Discussion
While on the way to Trinity tonight I noticed a burning smell and a cloud of white smoke from my exhaust!
Pulled over and call Tony, the AA, and Mike Bamford.
No clear idea what the problem is. AA checked the fluids and they were all ok (so I'm not a total numpty).
Car is on the the way to Bamford Rose. Might possibly be the fuel breather purge valve, but the symptoms aren't quite right.
Fingers crossed its nothing too nasty
Pulled over and call Tony, the AA, and Mike Bamford.
No clear idea what the problem is. AA checked the fluids and they were all ok (so I'm not a total numpty).
Car is on the the way to Bamford Rose. Might possibly be the fuel breather purge valve, but the symptoms aren't quite right.
Fingers crossed its nothing too nasty
Had an update from Mike, and now I'm at a real keyboard can give a few more details.
First of all there was a lot of smoke, and it was more from one exhaust pipe than the other. Didn't get a photo / video of it sadly.
Incase it's helpful to anyone that finds this thread in the future, here's what Mike said:
Mike was kind enough to take deliver of my car at 11:30 pm, when the AA got it to BR, and had sent me the update by 8 this morning! Typical of BR, going above and beyond
First of all there was a lot of smoke, and it was more from one exhaust pipe than the other. Didn't get a photo / video of it sadly.
Incase it's helpful to anyone that finds this thread in the future, here's what Mike said:
SMS from Mike said:
Problem was either going to be smoke related to fuel, oil or water. Seems to be oil related. The inlet manifold is completely drenched in oil. Oil appears to be coming from dry sump tank breather circuit. Reason is either failure of valve system (likely, the round plastic valve body casing in the picture) or engine related issue where breather gas is forced past piston rings causing oil to come out of breather circuit (unlikely, I hope because the engine runs sweet enough considering issue). The smoke is caused because the inlet manifold is so full of oil, oil is forming a massive part of fuel air mixture, the poor combustion manifests itself as white smoke, if better combustion (due to less oil in mixture) took place the smoke would be blue. However is white here because its a case of complete saturation of oil in mixture. Requires removal of inlet manifold and clean, remove and examine oil breather circuit to confirm suspicion. I have seen this mode of failure before.
There's some fairly gory photos of the intake too, but I think it's beyond my phone/forum skills to upload them from an SMS!Mike was kind enough to take deliver of my car at 11:30 pm, when the AA got it to BR, and had sent me the update by 8 this morning! Typical of BR, going above and beyond
PiloteAM said:
Luckily (I think) no fault codes and no nasty noises, some hoping it's nothing catastrophic.
FrogInLondon was with me, and has some photos. Poor bloke was stood around for ages.
It is not allowed to abandon an AM driver on the side of the road! FrogInLondon was with me, and has some photos. Poor bloke was stood around for ages.
Story of the Trinity evening:
Total wait before a pint of beer: 3 hours
Number of assistance truck: 2
Number of phone call with the Experts: TonyV12 and Mike BR: a lot but great support from them - thank you
Number of taxi wishing to give us a ride: 1
Number of 911 looking at us on the site road: 3
Number of Ford focus with noisy exhaust passing us: 1 (the noise was terrible)
This time I experienced the AM drive in London... Do I still want one: YES
Tony Hall
Tony V12V said:
FrogInLondon said:
It is not allowed to abandon an AM driver on the side of the road!
Only in French petrol stations 
Yes, I forgot to thanks Tony! Your reassurance, and list of things to look for was really helpful, thanks Tony.
It's quite scary to see clouds of white smoke and burning smells coming from the back of your P&J!
I do wish the Aston had better sensors, with readouts in the cabin, coolant level and oil level would be a good start! Not that it would have helped in this case, but I would have been more sure I hadn't just done something dumb
PiloteAM said:
Final update... hopefully
BR fixed it yesterday afternoon, sounds like it was a messy job, but no major damage. Phew!
I assume you have jumped the queue which is why I have heard nothing about my ole snotter BR fixed it yesterday afternoon, sounds like it was a messy job, but no major damage. Phew!
Anyway, what do I care, off to Hambleton Hall this afternoon with See-mon and The Lottery Winner
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