E46 320 Diesel Smoke
Discussion
Newbie here so be gentle please! I have a 2003 320 D E46 Compact,118K miles, which has been a peach since new.Only tyres, brakes and service parts being replaced to date. Fastidiously maintained with fully synthetic oil changes every 10K. Full maintenance service schedule followed to the letter.....egr valve cleaned every 2 oil change etc, you all know the drill! Anyway the last couple of months, the car after a rest of a couple of days or so will blow blue smoke - some days worse than others - on drive off for about 100 yards (sorry I'm old and can't do metric) and then clear completely. Only happens on load from drive off as no smoke on immediate start up and at idle. Subsequent use demonstrates the usual impeccable behaviour, that is, no smoke whatsover whatever the driving style - and yes I do use it's performance and still get 50 mpg!
I'm thinking either worn engine valve seals or turbo oil seals. Thing is, before I go to my reliable indy, which is it likely to be, so I can appear a little knowlegeable when making my approach. This car is a keeper so I would like to get it fixed before I'm hauled in front of the anti pollution police! The blue clouds would be impressive if I were driving a truck but I'd like to return to the normality of my pride and joy being faultless! Any advice you experts out there?
I'm thinking either worn engine valve seals or turbo oil seals. Thing is, before I go to my reliable indy, which is it likely to be, so I can appear a little knowlegeable when making my approach. This car is a keeper so I would like to get it fixed before I'm hauled in front of the anti pollution police! The blue clouds would be impressive if I were driving a truck but I'd like to return to the normality of my pride and joy being faultless! Any advice you experts out there?
Crankcase breather has dumped oil into the inet tracts. Inlets will be as bunged up with oil crud & carbon as a constipated camel, all caused by EGR hot gasses working their magic on the oil residue.
You'll be astonished at what will come out of when cleaned!!!
Fit new breathers & filters, get it cleaned & it should be ok.
This is what it'll look like
You'll be astonished at what will come out of when cleaned!!!
Fit new breathers & filters, get it cleaned & it should be ok.
This is what it'll look like
Edited by cptsideways on Saturday 19th December 19:50
cptsideways said:
Crankcase breather has dumped oil into the inet tracts. Inlets will be as bunged up with oil crud & carbon as a constipated camel, all caused by EGR hot gasses working their magic on the oil residue.
You'll be astonished at what will come out of when cleaned!!!
Fit new breathers & filters, get it cleaned & it should be ok.
This is what it'll look like
Jesus Christ! Forgive my ignorance, but is this something that only effects diesels, or can petrol cars clog up like that? I've heard of "carbon deposits" before, but I've never seen a picture of a crudded up manifold, that is shocking! You'll be astonished at what will come out of when cleaned!!!
Fit new breathers & filters, get it cleaned & it should be ok.
This is what it'll look like
Edited by cptsideways on Saturday 19th December 19:50
Cheers
cptsideways said:
I've seen on my own cars clogging up just like that!! 2 x VW Tdi's, several Mazda TD's & a BMW 320d, the only thing that removes it after bashing it out is overn cleaner!
All with EGR that is the root cause of the problem.
Appologies for highjacking the thread, but is an 06 VW 1.9Tdi Polo succeptable to this? If so after how many miles? I drive it like a granny as its just used for commuting. Is it true that driving like a granny encourages deposit build up as you are not driving it hard enough to "blow the cobwebs out"?All with EGR that is the root cause of the problem.
Cheers
Toilet Duck said:
cptsideways said:
I've seen on my own cars clogging up just like that!! 2 x VW Tdi's, several Mazda TD's & a BMW 320d, the only thing that removes it after bashing it out is overn cleaner!
All with EGR that is the root cause of the problem.
Appologies for highjacking the thread, but is an 06 VW 1.9Tdi Polo succeptable to this? If so after how many miles? I drive it like a granny as its just used for commuting. Is it true that driving like a granny encourages deposit build up as you are not driving it hard enough to "blow the cobwebs out"?All with EGR that is the root cause of the problem.
Cheers
I've cleaned out several 1.9 tdi's Polo, Cordoba, Passat & all were like that with between 80-150k. EGR works at variable revs & an Italian tune up dooes'nt really effect it.
If you remove the EGR valve (20 min job) you'll soon see whats inside
cptsideways said:
Toilet Duck said:
cptsideways said:
I've seen on my own cars clogging up just like that!! 2 x VW Tdi's, several Mazda TD's & a BMW 320d, the only thing that removes it after bashing it out is overn cleaner!
All with EGR that is the root cause of the problem.
Appologies for highjacking the thread, but is an 06 VW 1.9Tdi Polo succeptable to this? If so after how many miles? I drive it like a granny as its just used for commuting. Is it true that driving like a granny encourages deposit build up as you are not driving it hard enough to "blow the cobwebs out"?All with EGR that is the root cause of the problem.
Cheers
I've cleaned out several 1.9 tdi's Polo, Cordoba, Passat & all were like that with between 80-150k. EGR works at variable revs & an Italian tune up dooes'nt really effect it.
If you remove the EGR valve (20 min job) you'll soon see whats inside
Thanks for the info so far, much appreciated!
cptsideways said:
Thank you very much, you're a star!I'll print that off and file it away. I might have a go when I've next got some free time, but as my car has only done 35K I suspect it might not be crudded up too bad yet. However, I will definately have a go at some time.
Once again, many thanks!
Edited by Toilet Duck on Monday 21st December 12:16
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff