Our first family vacation with the new car didn't end as we hoped. The car was perfect for the first part of the trip, but suddenly, when we arrived in Stockholm grey/white smoke started to come from the exhaust. The engine also refused to go above 2000 rpm. The engine was running smoothly on idle, but when i gave it some more gas it refused. The smoke also intensified, and suddenly the whole area was covered in white smoke. 

 

The car was towed to the nearest Skoda-service, where it now sits. We took the train home.

 

The "best guess" so far is a faulty turbo. Anyone else had this problem?

Sorry to hear that, sounds like a similar symptom to a Vauxhall when the EGR valve sticks.

Any news on the fault with your car?
I don't think it would be the EGR valve as this would usually cause black smoke due to bad combustion.

White smoke would normally indicate oil or water getting into the exhaust which doesn't sound so good. :(

No news yet. Waiting for a call from the head of service at our local Skoda dealership. I'll let you know!

Fingers crossed its just something simple like a faulty sensor or air leak & not something more serious.

Any news on the fault with your car?

I don't think it would be the EGR valve as this would usually cause black smoke due to bad combustion.

White smoke would normally indicate oil or water getting into the exhaust which doesn't sound so good. :(

Possibly, I had an Astra for 7 years, heard all the EGR horror stories, but as it happens never had the problem with mine. I just remembered that there was a loss of power with lots of smoke. Either way not good for a new engine, hope it's something simple. 

Had the exact same scenario.

 

Thick white/grey smoke, enough to make a very decent smokescreen.  Idled fine, even drove a bit (seriously reduced power)

 

Turbo had gone.... blades had sheared off and were ultimately injested by the engine causing £2000 damage as valves were jammed open and bent when the pistons hit them. (Thanks AA man for continuing to turn the engine over and rev it looking for a pipe which might have come off in his opinion - even though he admitted he only ever tows cars from one place to another).

 

On a brand new car though could be something as simple as a boost pipe off.

 

Very simple to find, should have taken the garage <30 minutes.

Does sound a bit like the turbo although hopefully it's not. My Passat used to blow off the boost pipes occasionally and that resulted in no power and clouds of dark obnoxious black smoke

Had a turbo fail once on an 08 plate octavia 1.9tdi. Made a noise, lost power and kicked out clouds of grey/white smoke. Had to stall it as it wouldnt turn off ! New turbo, new exhaust but engine was ok.

Ouch that must have been running on its own oil then? I thought it would have had a butterfly valve in the inlet to choke it of air in case of such situation. I know the pd140 in my passat did.

Still no word. They told me that Friday the earliest I might get some news :(

 

Got a Fabia with the smallest TSI engine as replacement car - no extras whatsoever. You sure notice the difference

 

Have to share my documentation of the sad moment last Friday...

Hope you get it sorted soon!

 

Nothing takes the shine off of a new car than a fault in the early days.

My Fabia Greenline did the grey smoke out of the back when one of the injectors failed, then no power and a tow in to garage.

Ok, got a call from the Skoda-serviceguy today. They have localized the cause for the malfunction. Basically what happened was:

 

1. The oli pump broke down

2. Due to lack of oil - the turbo broke

3. When the turbo broke down, oil entered the exhaust system causing the excessive white smoke

 

It sounded like they are about the replace the complete engine, but I will get confirmation on that tomorrow :(

 

My question is: If the oil pump blew - how come the car did not indicate such an error??

Edited 3 July, 201411 yr by Lear76

You would expect a warning light for low oil pressure!

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Ok, got a call from the Skoda-serviceguy today. They have localized the cause for the malfunction. Basically what happened was:

 

1. The oli pump broke down

2. Due to lack of oil - the turbo broke

3. When the turbo broke down, oil entered the exhaust system causing the excessive white smoke

 

It sounded like they are about the replace the complete engine, but I will get confirmation on that tomorrow :(

 

My question is: If the oil pump blew - how come the car did not indicate such an error??

 

Perhaps the failure in the turbo may have occurred first & and the damage was done to the oil pump afterwards when running with low oil level or after ingesting some pieces of turbo blades from the oil.

While you were driving it was able to provide just enough oil pressure so that the warning light didn't illuminate.

 

However, if the failure really is to the turbo & oil pump I would be very happy with a completely new engine.

A damaged turbo can cause lots of problems inside the engine that you might not see immediately.

Damage to the cylinder walls, piston rings, valves, catalyst etc etc.

Time for an update: I have now been without my Octavia for over one month. All the broken parts are replaced: new turbo, new oil pump, new particle filter. The big problem: The oil pressure to the turbo is still too low.

 

The problem might have been there from day one. But they don't know why - yet. Some expert is flying in on Tuesday to measure something.

 

This is really beginning to suck... :(

Take it you still have a courtesy car?

I'd be asking them to put a new one on order for you, sounds like the failure caused a real mess!

Yes, I still have a courtesy car. And yes, it does not sound good. I'll wait until Tuesday to find out what they recommend.

Reject it under the SOGA as unfit for purpose.

Reject it under the SOGA as unfit for purpose.

He lives in Finland! Don't think Sale of Goods Act applies there...although might be something similar??

bouff34, on 01 Aug 2014 - 21:14, said:

He lives in Finland! Don't think Sale of Goods Act applies there...although might be something similar??

   

 

sorry, didn't look at his location!

 

We have fairly weak consumer laws here in the UK, as you say I imagine Finland has something similar (and probably a more beefed-up variant).

Lear, firstly sorry to hear this. With a new car this is the last thing you want :(

 

When it is taking this long & they cannot find the problem after replacing many components on the car I would seriously push them to replace the complete engine.

This would be much safer in my opinion & minor damage to the engine caused by the broken turbo might not be obvious immediately & can cause problems in the future.

 

Also, if they keep the existing engine, make sure you get in writing or on the service history everything they have done so that you can show any problems in the future are related to this original problem.

 

I hope it is sorted out soon.