Cloud of smoke on engine startup (from cold)

[furfurfur]

The last few mornings I start my car and there has been a huge plume of smoke that can engulf the rest of the car and really stinks the place out! After 10 seconds all the smoke is gone and there is no smoke that I can see while driving, or on subsequent warm starts.

I do know that the 2 out of 6 glow plugs are knackered (VCDS reports an open circuit) but my old 2.7tdi had 3 knackered glow plugs but didn't ever smoke that badly.

That given would glow plugs be the first port of call, and could I check anything else?

[Guest 2]

Have you had it scanned recently for faults?

When my intake manifold runners "go" the car stinks the place out and it always smells sweet from the exhaust.

[furfurfur]

I have VCDS and the only faults coming up are the two glow plug faults. I guess the manifold runners would generate it's own fault?

[Guest 2]

Yep and the engine light would illuminate.

[Allroad_anth]

Which engine have you got?

[furfurfur]

Which engine have you got?

ASB - 3.0 tdi 2008

[Eau La La]

Hello All!

I have a similar cold start issue - lots of smoke on cold start but not quite as bad as described here.
Given I have no visible engine fault showing on the dash, sounds like I should ask VCDS (I do not have tthe software)
If I had glow plug problems? The glow plug light on the dash goes out pretty quickly when doing the pre iignition turn of the key.

[furfurfur]

Hi, jack :)


If the glow plugs are out it may not be at all apparent (no lights) but you would have the fault codes logged.


Does the car feel lumpy for a few seconds after start?

[Allroad_anth]

Smoke is unburned fuel if it is white. Most likely to be glow plug issues I would say.
if it clears quickly it does not sound as though it is anything more serious.
good job it's not one of the old pre combustion chamber engines, they would not start at all without a tow!...

[Eau La La]

My smoke is more blue /grey than white.
I once had similar on a Golf GTi however that was also on a wwarm start
and that turned out to be worn valve seals leaking oil into the pots.
This can't be the same as it is only on cold. Yet the colour of the smoke
does not suggest unburnt fuel as a result of non functioning glow plugs.

The car is going in to Audi next week for Tiptronic oil replacement (I will find
a new thread for that discussion) so I shall ask them for a fault code analysis.

[Allroad_anth]

Will be interested on your thoughts after the Tiptronic oil change. I am considering this at my next service which will be about the 80k mark.

[gupsterg]

Tiptronic oil change is well worth the £££... i) it improved my cars smoothness of gearbox ii) improve the life of your gearbox...

Here's a post with some links... Second Hand A6 (http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?138145-Second-Hand-A6&p=752725#post752725)

Plus there are others who have done this if you search via the search box/google...