3.0TDi - Smoking problem?

[Dilligaf10]

Noticed a strange phenomenon today. Coming back up from Sidmouth through single carriageway roads following a bunch of traffic, noticed plumes of whitish smoke after a bit of over run. Stopped for about 5 mins, no sign of oil or oil film on the back of the car. Revved the car a few times whilst stationary and no sign of anything.

Got back on the M5 for the 90 mile blast home and nothing, not even a wisp under acceleration.

Have not had chance to check oil level yet as it's dark, persistently raining and car are not being used tomorrow.

Any ideas, hopefully it is just a one off occurrence.

[Dilligaf10]

Definitely was not steam, too thick for that. Will check oil level later. Temp was ok and showing normal, had just done a 120 mile trip down the M5, drop 3 passengers and was on my way home.

[Dilligaf10]

Have found out that there is a possible duff batch of injectors in this engine from around 2006. Apparently the metal at the tip goes soft and dribbles fuel in hence the smoke. I am trying to find out more but the cure is a new set of injectors at around £2.5k !!

Have got a warranty on mine so will try to pursue it along those line. Has anyone else heard of anything about this?? Tame Technician?

[Dilligaf10]

White smoke usually signifies unburnt diesel so I am led to believe but will keep you posted.

[Dilligaf10]

Silverbullet767 said:

It happens in heavy traffic, I am travelling down a steep hill on a motorway (after 50 mins travel time), start/stop traffic, not using the throttle, when I pull off my junction at the bottom of the road and use the throttle I get clouds of smoke down the slip road and at the traffic lights at the bottom of the slip road. This smoke then engulfs the car at the traffic lights, when I pull away and give it some beans, I get smoke for a few seconds, this then vanishes after about 10 seconds of throttle.

Sounds like a leaky injector now, but I don't like the sound of replacing all 6 at a cost of £2500, can they be replaced individually?

Edited by Silverbullet767 on Tuesday 19th January 10:12

Exactly the same symptoms as I am getting. Apparently the injectors don't always seal properly and dribble excess fuel in at idle and the white smoke is the excess fuel being burnt off. The clouds of smoke are very embarrassing at times. Does not happen all the time thank goodness.

I assume the difficulty is isolating which injector is at fault and the strip down procedure will be the same if you are replacing 6 injectors or only one.