tonight, my mk3's idle speed was higher than normal.. only happened on the last 2 or 3 miles of a 40 mile journey.. nothing unusal about the journey, nothing unusal about the weather - wasn't hot.. about 20degC.. even hit a bit of a shower on the way up the M6.. but on getting into the last mile not far from home.. seems like there was an extra whir of a fan going into overdrive to try and cool things down.. in fact, when I pulled up on the drive.. idle speed was up about 150rpm, stopped the car.  then I noticed a tinge of a burning smell.. a little plasticy like.. climate control heater was off all journey, aircon was off, only fan on LO  setting and lowest speed (1 bar).  The fan was on a lot lot longer than usual (after switching off the ignition).. probably around 4 or 5 minutes before it decided to switch itself off.. lots of creaking and all sorts of weird noises from the bonet area as if liquid was hitting something hot somewhere inside something.. could be something was expanded a lot more than it should have been and things were trying to cool down - not sure at all.. couldn't see any leaks under the car, oil temp guage showed normal... when I finally worked out the bonet release is in the passenger side had a look inside, the support arm for the bonet was mighty hot... and it all felt excessively warm for a coolish night.. haven't got a clue what it could have been.. hoping it doesn't happen tomorrow, or I can feel myself calling Skoda Assist out on a hard-shoulder somewhere.. answers on a postcard! I was more concerned with the burning smell and the heat than anything else.. only done about 5200 miles.. so wouldn't have thought it would need any more oil at this stage, but I will check the level to rule it out. coolant levels looked normal aswell, although still warm.. but I've never checked how warm it all is until it got my attention tonight..

 

..anyone else had anything similar so far?

 

From Octavia section but relevant...

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/301020-my-new-diesel-smells-like-burning-rubber-andor-the-fan-stays-on-after-engine-is-turned-off/

My Fabia mk3 TDi does it too.

It is just the DPF regenerating, nothing to worry about.

Does whiff a bit, but perfectly normal.

What you experienced is why it is really not worth buying small diesel engine cars these days, from any manufacturer, but especially the Volkswagen Group  if it is just for better MPG.

 

You get good enough economy just to use more fuel with regenerations, and as time passes these become more often with many cars.

Euro 5 & now Euro 6 is a very bad thing and not Green, (& now more expense in the long term)

& they should publish the real Co2 emissions g/km over real world not EU Tests as they are.

thanks guys.. had to ask.. bloody DPFs.. never had that naturally in my Mk1.. never failed an emissions test in my mk1, so can't see why we need them really.. it would be better if they did it externally like make an improved cat for the exhaust.. but there we go.. panic over!