My '00 1.9L 115bhp PD TDI with 77,000 miles had a head gasket replacement last year. Afterwards it started to smoke (white/blue) heavily when idling - v. noticeable in traffic queues, cars behind would back off!
There's strong 'sooty' smell but no loss of coolant or oil, performance is unaffected and fuel economy hasn't suffered; the car drives normally.
The headgasket was replaced last year (due to coolant loss) c/w valve stem oil seals done at the time and again since. EGR valve, hoses all checked and OK.
Local independent VW/Audi specialist is now suggesting replacing the turbo saying it's either that or the bottom end. I't's becoming big money so advice welcomed.
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radar35
There's been reports of the PD injectors "hosing" and not atomizing the diesel correctly. Apparently, it can cause localized bore wear too.
That's just one possibility that would give that symptom. A compression test would check some of the others.
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I wouldn't say it was the injectors.
It does sound like turbo trouble so I would tend to agree with your independent - also he's had the advantage of actually looking at the car.
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Mmmm... either way it's going to be expensive. The turbo isn't available on exchange and the injectors on the PD engine cost the earth - and if I have the turbo replaced and it's the injectors (or somethig else).......
What narks me is that my wife's TDI ('97 110bhp Saloon with 183K miles) has been entirely trouble-free engine-wise.
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If it was the bottonm end you would hear it under acceleration a loud rap and it would not cause smoke(maybe out of the breather),why should it be the turbo its not running on idle,you say its not using oil or water so that leaves fuel.There are plenty of firms who do the turbos look in auto trader.
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TurboTechnics tell me this particular turbo isn't available on exchange and I haven't found it offered on any turbo specialists' web sites.
The VAG part number is 028 145 702R (the Garrett number is hard to see, looks like GT1749V plus another number I can't read at all) so if someone has one, or knows where I can obtain one for less than £600, I'd be delighted!
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"It started to smoke (white/blue) heavily when idling"
This was one of the symptoms of my 306 HDi's problem, which my indie cured (while replacing cambelt) by adjusting the camshaft timing (see my thread '306 HDi - sooty exhaust' probably 2 or 3 pages down). I now wonder why (or how) the timing went out of adjustment - was it slop developing in a crankshaft pulley? There seems no reason to doubt the turbo as all symptoms seem cured, as far as I can see so far.
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Really it could be lots of things, including injector timing. You really need to get it looked at by someone who understands these engines - a Diesel specialist.
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I have just come across this at
tdiclub.com/old-msgs/97-2tdi.htm
and it may or may not be relevant. If irrelevant, the site may be worth a visit anyway.
"SMOKING TDIs OR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
VW has recently put out a notice to all dealerships to coorect the excessvie smoking problem that some of you TDI owners have experience. The recall calls for replacing the ECM unit, this is the module that reads all the environmental settings and controls fuel injection etc. They will also replace all four injectors. Basically your TDI was running a little rich, thus excess smoke. Since I have had this procedure performed on my 1996 TDI I have not been able to detect any diesel smoke, it is running extremely clean and fuel efficiency is still climbing up. Don't let your dealer tell you anything different. VW may be a little reluctant to do this to every car since the total bill was around $1,300 USD."
"Tech. Service Bulletin (TSB) 97-02 (supercedes 97-01 of Jan. 28, '97)
Date: Feb. 19, 1997
Subject: Exhaust Smoke, Intermittently Visible
Models: Passat with engine code 1Z, 1996, Turbo Direct Injection (TDI)
Condition: Visible smoke from exhaust system when accelerating (e.g., taking off from a stop or when shifting gears).
Replace Engine Control Module (ECM) with Part No. 028 906 021 GQ
Replace injectors 1,2, and 4 with Part No. 028 130 202P
Replace injector No. 3 with Part No. 028 130 202Q
Replace injector sealing washers Part No. 046 130 219A
Transfer ECM data via scan tool. Start engine, check for leaks, road test."
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Some interesting leads - thanks.
As the heavy smoke only started after the head gasket was replaced I'm wondering if the timing could be out, worth following up.
It doesn't smoke when accelerating, only when idling so I doubt the VW Tech Bulletin info. is relevent however right now I'll read anything to do with TDIs and smoke!
The car is due to go back in later this week; I'll keep you posted on developments.
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Update: all injectors have been swapped - no reduction in smoke. My idea that it might be camshaft timing is ruled out; if cam timing was out that would have led to an increase in black smoke (fuel) not blue smoke (oil).
Car goes in again on Monday....
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