bluish/white smoke from exhaust.

[Mel D]

Hi I have been getting every morning on start up large amounts of bluish/whitish smoke coming out of the exhaust,it smells alittle.
Does anyone have any idea what this could be.
Thanks in advance

 

[revo carl]

copied from vwdiesel.net

"Blue-white smoke may be noticed at engine start-up whether the engine is at normal operating temperature or not. Blue-white smoke can be observed at all ambient temperatures and should not last longer than a minute or two after the vehicle has been driven. Blue-white smoke can return when ambient temperature is below 10 degrees C (50 degrees F), and after the engine is warmed up due to extended idling. This is due to combustion chambers cooling own during periods of extended idling time. Heavy blue-white smoke may also occur if the engine is operated at full throttle with the transmission in neutral or park. If you see continuous Blue-white smoke while driving, then you probably have air being sucked into the fuel system. "

hope that's of some help!

 

[Toxic]

what Altea do you have? TDI or Petrol?

if its a TDI then whiteish smoke is unburnt diesel fuel on startup. are you allowing the Glow plug light to go out before you start the engine? does your engine strtup straight away or turn over a few times first of all.

if you have a Petrol then it could be oil.

 

[Mel D]

I have a 56 reg 2.0 litre diesel and the bluish/white smoke happens every morning from cold, the engine starts first time and it smells a little oily but I am wandering whether it could be the turbo on its way out can anyone advise on this.
Thanks in advance

 

[Toxic]

I suppose it could be your egr valve clogged up.

 

[andyj]

Can you confirm if you allow the 'glow-plug' light on the dash to go out, before you turn the key and start the engine in the morning?

Diesels need to have the glow-plugs pre-heated before you start the engine, which is why you need to let the light go off on the dash before starting it up.

 

[Toxic]

do you have any problem starting the Altea first thing in the morning at all?

 

[Mel D]

I didn't know that you had to wait for the glow plug light to go out on the dash before you started the car,I will try this tomorrow Thanks.
Also the car turns over a couple of times before starting.

 

[Toxic]

if you let the glow plug light go out then start, this indicates the top of the cylinder has been preheated to the correct temp for ignition to start. if you just turn the key it would take a few turns to start since the cylinder temp is cold, therefore you get unburnt fuel thrown out of the exhaust alias your "white smoke"

 

[Mel D]

I have now waited for the glowplug light to go out before starting the car,but I still have the bluish/white smoke, has anyone got any more ideas on why this happens?
Thanks

 

[Mel D]

Hi, I took the Altea XL to the seat dealership along with a video of the bluish/white smoke from the exhaust,they said that this is normal,but I have had a 1.9 diesel leon and an altea and I haven't had that problem with those cars.
I am a little concerned with the turbo because it is a little loud and whiney.
The only good thing about it was my courtesy car was a new leon ecomotive in white with the green stickers on it,very nice!
Anyway has anyone got any more ideas about the bluish smoke and the turbo?
Thanks

 

[Mel D]

Here is a short video of the smoke,which the Seat service manager says is normal.
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[dubstar_71]

that is a *little* blue yeh, a little bit of oil leaking out of somewhere. does your car use oil? how many miles and how do you drive? slow and off turbo or normal on and off turbo or rag it? ideally video it whilst behind it after its warmed up, under a bit of load (ie: boot it) and see if there still is any smoke other than sooty smoke as per usual diesels, *could* be turbo seals if its constant smoking, wouldnt think its the rings or owt, but yeh the egr might be a little clogged if used on short journeys...

 

[CrispDust]

I'd say that is normal if that's all you get. Does it do it when you start with a hot engine?

 

[CrispDust]

It could be possibly a smidge of oil from turbo seals that "leaks" when engine cools down.
Keep a very careful eye on the oil level.
Mine has the police siren whine but i don't think its the turbo.

 

[Mel D]

Hi, I have been to Seat and they still say that the bluish/white smoke is normal and cannot do anything about it, I have told them about all the advice you have given me on the forum about a leak from the seals in the turbo but are not willing to take the turbo apart for a look, so I told them if it blows up I'll BE BACK.