White smoke coming from exhaust along with strange smell

[MattIzzard]

Hi guys,

So I was driving home from work the other day and I was followed by someone who stopped and pulled me over. He said he'd noticed I had some smoke coming from my exhaust when i accelerated. I don't think it's every single time but I did stand behind the car and got someone to rev it and I did notice some smoke that came out, although it didn't do it again after the first time! Also for the last 5-6 months I've noticed a smell within the car at certain points (but on almost every journey) that seems like something is burning either oil, clutch/break or maybe coolant.

I'm starting to worry now given that I don't have a clue what it is or what's caused it so I'd love any ideas as to what I could be!

It's a 2.0 TDI bluemotion

[Cuprabob]

It could be the car was doing a DPF Regeneration. Exhaust temperature is raised a fair bit so you get a sensation of heat / burning smell. Car runs a bit rougher and idle speed is increased while it is being performed. The white / grey smoke being the ash being burnt off the filter.

If you switch the car off while a DPF Regeneration is taking place the radiator fans will run on for approx. 5 mins.

[rpsmith79]

Not sure on your particualr case. but this is how it usually goes

Black Smoke - Unburnt fuel (usually seen on Diesels)
Blue Smoke - Oil is being burnt, can be many causes, and in most cases not a good thing
White Smoke - Usually coolant getting into the cylinders, if it is heavy persistent white smoke its usually a good indication your head gasket has blown

Just do some basic checks, check both oil and water levels, and keep an eye on them over the next few journeys, if they start to go down then you know you have a problem

[MattIzzard]

I've been out and checked and coolant levels are fine, but oil is right over the top of the green indicator!! Not even in the dotted markers but higher than the entire green end of the dip stick!

Seems like it may not have been serviced properly, could this be a reason for the smoke/smell?

[rpsmith79]

Not wanting to sound condescending, but did you wipe the dipstick before dipping it back into the engine and then check the level

If you just pulled it straight out and looked at it, it will be covered in oil as it gets splashed all over when the engine is running

[MattIzzard]

Hahahahaha yes! I don't know much about cars but checking oil is something even I can manage

[rpsmith79]

Just thought i'd check, i know of someone who filled his engine up with oil till it came out the oil filler cap, lol

But seriously, overfilling an engine with oil is almost as bad as underfilling it as the crank ends up hitting the oil in the sump and whipping it up into a frothy mess, it is then harder for the oil pickup pipe to recirculate it around the engine

I'm not sure that will be causing your white smoke, but still something i would get looked at pretty quickly

[Woodyparsons]

Im a female so know nothing about engines lol.. . But when mine was producing white smoke the other week and not all the time it was the electronic coolant pump which was knackered... Although I did have a fault light come on which related to this. Hope you get it sorted

[Roy_01]

Drain the excessive oil, check the coulant level and color and smell for exhaust gasses.
And what Bobs says maybe it was a dpf regeneration...

[MattIzzard]

Thanks everyone! Still no closer to finding out but it doesn't seem to be doing it as much now! Going to try and take the tuning chip out and see if it makes a difference!

[wakey1512]

White Smoke - Usually coolant getting into the cylinders, if it is heavy persistent white smoke its usually a good indication your head gasket has blown

Or if it's a 1.4 122 possible charge cooler failure...

[wakey1512]

Regarding the 2.0tdi, excessive idle time in cold conditions can cause what seems to be white smoke when accelerating but is only just condensation.