the t5 wont quit smokin!

[Alex p]

Thanks for the good advise I have been driving the Cali Alot lately trying to replicate the smoke situation and today it did it again. The run stop stops working and there is a smell before it starts smoking so this time I manned up and didn't stop the engine just pulled over and the familiar sight of smoke started and I watched the oil temp and water temp for about 2 mins and conveniently sat in traffic I got to an exhaust center with a empty carpark and pulled in. Popped the bonnet and thought right no kids no wife no other cars I'm gonna leave it until something happens either it bursts into flames or something burns out and it stops! Bit nail biting but I got a good look right round it and pumped up the suspension so I could get underneath and check the exhaust and still found nothing couldn't see any oil or diesel. I also caught something on my clip that might be a clue to the problem. After rolling about on the floor I took this clip, still not turning off the engine. If you listen at 35 seconds it sounded like something switched off there is a change to the engine note and it sounded like something clicked off and then the smoke stopped. I'm still none the wiser but maybe it's a clue?? I kept the engine running and drove back home after this. No change in oil or water temp.

I haven't emailed the dealer but you can bet ur life I will first going tomorrow to see what they think!

 

[Tufty_B]

I'm wondering if that change in engine tone is the EGR switching, possibly there is an EGR/manifold/pipe leak. Does the smoke smell of exhaust gases? A leak around these will allow the exhaust gas to escape under the bonnet as the EGR valve controls exhaust gases back into the air intake stream.
If it doesn't smell of exhaust gases, it could be oil being drawn into the system somehow and being burnt off by the high temperature. Have you noticed the engine oil level dropping?

 

[westfalia]

A mate of mine had lots of smokin problems with his T5 2.5 tdi, it would never seem to do
it when he took it to the dealers.He was sick of it and also sick of hearing the same from
the dealers. Sorry we couldn´t find anything wrong.
In the end he removed the DPF and had it remapped. He didn´t have a problem after
that.
Your dealer/stealer could do a forced regeneration of the DPF to check if it is in order.

 

[Alex p]

I'm wondering if that change in engine tone is the EGR switching, possibly there is an EGR/manifold/pipe leak. Does the smoke smell of exhaust gases? A leak around these will allow the exhaust gas to escape under the bonnet as the EGR valve controls exhaust gases back into the air intake stream.
If it doesn't smell of exhaust gases, it could be oil being drawn into the system somehow and being burnt off by the high temperature. Have you noticed the engine oil level dropping?

I've not noticed the oil level falling but to be honest I haven't owned all that long! Yes the smoke smells really exhausty.... ur diagnosis seems fees able enough.. let's see what the "experts".... say.. the one thing that makes no sense is it just had it's first mot so I would have thought a faulty egr would have sent the emissions haywire?? I spose if it's intermittent they might not see it.

 

[Alex p]

A mate of mine had lots of smokin problems with his T5 2.5 tdi, it would never seem to do
it when he took it to the dealers.He was sick of it and also sick of hearing the same from
the dealers. Sorry we couldn´t find anything wrong.
In the end he removed the DPF and had it remapped. He didn´t have a problem after
that.
Your dealer/stealer could do a forced regeneration of the DPF to check if it is in order.

Yes that was my first thought but the guy who sold it too me (dealer) and also my local dealer said the same thing. Smoke out the back then yes maybe but not from the front.. also I ran it down to the south of France 130kph rev counter on 2500rpm for two hours straight thinking if that don't do a burn nothing will... soon as I came off the motorway if flippin started smoking when I slowed down and went into a campsite..

 

[westfalia]

Yes that was my first thought but the guy who sold it too me (dealer) and also my local dealer said the same thing. Smoke out the back then yes maybe but not from the front.. also I ran it down to the south of France 130kph rev counter on 2500rpm for two hours straight thinking if that don't do a burn nothing will... soon as I came off the motorway if flippin started smoking when I slowed down and went into a campsite..

Yep. that´s what my mates did, loads of fast driving for a few hours and then
pulling of the autobahn the smoke happened.
Mainly from the rear end but occasionally from the front end, white smoke.

