Burning Smell and Smoke After Long Drive (Mondeo ST TDCi)
Discussion
Drove the family back from Cumbria (320 miles stopping twice) in the Mondeo ST (TDCi).
When we came off the last stretch of motorway, I detected a slight burning smell (almost like the the smell I got when I plugged a 12v device into a 24v supply!). I immediately looked around because I hoped it wasn't us, but noticed a few clouds of smoke rising up from below the car. Yep, it was us alright. The traffic started to move and we continued homeward.
Temperature guage: normal; power: no change; drive: normal. But stopping at a set of traffic lights and the same again: burning smell (slightly electrical and slightly plastic/rubber). Smoke from under the car (front) now unmistakable. Luckily we didn't have far to go at that point, so if we were about to break down I would rather it happened nearer home, so continued the last leg which, has to be said, was as if there was nothing wrong with the car at all. The burning smell and smoke only apparent when stationary.
Got the car (and family!) home and left the car on idle for a minute; the smoke and burning smell still there. Switched her off and the burning smell (which, by now was more like a smouldering lump of wood in a stove). The smoke was definitely not steam although there was a slight 'split hose' water smell to it at times. It was dark, so visiblity was shyte, and even with a torch I could only see the smoke rising up from the right-hand-side of the engine (underneath) where the gearbox meets the engine. I did have a look underneath the car but all I could see was black plastic (but no signs of anything burnt, or burning). The smouldering continued for a few minutes (about five, I'd say). The car started as normal.
I don't think the smell was the clutch although when I was doing my best 'Master Chef' impression over the engine, my 'palette' did pick up a slightly acrid undertone. The burning I would best describe was more like synthetic wood: slightly charcoally, a bit wooden stove.
All this has made me hungry. I read something that suggests that it might be something to do with the DPF?
When we came off the last stretch of motorway, I detected a slight burning smell (almost like the the smell I got when I plugged a 12v device into a 24v supply!). I immediately looked around because I hoped it wasn't us, but noticed a few clouds of smoke rising up from below the car. Yep, it was us alright. The traffic started to move and we continued homeward.
Temperature guage: normal; power: no change; drive: normal. But stopping at a set of traffic lights and the same again: burning smell (slightly electrical and slightly plastic/rubber). Smoke from under the car (front) now unmistakable. Luckily we didn't have far to go at that point, so if we were about to break down I would rather it happened nearer home, so continued the last leg which, has to be said, was as if there was nothing wrong with the car at all. The burning smell and smoke only apparent when stationary.
Got the car (and family!) home and left the car on idle for a minute; the smoke and burning smell still there. Switched her off and the burning smell (which, by now was more like a smouldering lump of wood in a stove). The smoke was definitely not steam although there was a slight 'split hose' water smell to it at times. It was dark, so visiblity was shyte, and even with a torch I could only see the smoke rising up from the right-hand-side of the engine (underneath) where the gearbox meets the engine. I did have a look underneath the car but all I could see was black plastic (but no signs of anything burnt, or burning). The smouldering continued for a few minutes (about five, I'd say). The car started as normal.
I don't think the smell was the clutch although when I was doing my best 'Master Chef' impression over the engine, my 'palette' did pick up a slightly acrid undertone. The burning I would best describe was more like synthetic wood: slightly charcoally, a bit wooden stove.
All this has made me hungry. I read something that suggests that it might be something to do with the DPF?
Have been out and had a look under natural light and the smell of a burning/small fire is unmistakable.
I can see some charred remains of something resting on the trays below and possibly even a mark on the manifold (or its shield) where something resting against it (or even landed on it) has burned.
f
k knows what it is/was because the car starts fine and comes up to temp sweet as a nut.
I can see some charred remains of something resting on the trays below and possibly even a mark on the manifold (or its shield) where something resting against it (or even landed on it) has burned.
f
k knows what it is/was because the car starts fine and comes up to temp sweet as a nut. Sounds like it could be something to do with the DPF, assuming you have one.
Being an ST I assume it's a MK3? I could be wrong but I think it's unlikely your MK3 has a DPF. It will be fitted with a regular cat if not and that's unlikely to cause the problems you mention.
If it DOES have a DPF then it could well be the problem. I had similar symptoms with my MK4 TDCI and it was DPF regen-related.
Being an ST I assume it's a MK3? I could be wrong but I think it's unlikely your MK3 has a DPF. It will be fitted with a regular cat if not and that's unlikely to cause the problems you mention.
If it DOES have a DPF then it could well be the problem. I had similar symptoms with my MK4 TDCI and it was DPF regen-related.
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