Grey smoke and odd noise every time I accelerate

[Mark8602]

Hi all, just wondered if anyone could shed some light on this?

 

I have an Audi A3 TDI which piles out grey smoke whenever I accelerate (even a little bit). There is also a strange rumbling noise from under the bonnet. 

I have ruled out the DPF as the previous owner took that out, the egr valve has been blanked off. Video attached.

 

Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

 

Mark

[Magnet]

Hello Mark,

Can we take it you can smell diesel when you see the grey smoke? No loss of coolant? 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

 

[Mark8602]

Yes smells of diesel and no loss of coolant (I think the engine oil also smells of diesel too). No loss of power though.

[cliffcoggin]

What's the mileage of the engine and do you have service history?

[cliffcoggin]

One other question. Is it using a lot of oil?

[Mark8602]

No not using any oil, it's 137,000 miles no service history, I bought it off copart and wish I hadn't bothered!!!

[Magnet]

Hello Mark,

Not saying it is, but sounds like injectors then. If they are suspect than they are quite easily tested by a leak-back test. If it were mine, I would be entrusting it to a local recommended diesel specialist - not an ordinary garage. 

If you bought it recently from a dealer, then you should have redress. 

Kind regards,

Gareth. 

[cliffcoggin]

At that mileage the engine should be OK unless it's been thrashed by a previous owner, which is a possibility given that EGR and DPF have been disabled. It's hard to tell from just a one second sound clip but it sounds like the rattle is from the top end of the engine, rather than big ends or main bearings.