Hi all,

 

I've owned my 2012 CAVE mk2 vRS for a few years now, it's always had high oil consumption but it's something I learnt to live with.

 

Recently the gearbox has felt sluggish when accelerating (not flooring it), and sometimes when accelerating from 0 it almost feels like it's going to stall but doesn't.

 

In the last few days when accelerating a load of white/ light grey smoke has been coming out of the exhaust, this happens when accelating whilst rolling e.g. pulling away from a roundabout and also happens from standing.

 

It's been serviced about a year ago, having the plugs changed and one ignition coil also changed due to a missfire. It's on 68k miles.

It had a water pump and timing belt change in 2020. 

 

Has anyone experienced anything similar or have any insight as to what might be the problem? I'm aware of the issues this engine has had and wondering if this is the right time to sadly get rid of it before it fails.

 

Hopefully I'm over thinking this and there is a simple reason for smoke   I did have a look and couldn't see any recent posts talking about white smoke.

 

Thanks in advance, happy to provide any further info if it would help!

50 minutes ago, North97 said:

when accelerating a load of white/ light grey smoke has been coming out of the exhaust

Is it using oil?

10 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

Is it using oil?

Yes, I have to top up about 2l every month. I probably do around 600 miles a month.

 

It's always used this amount of oil, the smoke is a new issue though.

Edited 17 April, 20233 yr by North97

@North97Are you already using 5w 40 FS oil VW 502 00 rather than 5w 30 FS III (Long Life)  VW504 00 /507 00

Are you running it on Super unleaded E5 so 97 or 99 ron min rather than E10 95 unleaded. 

 

Best that you check all 4 spark plugs for condition / gap.

?

What plugs were fitted?

 

One coil replaced might not be all that did need replacing.

 

 

 

Edited 17 April, 20233 yr by toot

White smoke is usually coolant so check if the coolant level is dropping at all.

White smoke is usually burning coolant or running extremely rich fuel mixture 

Edited 17 April, 20233 yr by thomasaspin

White smoke with a Twincharger is usually running lean / 95 unleaded.

Black smoke when you boot a CAVE is often a nice clean out of the exhaust and it running rich for short journeys. 

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/314484-smoking-vrs

 

Edited 17 April, 20233 yr by toot

Many years ago I had a Vauxhall Carlton automatic and it started putting out white smoke under acceleration. It was not losing oil or coolant. Eventually I lost drive on the motorway. The problem was the actuator for gear changing. It was worked off the manifold depression and the diaphragm had perished and the engine was sucking out the transmission fluid and burning it.. A new actuator cured the problem. I have no idea if there is something similar on the DSG box but it was not something that crossed my mind when it started smoking.

The DSG behaviour with the Twincharger is most likely to be the issue with the engine. 

It runs on the Supercharger to 2,800 rpm before combining with the Turbo charger then going to just turbo at 3,500 rpm.

1 hour ago, toot said:

@North97Are you already using 5w 40 FS oil VW 502 00 rather than 5w 30 FS III (Long Life)  VW504 00 /507 00

Are you running it on Super unleaded E5 so 97 or 99 ron min rather than E10 95 unleaded. 

 

Best that you check all 4 spark plugs for condition / gap.

?

What plugs were fitted?

 

One coil replaced might not be all that did need replacing.

 

 

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Yes, I'm using 502 5w40 oil.

 

I'll get a garage to check the plugs, and possibly the rest of the coils. I bought Bosch plugs, I guess they might not be the best plug to use?

 

I fill up with the standard E10. Thanks for sharing the fuel comparison. Is it advisable to not go for E10 on the vRS then, are the additional benefits of some premium fuels worth it?

1 hour ago, sepulchrave said:

White smoke is usually coolant so check if the coolant level is dropping at all.

Coolant level is bang on in that middle so I assume it's not leaking. I'll keep an eye on it though!

1 hour ago, thomasaspin said:

White smoke is usually burning coolant or running extremely rich fuel mixture 

Thank you. Coolant level is okay but I'll take it into a garage to check for issues that could be causing it to run rich.

1 hour ago, toot said:

White smoke with a Twincharger is usually running lean / 95 unleaded.

Black smoke when you boot a CAVE is often a nice clean out of the exhaust and it running rich for short journeys. 

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/314484-smoking-vrs

 

So again, would you recommend moving onto a higher fuel grade?

Running rich is OK with a CAVE Twincharger, soot on the tail pipes.

Grey / white tail pipe ends are the ones that run like crap usually. 

 

The filling station tanks will be getting Summer Spec Petrol delivered again.

Try a tank of Super Unleaded which is what is needed really, get the oil hot and give it a good run as long as you have no misfires and it might clean up the plugs, un-gum the rings and have you sorted.

Any EPC or Engine light or both then dont boot it. 

 

This is not just GTI's / R's, it is your car / engine.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/en/need-help/need-help-faqs/fuel.html

 

Your fuel filler flap has the same as this.  Super Unleaded, so Sainsbury 97 or 99 Tesco Momentum 99 maybe, ESSO.

Edited 17 April, 20233 yr by toot

Is shell vpower no good?

Royal Dutch Shell import the Base fuel with Greenergy that produce Tescom Momentum 99 and some of the ESSO 99 in the UK and there might be the same additives and there might not be, personally i did not like Shell v-Power, Bore Wash is an issue with Twinchargers and you are not wanting the detergent in the Super Unleaded & in Long Life Oil.

Momentum 99 is 99 Minimum and can be more like 100 or 100+ in parts of the UK. 

 

 

 

Edited 17 April, 20233 yr by toot

56 minutes ago, toot said:

Running rich is OK with a CAVE Twincharger, soot on the tail pipes.

Grey / white tail pipe ends are the ones that run like crap usually. 

 

The filling station tanks will be getting Summer Spec Petrol delivered again.

Try a tank of Super Unleaded which is what is needed really, get the oil hot and give it a good run as long as you have no misfires and it might clean up the plugs, un-gum the rings and have you sorted.

Any EPC or Engine light or both then dont boot it. 

 

This is not just GTI's / R's, it is your car / engine.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/en/need-help/need-help-faqs/fuel.html

 

Your fuel filler flap has the same as this.  Super Unleaded, so Sainsbury 97 or 99 Tesco Momentum 99 maybe, ESSO.

Thank you, that's really helpful.

On 17/04/2023 at 20:50, toot said:

Running rich is OK with a CAVE Twincharger, soot on the tail pipes.

Grey / white tail pipe ends are the ones that run like crap usually. 

 

The filling station tanks will be getting Summer Spec Petrol delivered again.

Try a tank of Super Unleaded which is what is needed really, get the oil hot and give it a good run as long as you have no misfires and it might clean up the plugs, un-gum the rings and have you sorted.

Any EPC or Engine light or both then dont boot it. 

 

This is not just GTI's / R's, it is your car / engine.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/en/need-help/need-help-faqs/fuel.html

 

Your fuel filler flap has the same as this.  Super Unleaded, so Sainsbury 97 or 99 Tesco Momentum 99 maybe, ESSO.

 

Filled up with Tesco 99 this morning. It's honestly like driving a different car, felt so good! I didn't experience any shudders/ times when it felt like it was going to stall.

 

There was a little white smoke when acceleration to begin with but after a while this went and on my journey home of 2 hours I didn't see any

 

If I see anymore I'll take it into the garage to get the plugs etc checked but fingers crossed it was just down to using the incorrect fuel.

 

Thanks for taking thr time to help me out. I really appreciate it. Legend!