I've had my fabia for nearly a month now, have done about 1100 miles and have enjoyed every moment behind the wheel.

With this being the first Diesel I've owned, I've got a grasp but not a great understanding of how it all works under the bonnet (VRStu good article on your site about the PD engine )

On a journey a few weeks back, a mate following me mentioned my car seemed to be smoking alot and only stopped when it appeared I was changing gear. He assumed I wasn't booting it cause off the speed and acceleration (i.e. wasn't leaving him standing behind!) and I confirmed I was driving light right foot and changing just before 2000rpm. I was adapting this similar driving style this evening on my way back from work and again noticed it was smoking like crazy. In both cases yes it was sunny and temperature around 30 degrees.

Now I realise Diesels do chuck out smoke a fair bit, especially in hot weather but this is concerning me. The fuel economy hasn't been poor but hasn't been fantastic. Last refill averaged 48 despite the computer claiming 57 average, I used 43 litres doing 455 miles with 320 of that being a trip to Norwich and back.

I'm not sure but could it be running a rich fuel mixture? Is there any way of easily checking this via vag-com?

Any help or opinions will seriously be appreciated!

If you've been running it slowly for first 1100 miles, try giving it a few extra revs to clear out the soot and unburnt diesel that accumulates in the exhaust when running light footed.

Take it gently but steadily up to about 4000rpm a couple of times in any gear on a clear, safe, straight road (keeping within national limits of course;)

I try to do that a few times a week because a chunk of my commute is in standing traffic.

If that doesn't work then maybe get it checked, shouldn't smoke visibly on normal running.

I've done that a few times which naturally has cleared the exhaust out.

What concerns me is although I've highlighted two moments where I knew it was happening, on some odd occasions I can see it smoking in my rear view mirror but I'm not putting alot of power down. It hasn't been chucking smoke out when idle so I've been unsure if there is a problem or just a characteristic.

This is normal. You have to give the turbo a kick evey now and then or soot and fuel is deposited in the exhaust. You get most soot under 2 conditions:

1. Accelerating really hard. (Less noticable from the drivers seat)

2. Applying full throttle 'off boost'

Bottom line here: Its a diesel and they smoke!!

Bottom line here: Its a diesel and they smoke!!

You should probably change that to "bottom line here: It's a VAG diesel and they smoke!"

The VW PD engines are well known for chucking out smoke, it's just something you get used to. Other diesels (such a PSA group) hardly smoke at all. I believe it comes down to the different technologies (ie. common rail vs pd).

Try vacuuming the dirt out of the air cleaner element and see if that improves the airflow at all.

Gave it a hard kick this morning along the back road (the only 60mph stretch I have on my way to work.) Cleared alot of soot out and it appears better since then. I believe now it isn't a problem, just a characteristic of the PD engine.

Cheers though for your thoughts and suggestions