Touareg 3.0 TDI smoke on idle

[rich12]

The car is a 2006 3.0 TDI V6 with 108k on it.

Only bought the car a week ago from the gent who has owned it all its life (maybe this is why he sold it).

Got in the car this morning, got onto the M1 and there was a crash so pretty much stationary traffic. Looked in my rear view mirror and smoke (it was dark but just looked like normal browny smoke) was coming from the rear on idle.
Quite a lot but not exactly bellowing out.

As soon as I started moving, it clears up and under any load, there was no smoke to be seen, only when idling.

I did notice on the way home on Friday that when I pulled away from a bit of traffic after idling, there was a tiny amount of smoke when pulling away but nothing like this morning.

Got the car running right now and it's up to temp and there's a bit of smoke coming out the exhausts. Just revved it a bit and more comes out but is that just clearing out what might be stuck in the exhaust?
Just smells like a dirty diesel and isn't blue/white in colour.

Any ideas?

Edited by rich12 on Monday 6th January 10:07

[rich12]

Demelitia said:

Is it well serviced, decent air filter, decent diesel in the tank etc? Might be worth giving it a general once over, some fancy diesel in the tank combined with your choice of snake oil and then an Italian tune up and see if it improves.
Is the guy you bought it off likely to have stretched it’s legs at all do you reckon?
I’m not sure if the engine is variable vane or twin turbo. If it’s the former it’s possible it’s gunked up through lack of exercise. Any other symptoms; Lack of power, poor consumption of crap idle?

It was well serviced up to about 18 months ago but as it's only done 10k since it's last service I think the guy hasn't bothered.
Just getting a wheel bearing replaced then was going to do a oil/filter change.

I did wonder if it was just lack of use but didn't want to get my hopes up.
There is no lack of power, idles perfectly etc, just dirty smoke coming out.

I did want to change the oil and go all Italian on it but didn't want to just incase it was the turbo or similar and I completely reck it.

It was last MOT'd in Feb and has done less than 2,000 miles since then.

Oh and the oil is very black (Perfect amount but very black when looking on the dipstick/cap)

Edited by rich12 on Monday 6th January 14:32

[rich12]

That's a very helpful post so thanks.

Picked it up from the garage this evening and got onto a dual carriage way and kept going up and down the gears and no smoke at all. Got to traffic on the M1 and couldn't see any so hopefully I can service it tomorrow and go out for a proper blast and see if that helps.

Either it will help or I'll be calling the AA with a very serious engine issue.

[rich12]

Demelitia said:

That’s good to hear; hopefully it just needed the cobwebs blowing away. Let us know if it goes back to smoking.

I'll let you know after my daily 1 hour 22 mile adventure on the glorious m1.

[rich12]

Nothing to report this morning but the traffic wasn't too bad so not a direct comparison.

Have changed the oil which desperately needed doing so hopefully that helps things.
I'd love to know why VW thought it would be a good idea to put the sump plug directly above a cross member. Oil went EVERYWHERE!!

[rich12]

It's happening still. Obviously haven't had similar styles of traffic.

Only ever happens when stuck in traffic for more than say a minute and once I start driving it will stop doing it.
Googling comes up with valve stem seals but it never does it on start up or when the engine isnt up to temp.

[rich12]

It's definitely not steam. Looks and smells like dirty diesel car smoke.

[rich12]

I tried to do an Italian tune up the other night and managed to break it. Came up with exhaust workshop light and a load of codes but reset them and nothing has come back again so a bit wary of doing another one of those.


And cylinder 1 and 4 too.

[rich12]

GreenV8S said:

Spirited driving shouldn't cause error codes, so the codes you saw could be a clue to the problem. Did you save them?

I cleared them but obviously took those photos if that's what you mean by saving them?

In regards to a dirty diesel smell.. You know when you see proper ropey old diesel cars when they floor it and you're left with a plume of smoke behind it.. That!
Just so I can get it out my head, is it possible for there to be a blockage somewhere and unless the car is under load, it can't get through the exhaust?

[rich12]

E-bmw said:

No.

If anything the opposite is possible in that at higher loads it is possible for a cat to be blocked enough to not flow enough exhaust gas & to limit the performance.

Hmm maybe I'll look into the egr fault then.
I hope it's nothing too serious (expensive) as I really like this car but having just spent £600 on wheel bearings and an oil service, I don't have much money to spend on it.

[rich12]

Oh dear. Maybe I'll have a root around on Monday then and then I'll decide whether to get rid or not.

Should've just bought a rx400h!