Smoke at first start up

[PDL]

Hi Guys got a passat 05 TDI 2.0 52,000 which when starting in the morning gives out a white smoke cloud.

Has anyone else have this problem and what should i do about it.

If the weather is warm then it doesnt seem to smoke as much.

Thanks,

[dunkley201]

IMO, white smoke = water/coolant. Check levels, possible head gasket gone. Run engine with coolant cap removed (be careful removing if already pressurised). See if level changes when you rev the motor. If it does...yes, you've guessed it :zx11:

[dieseljames]

How much are we talking here? could it be that there is water in the exhaust (condensation) and you are just seeing the steam?

Hopefully it isn't the head gasket!! :eek:

[gamichea]

White smoke can be unburnt diesel. How does it smell (the smoke, that is :D).

The fact you say ambient temp.is affecting the amount of smoke leads me to ask whether you are waiting for the glow plug light to go out, If you are not, try waiting. If you are waiting then may be there is a glow plug-related failure.

[Quatrelle]

Do you wait for the glowplug light to go out?

If no, turn the ignition on, count slowly to ten, and then fire it up. See if there is any smoke.

If yes, does it fire up immediately, or turn over for a couple of seconds?

In either case it would then be unburnt fuel.

[martin1810]

Get a code read done. Sounds like your glowplugs are not working. Most garages can check this in half an hour. Often failed glowplug relay or temperature sender.

[PDL]

Hi guys thanks for the responses.

My head gasket has not gone as its not steam coming out of the car.( doesnt use water , no water in oil.)

I do wait for the orange glow plug light to go out every time.

The problem is on initial start when engine cold it produces a cloud of white diesel smoke.

You can tell it is going to do it as the engine misfires slightly on start up.

If i switched it off then restarted then there is no smoke.

If i dont wait for the glowplugs to go out then i get an even bigger cloud of smoke from the exhaust. This to me seems like i might have some fault with the glow plugs.

I have taken the car into VW and there are no faults stored.

[peterbythesea]

I had exactly the same problem, took my glow plugs out and checked them, difficult to check with an ohm meter as they read as a virtual short circuit.I wired each one across an old battery and discovered one of them to be u/s. Warning don't hold the glow plug with bare hands as they get very hoy very quickly.