Next time somebody asks a pleasant innocent question, if all you want to do is give them chapter and verse on what they should and shouldnt have read on here before daring to speak, dont bother. Save your little fingers the effort. Unless of course the mods have decided thats the way they want this forum to go? Im not sure it is. So well done. One less member because of you. Congrats.

Or the OP could have done the sensible thing (if reading the manual didn't help) and use the search function. He then would've found one of the many topics addressing the issue, as bichti has pointed out.

JungleJames, why so angry all the time?

One less member because of you. Congrats.

 

His account is still showing as 'online' - I think we will be ok here.

 

I am all about helping people or asking for help myself. However a little bit of searching and reading my way around the forum meant I didn't have to open a new thread for every question I have about the car. 

The smell of burning is unnerving and quite unexpected if you haven't owned a car with a DPF before - I do really appreciate that.

However, you must admit that once you type those words into the search bar, you will find your answer quickly enough. I am sure the users of this forums will find it easier to use if it isn't cluttered with threads the topics/questions of which have already been explored and closed out several times. A little common sense will make it a better experience for everyone.

Depends. As he has asked the question again, if another newbie turns up tomorrow wanting to ask the same question, it'll now be easier for them, because the thread is right here. No need to search. Would it make it slightly easier for us not having to navigate around it? Perhaps, but by very little. Certainly not enough to worry about. Tudor- Why so angry? Well not all the time, but yes some of the time. Some of the time perhaps im seen as being angry when im not. Sometimes i reply in a sarcastic manner, and that may be seen as me being angry, but in reality im not. Like the time I had someone decide i deserved a bit of abuse. i laughed at it, then gave a nice sarcastic response. Oh, and as for using the search function. Depending on how good the search function is, that can take a very long time. Admittedly it is usually quite good on this forum, but if you'd never tried it before, I can well imagine just simply asking the question is the easiest option, just in case. Especially if used to other search functions on forums which take forever and a day to find what you are looking for. He asked, we replied, he's happy, and we all move on to the next chapter.

If you search for DPF then yes you will find the answer but the people with the burning smell and are worried will most likely be typing in something along the lines of 'burning' as they have no idea what the DPF is - hence asking the question. 'Burning', before this topic was made, returns no posts that from their titles have any relevance to the OPs problem.

I have just read this thread again after posting earlier in the day. I cannot believe the responses suggesting read the manual, search the forum, don't waste our time, blah blah blah.

What is the problem with asking a question that may or may not have been asked previously again especially by a new member who is unfamiliar with this forum and with his or her new car. I couldn't care less if it gets asked over and over and over, I'd still post an answer if there was a remote chance I could help.

milbil may well not have had a diesel before and be unaware of the dpf so the regeneration process can be disconcerting. Hope you aren't put off using this forum in the future as it can be very useful in helping you familiarise yourself with the nuances of your new car.

Probably out of line but as it's such a well asked question, why not post a Q and A and pin it at the top of each forum category?

I'll get me coat...

really good idea that! (see, I can be nice).

An FAQ for Oct 3 related issues would help people and save everyone a bit of time.

Mods - take note.