Not sure if it is smoke or steam / water vapour. It is only occasional.

 

1.5L petrol turbo. 71 plate with low miles.

 

Not sure if I need to get it checked out professionally.

 

Any educated advice on this greatly appreciated, any further info needed then please ask, Thanks......

Are you losing any coolant?

 

In round numbers, for every litre of fuel your engine burns, a litre of water is created as a product of the chemical reactions.  Most people don't believe this.

 

Petrol and diesel are hydrocarbons; compounds primarily made of hydrogen (H) and carbon (C). When burnt in air they combine with oxygen (O2) to make carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O).

 

The only place they emerge is from the tailpipe. It's usually hot enough that the water part is steam, which you can't see. While the whole exhaust system is warming up, you may see it in the rear view mirror as condensed water vapour. If you do enough short journeys it may build up in the exhaust system as liquid water, which following drivers may see dripping out of your tailpipe as you accelerate away.

 

People who say " Oh yeah, that's just condensation that builds up overnight" have not understood what's really going on. 

 

 

@Tilt  Is this the BMW? 

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Edited 16 May, 20242 yr by Breezy_Pete
dunno

Thanks @Breezy_Pete @Ootohere

 

It is the BMW. It is under warranty but I do not want to visit BMW unless necessary. 

 

I had thought about the possibility of short journeys being a factor as I only do circa 11 miles round trip commute, four times a week. (if not on bike).

Would this be classed as a short journey???

Not used it for many other journeys yet.

 

I will check the coolant, but no warnings showing up. I will monitor it a bit longer and if it seems more than just occasional I will probably go to my trusted garage that looked after the old Octy for years.

 

Only realising now just how many 'plug in hybrid 'e' vehicles there are around, and been around for a few years.

Had a chat with a fella with an A3e in Morrisons car park the other day. He loves it.

 

@Ootohere I do like the beemer a bit more now as I use it in sport individual mode and it does drive quite nice and feels smoother.

Funnily, as soon as you put it in this mode the stop start automatically switches itself off.

But still, the road noise is irritating at times.

 

Thanks guys.

44 minutes ago, Tilt said:

Would this be classed as a short journey???

Check your oil temperature on arrival at each journey end, if that's something that can be displayed. My commute is similar and it never really quite gets to full operating temperature (coolant or oil), especially in winter.  Coolant gauge might show normal temp achieved, but VCDS says different.

 

Edited 22 May, 20242 yr by Breezy_Pete

Could be the start of a PCV issue if you think the smoke/steam is getting bad enough or more than expected from shorter journeys. 
I constantly do a 12 mile return journey, and my engine oil, gearbox oil and water temp are all up to operating temp, at both ends of the journey when checked with a diagnostic, even during the winter. 
The hybrid system may just be in use for enough of your commute to allow moisture to build up in the system and cause it though, as my results are from a normal non hybrid ICE unit. 
 

I think it is just the nature of the BMW / MINI 3 cylinder petrol engine.  (is it the one with the 48v mild hybrid).

It is does has a bit of a thirst when just the 134 bhp petrol turbo doing cold starts, not cold weather, just short hops.

Thanks guys. No hybrid ........... just the 118i

 

I guess I mislead by mentioning hybrids earlier. Just thinking I missed a trick and should have sourced a plug in hybrid......... maybe.