Smokey Cupra TDI

[robv160]

Hey,

Anyone got some advice for a smokey Cupra TDI? The smoke dosent seem to be black more gray-but it's hard to tell when your driving! The smoking seems to be fairly inconsistant as somedays it's what I'd expect i.e some smoke when booting it/heavy load etc and other days it's like a chimney!

I have had somebody follow me when it's bad and they say that theres way too much smoke when booting it and even when just cruising it is quite visible and slowly coming out. It seems to be worst on dry warm days.

Using BP/shell instead of the crap round where I live can help but dosent always.

I've had it to my local seat dealer and they think it's fine, they had it on the diagnostics machine and nothing came up and they checked what was actually coming out of the exhaust and that was fine to. On that particular day it seemed to behave it's self though which made my argument less convicing!

I've had a search on here and it seems a boost leak or dodgy sensor could be a possible cause.

So my questions are:

1. What's other cupra tdi owners experince with this?
2. Any suggestions as to what I can ask the garage to check?
3. Is this just how the 1.9 tdi is??

Cheers Rob

 

[aaronbromley]

As you say, a boost leak or dodgy sensor, but i would have though the dealer would have picked up on this, as I believe a fault code would be triggered.
This is quite a common experience with diesels, this question pops up quite often on my forum.
Having not seen the smoke from your car have you tried any diesel treatment? such as Wynns diesel injector cleaner or Millers Power Sport 4? I use Miller occasionally now but before hand i would use Wynns, I noticed a rapid decrease in smoke.

I sometimes also give the car a good clear out (when as safe as possible to do so).

 

[Bondiblu]

I removed and cleaned the intake manifold on mine, that made a big difference.

 

[robv160]

Cool, getting the car serviced this weekend so I'll ask for some injector clearner to be used to see if that helps, also going to try and get hold of some silicon dielectric grease-I've read on here (possibly in the TDI tuning section) that this stuff helps the car start better run smoother and reduces smoking.

Anyone else use this silicon dielectric grease stuff????

 

[Bondiblu]

Cool, getting the car serviced this weekend so I'll ask for some injector clearner to be used to see if that helps, also going to try and get hold of some silicon dielectric grease-I've read on here (possibly in the TDI tuning section) that this stuff helps the car start better run smoother and reduces smoking.

Anyone else use this silicon dielectric grease stuff????

I'm using some millers Power Sport 4, and I've used some dielectric grease on connectors and my Cupra's still smokey especially when I boot it , It has been mapped though. As I've recently aquired this "beast", I'm going to check the state of the intake manifold, as I said above it made a noticeable difference on my TDI 130 Sport.

 

[robv160]

Hey,

Cheers for the advice, I have been using some injector cleaner although can't remember what type it is off the top of my head but seems to have done the trick as my car is at a much more acceptable level at the mo!

Will check the intake manifold as well and see what it's like. By the by the dielectric grease have you not noticed any improvemnets over standard stuff then?? has anyone for that matter??

 

[UncleFester]

If you have a search, TonyK had a boost leak from the pipes that join the intercooler behind the bumper - his was smoking more than it should have been and was a bit down on power. Boost leak somewhere would be my first check too.

IIRC you can get the pipework pressure tested for this at any good garage.

How many miles has it done out of interest and what age is it?

 

[robv160]

my car is a 56 plate and has 42k on it. Thanks for the advice mate, I'll check the boost leak thing at my local just to eliminate it.

 

[Bondiblu]

my car is a 56 plate and has 42k on it. Thanks for the advice mate, I'll check the boost leak thing at my local just to eliminate it.

I popped the intercooler hose off the EGR and had a look and now I'm sure I'll be stripping and cleaning this one too (it's filthy and oily with loads of build up). I never got around to doing the catch tank on my TDI sport, so might do it on the Cupra.

Mines a 56 with 40K on the clock , Think I'll check my boost pipes over the weekend aswell, just to be sure. Suppose I'll need to remove the bumper to check the connections on the IC?

 

[UncleFester]

That's what I saw the garage do when they checked his.

 

[Nath.]

^^^^^IIRC they pump it up with a compressor and listen for hissing/ watch the needle. Quite clever I thought.