AA inspection result

[Orca Brody]

Hi all. I need a bit of advice if anyone has any. I'm close to buying a 2012 Rapido after agreeing a price I'm happy with. I just had the results of the AA inspection. Can anyone please share they're thoughts on this? I'd be really grateful. For the experts out there, what would you do?

 

[mitzimad]

id go with getting a fresh mot it will fail if its smoking to be on the safe side id insist it was at a station of your choice

 

[airwave]

A worn engine?


50k miles on a 10 year old commercial vehicle is not even run in .


Blue smoke can also be old diesel , fuel additive. A sticky egr valve, dpf, too much oil , etc etc etc .


Add to that the fact the half asked check was done in the dark.


It could simply need a good long drive as it hasn't been used in months .

Hmmm , i have to disagree , like i said , there are a few things that can cause blue smoke , however the most likely root cause , it's burning oil , and that is possible even with a brand new motor . Quite simply by just waiting for the oil warning light to come on , before filling the sump .
Because it only has 50 k on the clock , in no way guarantees the engine is in good health . It does increase the chance , it is , but ultimately , you have no idea how the engine has been treated in the past . The tester mentioned excessive blue smoke , and trust me enough damage can be done in a very short time , to deem a rebuild necessary .
Running an engine with too much oil , can cause just as much damage as having not enough . Fuel additive , no , neither will a sticky egr valve . I've never let it go that far , but at worst it would probably be the same as a burnt valve , black smoke , it's essentially the same thing . And in the case of a burnt valve , plenty of smoke . A sticky valve would also only be part time .
In my opinion , the most likely cause is a slick bore , often referred to as glazing . The engine has been excessively idled , being as we are talking motorhome , probably to charge the batteries . This prevents the rings from sealing properly , allowing oil to pass to the hot side of the piston , and so is burning . It is possible to hone the bore , but it maybe necessary to rebore , either way your talking rebuild .
A simple compression test would tell whether i'm right , or not , but my guess is low compression on at least one pot , meaning a rebuild . A far more serious issue , is the turbo is also at high risk , and should the worse happen here , i can guarantee , you're need to rebuild , ahem whats left . Be prepared for an extensive parts list though . Personally speaking , i wouldn't even risk a good run , the end result may not be palatable .

Generally speaking , as a rule of thumb ;

• White smoke indicates water ,
• Blue smoke indicates oil ,
• Black smoke indicates combustion ,

All three are an instant mot failure under current emission regulations , but then , any one of the first four issues on the test list are failures anyway , with a question mark over issue five . Though to be honest , this sounds more like a lack of paint .

 

[Googlebot]

You can get an MOT for less than £50, plus it doesn’t have to be done again for a year. Much cheaper than the rip off AA and will instantly sort the was there blue smoke in the dark issue.

 

[Northernraider]

Hmmm , i have to disagree , like i said , there are a few things that can cause blue smoke , however the most likely root cause , it's burning oil , and that is possible even with a brand new motor . Quite simply by just waiting for the oil warning light to come on , before filling the sump .
Because it only has 50 k on the clock , in no way guarantees the engine is in good health . It does increase the chance , it is , but ultimately , you have no idea how the engine has been treated in the past . The tester mentioned excessive blue smoke , and trust me enough damage can be done in a very short time , to deem a rebuild necessary .
Running an engine with too much oil , can cause just as much damage as having not enough . Fuel additive , no , neither will a sticky egr valve . I've never let it go that far , but at worst it would probably be the same as a burnt valve , black smoke , it's essentially the same thing . And in the case of a burnt valve , plenty of smoke . A sticky valve would also only be part time .
In my opinion , the most likely cause is a slick bore , often referred to as glazing . The engine has been excessively idled , being as we are talking motorhome , probably to charge the batteries . This prevents the rings from sealing properly , allowing oil to pass to the hot side of the piston , and so is burning . It is possible to hone the bore , but it maybe necessary to rebore , either way your talking rebuild .
A simple compression test would tell whether i'm right , or not , but my guess is low compression on at least one pot , meaning a rebuild . A far more serious issue , is the turbo is also at high risk , and should the worse happen here , i can guarantee , you're need to rebuild , ahem whats left . Be prepared for an extensive parts list though . Personally speaking , i wouldn't even risk a good run , the end result may not be palatable .

Generally speaking , as a rule of thumb ;

• White smoke indicates water ,
• Blue smoke indicates oil ,
• Black smoke indicates combustion ,

All three are an instant mot failure under current emission regulations , but then , any one of the first four issues on the test list are failures anyway , with a question mark over issue five . Though to be honest , this sounds more like a lack of paint .