 

[Alex p]

Yep. that´s what my mates did, loads of fast driving for a few hours and then
pulling of the autobahn the smoke happened.
Mainly from the rear end but occasionally from the front end, white smoke.

OK that's good Info cheers... I'm gonna keep on it. Drive it to work day after day and see if I can break it or work out roughly when it does it and try to get it to the dealer..... (god even writing that down sound stupid as hell haha... ) shame coz I really like it but my wife wont drive it now so if I dont resolve it soon it'll have to go

 

[Alex p]

I'm wondering if that change in engine tone is the EGR switching, possibly there is an EGR/manifold/pipe leak. Does the smoke smell of exhaust gases? A leak around these will allow the exhaust gas to escape under the bonnet as the EGR valve controls exhaust gases back into the air intake stream.
If it doesn't smell of exhaust gases, it could be oil being drawn into the system somehow and being burnt off by the high temperature. Have you noticed the engine oil level dropping?

Just had another thought I'll shut it off as soon as the smoke starts next time. If it is the egr I guess it might shut off/reset ? I don't really know enough about them and how they work?

 

[westfalia]

OK that's good Info cheers... I'm gonna keep on it. Drive it to work day after day and see if I can break it or work out roughly when it does it and try to get it to the dealer..... (god even writing that down sound stupid as hell haha... ) shame coz I really like it but my wife wont drive it now so if I dont resolve it soon it'll have to go

Well if it is DPF related then VW will happily replace it for about 1500 ( i don´t know)
or you can look into getting it removed and re programmed for about 700
It all depends on how much you love your van, if its a keeper and also
how much of a tree hugger you are, regarding emissions.
I can understand your mrs not liking it anymore.
Hopefully you get it sorted.

 

[Jay586]

I might be barking here but I was reading the manual & it actually mentioned smoke coming from the bonnet in the troubleshooting section. Have a look...

 

[Ryemslie]

I'll be honest after watching that last video I thought it was just the dpf regeneration

 

[Spartan]

My van is a few years older but I can't help noticing that bits of your engine look very 'shiny', almost like new (no sign of oxidisation on the alu. parts that I might expect to see), especially in comparison with the rest of the engine bay. If I pause your video, I can see a date stamped on the turbo inlet manifold - 28/05/2014? - which appears to match with your vehicle age but I can also see what appears to be numbers written in black marker pen (partially removed) that are typical of parts that have come from another source ...

Is it possible that yours has had a 'new' engine and/or turbo fitted before you bought it? By 'new' I mean rebuilt/reconditioned, not necessarily spanking from the factory. If the (hypothetical) work was carried out by VW, they should have a record of it (even if not shown in your service book).

One 'clue' could be the EGR combined cooler (which also looks very clean) serial number and date stamp - if you look down at the front of the engine, right next to the oil filter, there is a label with serial number like '03L 115 512', is there a letter suffix to this part number, is there a date?

Edit: not trying to worry you at all, just help identify possible sources/reasons for the smoke.

 

[Tufty_B]

Try to find the engine number and compare with the V5, from my limited experience people don't usually bother to update the V5 when an engine is swapped out. If it's different than at least you'll know it's been changed. This is not an issue in itself, so no need to be worried just because it's been changed, but it would be good to why if you could as it could be an advantage when you come to resell.

 

[Alex p]

I'll be honest after watching that last video I thought it was just the dpf regeneration

Be flippin brill if it is!! I would love some clarification!!

 

[Alex p]

My van is a few years older but I can't help noticing that bits of your engine look very 'shiny', almost like new (no sign of oxidisation on the alu. parts that I might expect to see), especially in comparison with the rest of the engine bay. If I pause your video, I can see a date stamped on the turbo inlet manifold - 28/05/2014? - which appears to match with your vehicle age but I can also see what appears to be numbers written in black marker pen (partially removed) that are typical of parts that have come from another source ...

Is it possible that yours has had a 'new' engine and/or turbo fitted before you bought it? By 'new' I mean rebuilt/reconditioned, not necessarily spanking from the factory. If the (hypothetical) work was carried out by VW, they should have a record of it (even if not shown in your service book).

