Webasto = smelly white smoke?

[RenoHuskerDu]

Since the weather turned cold, I get some white smoke from the tailpipes shortly after startup. It lasts for about 3-4 minutes. I have also noticed a distinct odor of diesel fuel before the smoke starts. The smoke smells like paraffin.

This concerned me as injectors can develop leaks, so I scheduled a service appt at my unfriendly local French dealer. There was no hope of getting me in before 17 December, but if I cross the border into Deutschland they can check it tomorrow (ever wonder why the French seem so negative in general?).

But tonight I decided to run the Webasto whilst shopping. Lo and behold, that same white smoke started coming out of the tailpipes (so much that some alarmist frog called the firemen).

Now I wonder if my Webasto has an automatic start feature that makes it fire up on cold weather start without me pushing the button on the remote. Perhaps the Webasto has been making the smoke, and I have no other problem than an adjustment of its burner.

Apparently the Webasto is a rare option in the UK, as it's very dear. I'm hoping that one of you has experienced a similar issue.

[Fox-]

RenoHuskerDu said:

Apparently the Webasto is a rare option in the UK, as it's very dear.

No it's not, it was standard fit on all E39 M57 engined cars for example. But it had its own exhuast and exhausted out the nearside front..

[RenoHuskerDu]

That was information I got from the Xdrivers forum, and I seem to recall that it applies to newer cars. Mine is an E70 LCI 40d.

[Fox-]

Ah, had no idea what you drove. In that case it probably is rare as the Webasto's function in the older cars was to provide cabin heat etc to counter the long warmup time of the diesel. The N57 engined cars have an electric element to perform this function IIRC leaving the Webasto redundant for all but the coldest climates.

[HoHoHo]

By chance I was in a traffic queue the other day and the abliance van next to me started to throw out white smoke from a small exhaust.

My colleague mentioned this in panic and I immediately thought and mentioned 'webasto' and guessed it was the heater from the rear cabin, loads of white smoke and smelly.

I remember these from years ago on the first X5 and thought they always chucked out loads of smoke for a while and ponged a bit?

[RenoHuskerDu]

It does make quite a racket, a bit of a roaring sound, as it were.

[crankedup]

My son has just fitted one of these heaters into my car. It works a treat but we need to fit a regulator that will smooth the electrical peaks occurring when the dynamo kicks in.
My car is a 1928 Vauxhall saloon, and yes the heater kicks out loads of white smelly smoke until the unit reaches its high operating temperature.

[RenoHuskerDu]

crankedup said:

My son has just fitted one of these heaters into my car. It works a treat but we need to fit a regulator that will smooth the electrical peaks occurring when the dynamo kicks in.
My car is a 1928 Vauxhall saloon, and yes the heater kicks out loads of white smelly smoke until the unit reaches its high operating temperature.

Thanks for the useful observation. To which dynamo are you referring? On a previous car I noted that the Webasto consumed current and as such was a risk in the winter. Does your Webasto generate power?

[RenoHuskerDu]

Update:

My X5 is in Germany today getting repaired. On the lift it's clear that the Webasto has been leaking diesel fairly steadily. That generated the smoke and diesel smell.

My Webasto is fritos. The unit is leaking fuel at its seams. It may have been abused, or submerged, or God knows what. The bugger costs over £1k...and it's not under warranty. The German dealership does not have one in stock or in a nearby warehouse, and they have two mechanics out sick so no time to replace it this week anyway.

I'm having them disconnect it from its power and fuel supplies. I'll take my car back and deal with it next year. I don't want to spend Christmas without my car.

We were also surprised to note an obvious gear oil leak from the rear diff at the prop shaft, where its oil seal is failing and possibly the input shaft bearing as well. The French dealer, natch, had managed to overlook that risky situation 3 weeks ago, which could have cost me the diff assembly at the end of the day...there's the French worker spirit for you. I'm taking the car exclusively to Deutschland from now on for service.