TDi exhaust smoke, is this normal?

[PeteK]

Since I bought my 2004 Passat 130 TDi i've been very impressed with the performance and economy, it averages between 45-50mpg on mainly motorway trips at 70-80mph which I consider to be good. However, i've noticed when cold the engine does throw out quite a lot of smoke; even when fully warmed up and driven very gently, it still gives a plume of smoke out of the exhaust when accelerating. This is most noticeable at night when the smoke can be seen in the headlights of following vehicles.

There are no faults showing on Vagcom under the engine control module and the engine has used no oil in the 9k miles I have covered.

I've driven behind many VAG Tdi engined cars and notice that some do emit a fair amount of smoke whereas others don't even though they are the same year. Is there anything in particular which would cause this such as the MAF sensor?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, perhaps I am just worrying unnecessarily! However I was talking to a family member who has a 2000 Passat TDi 130 and he says that he gets closer to 60mpg on the same journeys as i'm doing, I was wondering whether mine was running a bit rich.

[STEWY L]

Since I bought my 2004 Passat 130 TDi i've been very impressed with the performance and economy, it averages between 45-50mpg on mainly motorway trips at 70-80mph which I consider to be good. However, i've noticed when cold the engine does throw out quite a lot of smoke; even when fully warmed up and driven very gently, it still gives a plume of smoke out of the exhaust when accelerating. This is most noticeable at night when the smoke can be seen in the headlights of following vehicles.

There are no faults showing on Vagcom under the engine control module and the engine has used no oil in the 9k miles I have covered.

I've driven behind many VAG Tdi engined cars and notice that some do emit a fair amount of smoke whereas others don't even though they are the same year. Is there anything in particular which would cause this such as the MAF sensor?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, perhaps I am just worrying unnecessarily! However I was talking to a family member who has a 2000 Passat TDi 130 and he says that he gets closer to 60mpg on the same journeys as i'm doing, I was wondering whether mine was running a bit rich.

he's kidding himself. i have the 130tdi in a bora,yes it will do indicated 64mpg,downhill with no throttle. don't worry about the smoke unless it's really heavy black stuff,they do have a little bit of turbo lag,they are not perfect,very close yes but not perfect. if you are not using oil i can't think
you have much wrong with it.
regards,
stewy.

[minty0_10]

if i could get 45mpg i,d be very happy i cant get more than 40mpg 500 miles to a tank.

[PeteK]

Thanks for the replies. Probably just me worrying over nothing. Just out of interest, does anyone know what causes some cars to emit a puff of smoke when starting off? Like I said earlier, some cars do this whereas others seem to emit none at all. Would the MAF sensor cause this?

[sherlockuk]

Mine emitts white smoke when starting.. I have been told that this is just the glow plugs not working so well, and unburnt Diesel gets pushed out of the exhaust. Mine pushes out smoke on acceleration, but it has been re-mapped and has a few more horseys... It still does 53 mpg on a long run. Usually around 50 tho, depending on the weight of my right foot.

If the MAF is faulty I think you will experience a very lump throttle response, you will also get VAG com faults.

Tom.

[deano-1000]

Hi, I had the same on my 130 a while ago, seemed to smoke more than some of the others and also not getting very good mpg, so I put Millers Diesel Plus through it to clean/lubricate the injectors and changed the Maf, made a big differance. £65+vat from a dealer exchange.
Don't use Redex, this is only a cleaner and will wreck the injectors, use an additive that also lubricates. Since diesel is now low sulphur, you need to use a good additive, most injection specialist have seen a rise in injector failure since it was the sulphur in the diesel that lubricated the fuel system, the same as lead used to lubricate in petrol engines.

[sergiup]

It still does 53 mpg on a long run. Usually around 50 tho, depending on the weight of my right foot.

Hmmph... My 100 bhp AVB just doesn't go above 46-47mpg, and that's with two people inside, almost no luggage, and very conservative motorway driving. Methinks it's never had a good clean, will have to do that soon - funny how it gives out almost no visible smoke though.

[dieselman580]

Since I bought my 2004 Passat 130 TDi i've been very impressed with the performance and economy, it averages between 45-50mpg on mainly motorway trips at 70-80mph which I consider to be good. However, i've noticed when cold the engine does throw out quite a lot of smoke; even when fully warmed up and driven very gently, it still gives a plume of smoke out of the exhaust when accelerating. This is most noticeable at night when the smoke can be seen in the headlights of following vehicles.

There are no faults showing on Vagcom under the engine control module and the engine has used no oil in the 9k miles I have covered.

I've driven behind many VAG Tdi engined cars and notice that some do emit a fair amount of smoke whereas others don't even though they are the same year. Is there anything in particular which would cause this such as the MAF sensor?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, perhaps I am just worrying unnecessarily! However I was talking to a family member who has a 2000 Passat TDi 130 and he says that he gets closer to 60mpg on the same journeys as i'm doing, I was wondering whether mine was running a bit rich.

at night all diesels are like that smoke can be seen in other cars lights nothing to worry about, all 3 of mine do it

[Eddie]

Ok lets get back to basics here white smoke =burning water black smoke =unburnt fuel blue smoke=burning oil,sherlock is leaking water and burning it unless his exhaust doubles up as a well bad glow plugs =poor starting end of big puff of black smoke when taking of is hose starting to go on turbo the big one at the back ,a big puff off blue smoke when taking off after idling more than likely valve stem oil seals. hope this helps

[sherlockuk]

Hmm, Eddie so you would say that mine is losing water... Well the water level seems to have stayed fine since i changed the rad.. That was about 6 months ago... I may have topped it up once in between times.

Other people have told me it was unburnt diesel, as it only puffs white smoke at start up... So now I am confused