One 'clue' could be the EGR combined cooler (which also looks very clean) serial number and date stamp - if you look down at the front of the engine, right next to the oil filter, there is a label with serial number like '03L 115 512', is there a letter suffix to this part number, is there a date?

Edit: not trying to worry you at all, just help identify possible sources/reasons for the smoke.

Engine bay is super clean I have just put that down to it being low mileage.. I'll check it out!!

 

[Alex p]

Try to find the engine number and compare with the V5, from my limited experience people don't usually bother to update the V5 when an engine is swapped out. If it's different than at least you'll know it's been changed. This is not an issue in itself, so no need to be worried just because it's been changed, but it would be good to why if you could as it could be an advantage when you come to resell.

Yer I agree.. I'll have a root about and check they match!!

 

[Alex p]

I might be barking here but I was reading the manual & it actually mentioned smoke coming from the bonnet in the troubleshooting section. Have a look...

OK yes will do!! I have never owned a diesel or a Vw or a camper before I bought this one so I was just a bit alarmed the first time it happened. I was sure it was the dpf Regen but it smokes a hell of Alot so I was hoping some one on here would just say don't worry mine does that but that wasn't what I got!!! Hehe! Bit nail biting for a newbie!

 

[Jay586]

P 289 & 222 in my manual, which is a Transporter one.

 

[Alex p]

P 289 & 222 in my manual, which is a Transporter one.

Mine only shows the auxiliary heater as a source of bonnet smoke.

 

[Alex p]

My van is a few years older but I can't help noticing that bits of your engine look very 'shiny', almost like new (no sign of oxidisation on the alu. parts that I might expect to see), especially in comparison with the rest of the engine bay. If I pause your video, I can see a date stamped on the turbo inlet manifold - 28/05/2014? - which appears to match with your vehicle age but I can also see what appears to be numbers written in black marker pen (partially removed) that are typical of parts that have come from another source ...

Is it possible that yours has had a 'new' engine and/or turbo fitted before you bought it? By 'new' I mean rebuilt/reconditioned, not necessarily spanking from the factory. If the (hypothetical) work was carried out by VW, they should have a record of it (even if not shown in your service book).

One 'clue' could be the EGR combined cooler (which also looks very clean) serial number and date stamp - if you look down at the front of the engine, right next to the oil filter, there is a label with serial number like '03L 115 512', is there a letter suffix to this part number, is there a date?

Edit: not trying to worry you at all, just help identify possible sources/reasons for the smoke.

All the date stamps check out and all April/may 2014 so I don't think there are any replacement parts fitted... it is all very clean right through to the exhaust. Spotless really.

 

[Jay586]

Mine only shows the auxiliary heater as a source of bonnet smoke.

So could it be that?

I can't remember if it was discussed earlier in the thread but that's the heater for the coolant & the smoke is steam?

 

[Jay586]

I take it back, see it was discussed on page 1. Just saw the entry in the manual & thought I'd mention it.

 

[ChrisB]

Did the Dealer see the smoke?
If not I would drive around until engine warm and smoking. Arrive at Dealer with it smoking and leave engine running. Saunter in and ask the plonker on the Service desk to dial 999 as your vehicle is on fire. Park right next to the building and new vehicles.
Stand back and wait for the panic. Quietly remind then they told you there was nothing wrong.

I like the cut of your jib sir!

 

[Spartan]

If you listen at 35 seconds it sounded like something switched off there is a change to the engine note and it sounded like something clicked off and then the smoke stopped. I'm still none the wiser but maybe it's a clue??

Could it just be that the radiator fan kicked in at this point and blew the smoke away?

If not, and the sound change was possibly due to the EGR valve closing, a prime suspect could be the EGR pipe/gaskets from the cooler back to the air intake (the one to the left of the oil filter when viewed from the front).

 

[westfalia]

Did you get it sorted ?

I just did a short trip out in mine and when i parked up there was loads of smokin around
the front end. Stinking of diesel fumes.

I realised it was the Aux heater as it´s quite chilly at the moment.