2006 A6 Avant 3.0 tdi 225bhp Emissions warning and lots of smoke at idle

[A6-Tim]

Hello forum. My first post after lots of stalking over the years I've owned my 2006 A6 Avant 3.0 tdi. You've helped fix water leaks, sat navigation, burst washer lines and more.

Currently on holiday in South of France. Relevant as on the Autoroute drive down the emissions warning light came on during an empty stretch just after cornering and acceleration down a joining ramp. Co driver checked the manual and no immediate stress as it effectively suggested taking car to dealer when next convenient.

Thought nothing more and continued to drive south not hammering it. and rarely going over 80 mph.

Then after long section of stop start queueing to a toll noticed plumes of thick white smoke from rear exhausts - so much so it was getting serious attention from other drivers.

At normal speed it's tricky to tell but I can't see any evidence of smoke and the car is driving well

Filled up twice now with French diesel from main Autoroute stops (Shell) so don't think that is an issue - acceleration etc still fine.

Car has 128,000 on the clock

Any help / guidancewould be very much appreciated. I do have AdmiralEuropean cover if necessary but wondering about local French audi/vw specialists or audi main dealer in Marsielle but suspect a) challenges with language and b) mega expenseif I have to go down this route

Car has been serviced regularly at recommended intervals

Thanks in advance and hope this first in the forum complies with the rules 😊

Regards A6-Tim

[rowdy-999]

Hello.
Plumes of white smoke ,usually after idling, tends to point to faulty injector(s). Yours has an emissions light on as well....errm. You don't have a DPF, so it could be a EGR problem?

[B5NUT]

Normal injector failure for that age of car and the EGR is clogged up. plenty of threads about both.

['WG']

Wouldn't worry too much.
Most unlikely to be both suddenly going at the same time.
Injectors would develop wear over time and show gradual symptom build up, not sudden.
VCDS can show if/how many have exessive wear.
EGR can clog quite suddenly after years of build up, especially if cheap fuel has been used long term.
As car running ok, give it a 'thrash' to clear it out, the MIL light may extinguish if it's the EGR.
Try switching ignition off when idling with smoke, good chance it'll restart with much less in short order.
Ensure using 97RON fuel, not the cheap supermarket stuff.
Check DTC. If it says "EGR - insufficient flow" - clean it when you get home and you'll probably be fine again.