Puff Of Smoke Changing Gear

[grifjl]

Driving behind my wife last week I noted a small puff of smoke from the exhaust on her gear changes (1.9Tdi VW Sharan). Not a lot, and barely discernible without concentrating. No noticeable build up of deposits on exhaust.

 

Car was cold at the time and has just recently had first service.

 

Any ideas if something may be wrong?

 

Read something along the lines that it may be excess unburnt diesel? May explain why we're only getting 450 miles from a tank.

[Guest SA Intruder]

The vehicle is new-ish then?

 

What is the trip computer telling you in terms of cumulative consumption?

 

You are likely to get some smoke. Diesels are far cleaner burning than they used to be, but will still produce particulates.

 

Your fuel consumption seems heavy. The Sharan I had as a demo for 1000 miles or so gave just under 600 miles to the tank (65.9 litres refill on that occasion). The trip was showing 41.9 mpg average over 1600 miles.

[Guest Boggler]

Is it blue or black smoke? If it's a newish vehicle then Oil (blue smoke) may get past the rings until they bed in, also you'll find you''l get more mpg as everything beds in. If it is a new vehicle I would suggest you don't worry too much about it until there are a few miles on the clock.

[Guest shackers]

Could also be the booster heater, it's known and not a problem.

 

Like SA I asks, What Year is the Vehicle?

 

Like Mr Boggler :( says.. what colour is the smoke

 

If It's white, again nothing to worry about, it's water vapour.

 

shackers

[Guest shackers]

:(

[grifjl]

8 month old ex-demo with 8,500 on the clock.

 

It's blue smoke.

 

Wife is covering most of mileage with cold engine (to and from school and gym), i.e. 15 minute bursts five or six times a day in Urban setting.

 

I noted that the trip had 33mpg on it when I got it. Zeroed that and wife has been getting around 36 mpg on average. There again I get 44mpg when I drive it in the same setting (but then she has points on her licence and I don't)!!!!!!

 

Literally just spoke to her on 'phone and she says since I pointed out the mpg reader she has been getting better mileage as she has 'learnt' how to adapt to the car.

 

Anyway, I will drive behind her again tomorrow and see what happens.

 

Thanks for interest.

[Guest SA Intruder]

I agree. Your MPG on trip is about right.

 

You can check whether your consuming much oil by checking the sump level periodically.

 

Short journeys when cold will ruin consumption, and the engine is known to burn some oil at low mileages until the rings bed-in as stated above.

 

I have heard of the bores being only lightly honed from new on this engine, which will extend the mileage required to bed. Not something to worry about unless the oil consumption does become significant.

[grifjl]

Thanks. Will have a look at oil. Usually only check once every 8 weeks, but will check weekly for the next couple of months.

 

Amazing how a free website puts one's mind at ease way quicker than an expensive dealership.

[Guest emjay]

As a newby to Galaxy's I don't know how much oil useage is considered to be acceptable on the V6.

 

Mine had an engine rebuild just before I got it and it uses about 1L per 1000 miles, should I be concerned?

[Guest Barrye]

emjay

 

1L/1000 miles is reasonably high, but not excessive. On new cars dealers won't do anything unless it is greater than 1L every 600 miles ( 1000km) or so. As you said your engine has had a rebuild I guess it has quite a lot of miles on the clock - or went bang.

 

As long as the oil consumption is steady I wouldn't worry about it.

 

If your still worried get an emissions check done on the car.

 

 

 

Barry

[Guest Andy]

Valve stem oil seals being dodgy or cold can cause this to happen,due to the vast vacuum caused by the air/fuel mixture being sucked in on the induction stroke of the engine,thus drawing a small amount of oil through the seal,it does'nt take long for the rubber seals to go hard from heating up,going cold repeatedly,they go from being soft (ish) rubber to ridged plastic in next to no time..:(

[grifjl]

Took car in for a number of things to be looked at.

 

The technician has done a test on the exhaust and says it is all OK. Well I guess I live and learn, Diesels are still dirty then!!!

 

Anyway, I noted that the Oil level seemed very high. Tested when hot, warm and cold and always got a reading way over the top mark-though I am not getting a clean line on the dipstick it looks like the stick has been swirled around in the oil before I pull it up (and yes I have cleaned it previously!) - which it has not!! The technician says it is OK. I guess I am just a muppett??