Mk V steam or smoke from exhaust

[AndyT77]

Hi, i would like to put my mind at ease, but fear an expensive trip to a garage looming (couple of issues that need attention). Anyway, i've noticed what appears to be either smoke, or steam (hopefully), from the exhaust, and am a little concerned about my turbo. I check the oil weekly, and it doesn't appear to be using an amount that should cause alarm.

Am i paranoid, is it steam coming from the exhaust?

Edit, forgot to mention it is a 2007 Golf GTI.

[SuperchargedVR6]

Lol, the amount of people who say an engine is broken every winter because of perfectly normal steam

It's exactly the same principal as breathing out on a cold day. Hot gases condensing in cold air. Physics 101.

But if you are genuinely concerned it's smoke or ingested water from the coolant system (HG failure), regularly check your fluid levels as you are doing. Don't just wait for the dash warnings.

The bulk of the steam is water in the exhaust system evaporating off and once everything equalises in temperature, the steam subsides, unless it's REALLY cold.

Edited by SuperchargedVR6 on Friday 30th January 12:44

[Jimmy No Hands]

My GTI absolutely throws it out in this weather for the first ten minutes. Once its at temperature it's minimal. As already stated, completely normal.

[ManOpener]

Exactly the same with my SEAT, until it's been at optimal operating temperature for bit. Not sure why but I get the impression from other vehicles I see also steaming that direct injection and turbocharged engines are particularly prone to it? No idea whether there's any reason for that or if it's just coincidence. Could be higher exhaust gas temperatures perhaps?

Edited by ManOpener on Friday 30th January 13:26

[Basil Hume]

No turbos to worry about, but for proper "are you sure that's isn't a steam engine", see a Golf R32 in this weather.

[rich83]

Jimmy No Hands said:

My GTI absolutely throws it out in this weather for the first ten minutes. Once its at temperature it's minimal. As already stated, completely normal.

Mine too. Really bad when it's cold.

[cuprabob]

Basil Hume said:

No turbos to worry about, but for proper "are you sure that's isn't a steam engine", see a Golf R32 in this weather.

Many new R32 owners don't realise there is an exhaust flap on one tailpipe and worry when "steam" only comes out of one pipe☺

[barpilot]

Basil Hume said:

No turbos to worry about, but for proper "are you sure that's isn't a steam engine", see a Golf R32 in this weather.

And the centralised exhaust means you see it in the rear view more easily. Perfectly normal.

[S0 What]

SuperchargedVR6 said:

Lol, the amount of people who say an engine is broken every winter because of perfectly normal steam

It's exactly the same principal as breathing out on a cold day. Hot gases condensing in cold air. Physics 101.

But if you are genuinely concerned it's smoke or ingested water from the coolant system (HG failure), regularly check your fluid levels as you are doing. Don't just wait for the dash warnings.

The bulk of the steam is water in the exhaust system evaporating off and once everything equalises in temperature, the steam subsides, unless it's REALLY cold.

Edited by SuperchargedVR6 on Friday 30th January 12:44

I had a woman call me out to her vehical at the side of the road cos the bonnet was steaming when it rained and the engine was hot i shlt you not! lucky it was only a mile away but i wasn't that impressed, still better than the silly cow who limped her car in with a blown H/G after driving it for 20 mins with no coolant at all cos she didn't want to wait for the AA (quoted her 30 mins to arrive) cos she had shopping to do it was a 3 year old fiat 500 and she wanted it done on the cheap (OBV) as she was getting a new car in 2 days time, so she got the plastic stat housing repaired with a bit of pipe and some real steel a bottle of steel seal in the coolant and warned to get rid of soon as, i know it made it from London to Liverpool where it was P/Xd at a dealers for a new 500 but she never did get to bluewater to do that shopping

[SuperchargedVR6]

ManOpener said:

I get the impression from other vehicles I see also steaming that direct injection and turbocharged engines are particularly prone to it? No idea whether there's any reason for that or if it's just coincidence. Could be higher exhaust gas temperatures perhaps?

That is a very good point actually. Most modern cars have a front cat converter preheat strategy, which usually involves blasting extra fuel into the engine and blowing fresh air over the cat. It gets super hot super quickly and that much heat will start boiling off any water in the exhaust almost instantly!

[AndyT77]

Thanks