Lots of smoke.

jamesturner · Post by **jamesturner** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:37 pm

Hi All,

My wife rang me at work to say the exhaust is smoking badly (Cant see behind her). I have a 2005 3.0d Manual. There is no loss of power however and the car is on coarse to average 35+ to the gallon on this tank. Could it be the Cat, I have ruled out Turbo due to the power still being evident. Has anyone had the same issue, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards Jt

robo · Post by **robo** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:02 pm

mine was same turned out to be an incorectly fitted air filter

jamesturner · Post by **jamesturner** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:14 pm

Hi Robo,

I did change mine when I serviced it about 6 weeks ago and it was a bugger. In a way I hope you are right, But the wrath of the wife if I am at fault would be priceless. With yours was it instant or after a period of time re airfilter misplaced

Thanks for your prompt responce.

Regards Jt.

I shall try and tell the garage without her knowing me thinks

Sanj · Post by **Sanj** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:17 pm

What colour is the smoke, black/white/blue hue?

Try:

1. Higher whistle than normal on the turbo - usually better to tell with the windows down.
2. Had the car mapped? Mine smoked more under the remap.
3. Breather is another - under the air filter.
4. Cats another - but can't advise, not technical enough, sorry.

Also, any sensors or engine management lights come on? You do realise you're dead anyway - never cross the wife, even if you think you know what you are doing!

jamesturner · Post by **jamesturner** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:26 pm

Hi Sanj,

A good friend of mine works for Klarius and he assures me that it is not the Cat. I shall ask the wife what colour the smoke is when she gets in as this will narrow it down I hope. I have had no warning on the dash but the wife has said it smokes more than it has done in the last couple of weeks. When I drive it I boot it early in the run to clear it out and then have no further problems, Is this normal ?.

Regards Jt

jamesturner · Post by **jamesturner** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:29 pm

Hi Sanj,

What is Mapping and Remap. Would appreciate a simple answer if there is one

Jt

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 9:38 pm

Modification to the program stored in the Engine Control Unit (ECU) which is the engine's brain and tells it what to do and when. It controls how the engine delivers power for any given throttle position and gear whilst taking a raft of environmental and engine data into account and is called the engine 'map'. If you have a 'remap' then the program is altered, usually to increase the power, but not always.

It needs an understanding of how the entire system works and is a highly specialised operation, not for amateurs as getting it wrong can destroy the engine.

'Booting' a cold engine can do really nasty things, so when you say 'early in the run' what do you mean? To clear any soot build-up you need a fully warmed engine and hot exhaust system so that it will burn off.

As far as smoke goes, Blue is usually oil and Black is usually fuel. But you can get white/grey as well. None are good, especially in large amounts. Most diesels will give a little puff of blueish smoke on cold start as the engine does not completely burn all the fuel and the injection system will put a little exta in for. Few moments to make sure the engine runs.

jamesturner · Post by **jamesturner** » Fri Aug 19, 2011 10:53 pm

Hi,

The wife has told me it was white/grey smoke, and I tend to let it warm up for 5 minutes before clearing it but only to 3000 -3500 revs

Regards Jt

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:30 pm

How are your oil levels? Too much can be as big a problem as too little.

Have you changed the crankcase breather? If not, it's definitely worth doing and is easier than the air filter albeit most of the same stuff comes off. Changing it decreases the risk of crankcase overpressure causing problems with oil pressure going way too high (in a really bad case). A number of us changed ours late last year after someone here had an issue.

jamesturner · Post by **jamesturner** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:08 am

Hi all,

Just to give you an update. The garage changed the breather and then took it for a long test drive and it smokes no more, however once I had picked it up I have found it to be gutless albeit everything sounds good but doesnt seem to have that boost when required. I rang the garage and they told me the following, the breather replaced was a modified oem product which didnt look anything like what they took off and they have told me to drive it for 100 miles and see how it is due to oil still being in the system. Not totally convinced on the latter but heyhow time will tell. Does anyone out there have any other views to what has happened, appreciate any info.

regards Jt

AW8 · Post by **AW8** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:50 pm

They may have additionally checked for fault codes &/or re-flashed/updated the ECU using GT1 or equivalent/similar. If your car was prior performance remapped, by you or prior owner, (with your knowledge or not), then that reflash /update would have overwritten your ECU & programmed the car back to a stock map. They may have loaded the latest updates with a view that later updates may smooth out &/or improve driveability. For this reason some customers with remaps often insist that their ECU is not flashed/updated.

It is correct that there was a change to the breather design, I believe the breather casing was also redesigned.

If I was you I would take it for a good drive/blast then see how it is thereafter........others have reported smoke for a while after new breather fitted & until all muck is effectively out of system.

If after 100 or so warm miles your still not happy then maybe get them to check for fault codes.

You could ask them re the possibility of a prior remap being wiped but ideally word this correctly as some can get a bit defensive if you dare to question their abilities &/or expertise.

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 7:59 pm

Or they could have left a vacuum hose off and the turbo isn't spooling up properly.

Check all the lines are on. One or two members have made the changes to their breathers & filters and disturbed a vacuum line which can dramatically affect performance.

jamesturner · Post by **jamesturner** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 8:01 pm

Hi All,

Just to finish the thread, Car was booked in yesterday for not having any oompth and indeed one of you guys were correct in thinking they had disturbed a pipe to the turbo. Within the hour it was sorted and I can now over take things again. Thanks for all your comments they are always welcome.

Keep up the good work,

Kind regards Jt

jamesturner · Post by **jamesturner** » Fri Sep 16, 2011 8:05 pm

Hi X5Sport,

I am intrigued to where you are based, ie Eastern Flatlands of Uk. I am in Norfolk on the border with Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. Would I be right in thinking we are in the same area.

Regards Jt

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 12:31 pm

Almost....ish.

Beds/Cambs border, home of the RSPB. Biggest hill's got a blasted great TV Transmitter on it. On a good day you can see the Ural Mountains

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