Sparks/Wisps (of red/orange stuff) coming from exhaust.

[Anth]

Hi Guys!

I never usually post must just normally sit quiet, but this actually scared me lastnight.

I was on the A1(m) on my way home from the Metrocentre and decided to give my car a bit welly. I looked behind seen the usual cloud of soot after booting; then noticed sparks or wisps coming from what seemed to be the exhaust.

Had to ask my mate who was in to back to confirm, and they were coming from the exhaust as i feared.

Is this the CAT breaking down or carbon deposits igniting inside the exhaust?
I know its not my turbo otherwise there would have been alot more smoke and no pull.

Just need to put my head at rest on this one

I have a Seat Ibiza FR 1.9 TDi (6L) with a custom remap.

Thanks.

 

[lawrieIbizaMk4]

this happened to a mate of mine's civic, looked like lava pouring out the exhaust. his was caused by the cat breaking and melting due to his remap (and raping up to redline in 3rd)

 

[JoeCav]

This might be why Revo (I know your car doesnt have Revo) wont do a Stage 2 without having turbo back. EGT's getting so high they just melt your cat, especially when giving it some pasty.

 

[vroomtshh]

It's just soot burning off. Happens all the time with mine

 

[Anth]

At first my mate sent the crappers up me by saying thats your turbo fins flying off, at that point i seen £££'s go out the window.

So nothing to worry about really?

 

[liam86]

At first my mate sent the crappers up me by saying thats your turbo fins flying off, at that point i seen £££'s go out the window.

So nothing to worry about really?

BANG would of been the situation there lol . as said more than likley bits of your cat

 

[Anth]

Bet it looked interesting from behind, who needs flame kit when the CAT's burning up and flying out the back

Thanks for the reassurance lads I'll put my toe down a bit more hehe.

 

[James_R]

It's just soot burning off. Happens all the time with mine

+1
seen a few ibizas do this with no problems afterwards.

 

[cupra.al]

It's just soot burning off. Happens all the time with mine

ive read the diesels do this when they have been driven gently for a while then get taken up to higher speeds.

 

[vroomtshh]

ive read the diesels do this when they have been driven gently for a while then get taken up to higher speeds.

Yep. I drive sensibly for work. Then when I give it some stick, the soot all loosens and comes out the back. I've had a few people stop me and tell me my turbo is broken

 

[cupra.al]

some of the vans at work get driven by old boys all year and when i take them in for mot i have to give them loads of stick to get all the soot out for the smoke test as they get driven so gently its great fun seeing all the smoke coming out the back.

 

[Damoegan]

Its carbon deposits being burnt off and completly normal..

 

[knight85]

mine does exactly the same (mk4/6L FR TDI..stage 1 remap, Milltek TBE). I drive gently to work, so as to get best MPG, all duel carriageway, current best is about 67.7 on a 23.7 mile journey door to door, but then on weekends i tend to drive it a tad more 'forcefully' to clear away the cobwebs, and quite a bit of smoke/soot comes out, especially over 3.5-4k

 

[Anth]

I think i need to put my foot down alot more then..
Will give it another run tonight, cos going back up n down the A1 lol.
Am sure its made it quicker somehow?

 

[fr930]

I drive gently to work, so as to get best MPG, all duel carriageway, current best is about 67.7 on a 23.7 mile journey door to door, but then on weekends i tend to drive it a tad more 'forcefully' to clear away the cobwebs, and quite a bit of smoke/soot comes out, especially over 3.5-4k

you're not the only one, exactly what i tend to do with a 40 mile round trip to uni everyday.

sometimes i reward myself for economic driving by booting it home... come to think of it, that means the eco run on the way in is pretty pointless lol.

 

[knight85]

haha i think that too...try beating ur best each day...i pray for green lights and a slow car to tail...can get about 70.6 then i hit a hill and the slow traffic...haha...sad aint i!

 

[fr930]

haha i think that too...try beating ur best each day...i pray for green lights and a slow car to tail...can get about 70.6 then i hit a hill and the slow traffic...haha...sad aint i!

yep, thers a sad sense of satisfaction with a high mpg at the end of your journey lol.
50mph, 6th gear, 1500 revs - usually does the job...

 

[Anth]

Tried to do the flaming soot thing again lastnight, must have cleaned it out the other day.

 

[Willsy33]

Just read this as it happened to me tonight after a bit of spirited driving along a very quiet stretch of the motorway. I thought it was the soot burning, or to a lesser extent the cat, but there's always that thought in the back of your mind it could be the turbo or something else! Off out again in a bit so I might just take it steady this time!

One thing though, it's pretty cool seeing it in the pitch black (no lights on in the section I was driving along).

 

[Anth]

Mine hasnt done this since my first post.
However i dont believe i had the turbo hot enough for it to burn the carbon deposits.
Lower IC issues