Tdi fr 170 white smoke on tickover

i4nsmith

Guest
To me this sounds like mention above turbo seals but u say its not using oil all the other symptoms say it though idle for about 10 mins when at running temp and starts smoking then stops when driving away thick white smoke. As for dpf regenerations i thought u drove it in 4th or 5th gear at 1.5k-2.5k revs for afew miles where did u get 3k revs for 20 mins from
Yes it does have the symptoms of the turbo seals but I would have thought that would have caused blue smoke and at least some oil usage. As for the regeneration from what I can gather(this is not confirmed so don't shoot me if I'm wrong) the passive regeneration is just a process that happens when the engine is upto temperature and the flow of the hot exhaust gases through the dpf durns the soot and reduces it to ash so technically you're right a few miles at 2k rpm may be enough to clear it out but if I'm doing 3k rpm for 15mins, hotter gases and increased flow might clean it better?
Cheers for all the replies though like I say it's helping me think aloud and clearing up a few things I' didn't know.
 
Apr 13, 2011
1,971
1
hull
Sounds like what my Cupra tdi is doing can I ask does it do it when u set off slowly to about 1,5k revs then clear up till u stop and let it tick over again
 
Apr 13, 2011
1,971
1
hull
If it is the same as what I have asked above like my Cupra tdi then cheak all ur boost pipe because I looked over mine and found a boost pipe was leaking
 

stevie502

Guest
Yes it does have the symptoms of the turbo seals but I would have thought that would have caused blue smoke and at least some oil usage. As for the regeneration from what I can gather(this is not confirmed so don't shoot me if I'm wrong) the passive regeneration is just a process that happens when the engine is upto temperature and the flow of the hot exhaust gases through the dpf durns the soot and reduces it to ash so technically you're right a few miles at 2k rpm may be enough to clear it out but if I'm doing 3k rpm for 15mins, hotter gases and increased flow might clean it better?
Cheers for all the replies though like I say it's helping me think aloud and clearing up a few things I' didn't know.

It would only use the old when it smokes if u were driving it all the time and not allowing it 2 smoke it wont use oil. As for the regen if the revs are to high it wont carry a regen out im am in the motor trade and thats wot i am led to believe plus its in the manual thats how u need 2 drive it if the emission light cums on the dash
 

i4nsmith

Guest
Sounds like what my Cupra tdi is doing can I ask does it do it when u set off slowly to about 1,5k revs then clear up till u stop and let it tick over again
Yeah It does seem to be similar, did yours have a strong smell as well as a few people have commented on mine?
I will check the hoses onto the turbo and check for oil when I service it.
 

Marshall

Active Member
Jul 7, 2008
3,256
6
Bonnie Scotland
Could egr not cause the smell and the smoke?
I know at idle they egr a very high percentage and smells like an acid smell.
Seems very strange you have no other problems


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Wellsy

GTI ED35
Feb 8, 2010
135
0
Yorkshire
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We have a focus that was an early car to have the DPF, and there is a warning in the handbook that if the DPF is in regen there can be white smoke emitted from the exhaust. However, I don't know whether the Focus DPF works in the same way. And mine has never done what yours is doing, even a small amount!
 

i4nsmith

Guest
I had thought about egr valve but don't know if there's any way of checking it out. I have seen in another thread about a stuttering when accelerating and he fitted a smaller gasket to the recirculation pipe to reduce the amount of exhaust gases that get re-used. I could try that I suppose as the gasket is only a few quid. It is a acidy type of smell, and every now and then it does stutter about 1500 revs when accelerating but it clears up after the 10 - 15 mins at 2k revs.
Will I've got 2 weeks in Cyprus in which I won't even give the car a second thought and investigate it when I get back, thanks for all the replies its gave me a few things to try before I have to bite the bullet and spend some of my hard earned cash on it.
 

daryl_john1987

Active Member
Nov 16, 2012
15
0
Hi j4nsmith

i know you posted this a while ago, but my car has all the exact problems that yours does. im just wondering if you have sorted it now, if so what was the cause? and the solution? any hep would be amazing as i dont have a clue. some people are saying its piston rings.

thank you
 

i4nsmith

Guest
No I didn't get it sorted and its still doing it, probably a little worse if anything. I did put the smaller gasket on the egr valve to reduce the amount of exhaust gases that get recirculated and it improved the performance but the white smoke Is still there on tickover.
I also went to my local seat garage and had a word with a mechanic but he was as confused as I am, I still have the feeling its dpf related so I'm taking it to a tuning place to get a diagnostic check done with a view to having the dpf removed and a remap. I explained the problem to the owner/mechanic and he said it could be the cam timing being slightly out but that would show up on a diagnostic, so hopefully I should have an answer pretty soon.
Sorry I can't help with your problem more but i'll update here when I find out myself.
 

daryl_john1987

Active Member
Nov 16, 2012
15
0
I don't think it's the dpf mate, I've had mine removed and all the ecu programming deleted so It won't regenerate or go into limp mode. My PDF is completely gutted. The only thing a local garage said is it could be piston rings. But mines a 58 plate with 38k on the clock. My car is booked in for the injector recall eat. Hopping that might make a difference.
 

Lordlucan

Active Member
Jan 28, 2013
38
0
I've had similar symptoms, albeit with a turbo petrol car and it turned out to be the oil seals on the turbo. At tickover the turbo wasn't spinning and oil was seeping past. Check the pipes on the pressure side of the turbo for any signs of oil

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Lordlucan

Active Member
Jan 28, 2013
38
0
Its undoubtedly a turbo out job an you would probably be best sourcing a second hand or reconditioned unit to fit straight away. Some places offer reduced price reconditioned ones on an exchange basis (as in, you send them the fooked one back).

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daryl_john1987

Active Member
Nov 16, 2012
15
0
is there anyway of finding this out before doing any of that? my car has done 38k on a58 plate. surely doesnt need a new turbo. did yours have all the symptoms I.e. smelling and only slight smoke on idle and start up. of a white colour.
 

Lordlucan

Active Member
Jan 28, 2013
38
0
The way to tell is to look inside the pipes between the turbo and inlet manifold. If they are coated in oil, you have your answer

My cars only symptom was thick white smoke on idle and a bit on start up.

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daryl_john1987

Active Member
Nov 16, 2012
15
0
just thought id keep you updated. iv just had the problem sorted.....

ring seat and ask them whether your car has an outstanding recall
for the common injector problem. mine was outstanding and I just
had all four injectors replaced for free. its a common fault with our
deisel engines.

while they did that I asked them to have a look at the turbo and see why
it was smoming at idle. they said the seal they break to do the Injectors
sometimes leaks and when they re-sealed it the leak was stopped hence
I am happy to say my car no longer smokes :)

I hope this is of help. its been annoying me too for ages. I hope you get
yours sorted soon.
 

Lordlucan

Active Member
Jan 28, 2013
38
0
Glad you have an answer and that the result was relatively simple and free!

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i4nsmith

Guest
Yeah pleased you got sorted, mine had the injector recall done last year and I mentioned about the smoke when I put it in to the dealers and he said it might be the injectors but it was the same when I got it back. It could be the seals and when the seat dealer renewed the injectors they haven't sealed them properly so I will mention it when I get it put on the diagnostic machine.
Thanks for updating me though its made think again about it being dpf related
On a side note did you notice much of a difference with the dpf delete and remap?
 
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