Audi Q5 s line 2.0 TDI 2010 White Smoke

[Danderson]

 

Hi All

First post here and apologies if this is not in the right forum.

Im looking for any advice or pointers on my recently purcgased Audi.

I've bought an Audi Q5 s line 2 litre TDI around 4 months ago...160k on the clock . For the last few weeks the car has been intermittently producing white/greyish smoke from the exhaust. There is also a pungent smell when this happens that smells like diesel.

I was advised to add some dpf cleaner which ive done but hasnt made any difference. Ive just had it into the garage and they they only found an issue with the glowplugs which have been replaced but the smoke still exists.

The coolant level is fine and ckbtakns no oil and alsk the enhine oil is fine so I assume isnt dropping as I havent put any in.

The car to be fair us used on very short journeys mostly by my partner so not sure if this isnt helping matters. The mechanic at the garage advised me yo use ultkmate shell or bp fuel and monitor for a month? Does anyone have an idea of what could be wrong or is this normal for a high mileage car of this type?

Just to add ive noticed when the car is not producing smoke its idling at 900 rpm but when it produces smoke it idles at just under 1k rpm

Any help/advice would be much
appreciated.
Thanks
Dave

[Magnet]

Hello David,

This sounds rather typical of injector issues. 

In my experience - glowplugs? - unlikely to have been an issue.

When you say ‘...the garage...’ ,are they diesel specialists?

If not, I would certainly be seeking a trusted one in your locality. The often repeated, now boring, advice is to enquire for recommendations on such, at your local taxi rank. These chaps depend on such a experience for a fast turn around living. 

Injectors can normally be initially tested by a fairly simple leak-back test, but will need removal, inspection and reconditioning to return them to their correct level of efficiency. 

Not cheap David, so might depend on what you and your neighbours! are prepared to put up with. 

Kind regards, 

Gareth. 

[Danderson]

Hi Gareth and Thank you for your reply its much appreciated.

I know very little about cars but from reading up about similar issues believed the injectors could be an issue.

I really dont want to ask or think about the gost of sorting thos or I probably wont sleep tonight.

The garage was a german specialist garage marketed as maindealer service but without the hefty charges, they came through recommendation from a few family members and seem to be a decent outfit.

 

It seems they just carried out a computer diagnostic and the glowpkug fault wouldnt clear but also said they were in bad condition so recommended changibg them although they did say it would unlikely stop the smoke.

 

They said it had performed a DPF regen in the last 500 miles and possibly this was why it was smoking but would it perform a regen pretty much ecerytime the car is driven? 

 

Also sorry to go on but do you think addibg some injector cleaner might help or am I wasting my time with that?

 

Thanks again Gareth, I appreciate the response.

Dave

[Magnet]

Hello David, 

Injector cleaner? Little to lose by giving it a try, but likely to sort out the problem??? Tesco did have diesel Redex additive at reduced price.

In my experience, issues with diesels should be entrusted to diesel specialists not ‘ordinary’ garages (even if cheaper-than-main-dealer independents). Apologies for rubbing it in, but I think the independent gave you a good clue with ...’unlikely to stop the smoke’. 

Still, time to move on and seek specialist advice, and decide if you are going to live with the issue or attend to it. Chose your specialist carefully.

Perhaps you could keep the forum updated on how you get on David.

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[Charlie2]

Hi just to throw something in but short runs are renown for causing issues with dpf filters a good run once a week should keep them clear. (its what we have to do with the wife car) also other symptoms of def blocks are.

• You feel a loss of power in your engine (limp mode).
• The DPF light will appear on your dashboard.
• Passive and active regeneration keep failing.
• A pungent smell of diesel.
• Automatic Stop-Start System Not Working
• Your car seems to be releasing an excessive amount of smoke.
• An Increase in the oil level.
• You’ve noticed an increase in fuel consumption.