The van has since been checked by a mechanic and no sign of blue smoke found.

The aa are useless. Even now they are objecting to government plans to change mot to 2 years instead of one .

Like most other countries in Europe these days. Aa objecting

They're useless

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Orca Brody]

Thanks again for the interest in this thread. Had another viewing of the motorhome and took it for a drive with the wife following. No sign of any smoke. However, Airwaves post has suitably scared me I would be making a good saving on the current market value of this motorhome but I'm not interested in a project. 30k is a lot of money and I need to be 100% sure. I could ask for a new MOT despite the last one being done 5 months ago. Then Airwave mentioned having a compression test carried out.

Will have a think about things. Thanks again.

 

[Landy Andy]

It’s only blue smoke to the person, who thinks a bit of surface rust is worthy of reporting, turns up late, does a full vehicle, including (apparently) part of a test drive within an hour, in the dark.
Either be scared off by a bloke who isn’t a good enough mechanic to work in a decent garage/workshop or rely on yourself that it doesn’t smoke.

 

[headlight]

Thanks again for the interest in this thread. Had another viewing of the motorhome and took it for a drive with the wife following. No sign of any smoke. However, Airwaves post has suitably scared me I would be making a good saving on the current market value of this motorhome but I'm not interested in a project. 30k is a lot of money and I need to be 100% sure. I could ask for a new MOT despite the last one being done 5 months ago. Then Airwave mentioned having a compression test carried out.

Will have a think about things. Thanks again.

So you have confirmed there is no smoke, there's a bit of surface rust underneath, which is to be expected on a vehicle this age, it passed an MOT 5 months ago, it's MOT history is ok, it's a good price, it presumably drove ok on your test drive, you obviously like the van and are still interested.
I personally can't see the problem as it sounds like any vehicle a few years old.
Given all of the above I'd buy it, have it serviced and enjoy it.

 

[TheBig1]

Being brutally honest after decades of buying and selling vehicles, especially motorhomes, if you don't feel comfortable with the purchase, either move on to another or have a mechanic look it over (not AA or RAC). A little blue smoke under load after the van has stood for months is pretty normal. It should clear after a 10 minute drive on an A road, as in 60mph. The engine will warm up, lubricate seals and tighten up. The other problem is the dreaded DPF as a vehicle that just has a history of stop start short journeys has not had time to regenerate (burn off the soot). That does put out a load of smoke but goes at the end of the cycle

The rust is typical of a van that has lived in a salty area, little to worry about, but treat it now before it needs welding in a year or two. The exhaust is a consumable, just like tyres, brakes pads and discs. All deteriorate with lack of use and rust

I keep on top of maintaining my vehicles, but even my motorhome failed an MOT on poor brakes due to surface rust on the discs. Soon fixed by driving up the road and apply the handbrake and brakes as the vehicle was moving. Nothing on your pictures or description would put me off, but I would negotiate a discount for apparent faults

 

[dorkins]

Thanks again for the interest in this thread. Had another viewing of the motorhome and took it for a drive with the wife following. No sign of any smoke. However, Airwaves post has suitably scared me I would be making a good saving on the current market value of this motorhome but I'm not interested in a project. 30k is a lot of money and I need to be 100% sure. I could ask for a new MOT despite the last one being done 5 months ago. Then Airwave mentioned having a compression test carried out.

Will have a think about things. Thanks again.

What a shame but understandable, some of us would be happy with a bit of potential work and prepared to take a gamble if the price is right, others for obvious reasons, are not happy to do this, some of the posts on here remind me of looking up your symptoms on Dr. Google

Good luck with finding a van that you have no doubts about and is all that you want it to be.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Orca Brody]

Not given up on it yet Dorkins, just having a think about things. Thanks to The big1, LandyAndy and Headlight also.

I have attached a few more pics of the underside from the original ad if anyone is interested. Nothings jumps out at me.

 

[Dazzola]

All looks good to me under there, mine is just the same.
One thing to understand, if it drove fine and your wife saw no smoke following, then it will be fine, engines can't suddenly mask a problem, they either work as intended or don't, if it didn't smoke, ticked over nice and started fine then all is well.
If it was me, I would be taking it home.

 

[Lenny HB]

Looks normal maybe even good for a vehicle of that age I would have no concerns.

 

[Miggs]

Not given up on it yet Dorkins, just having a think about things. Thanks to The big1, LandyAndy and Headlight also.

I have attached a few more pics of the underside from the original ad if anyone is interested. Nothings jumps out at me.

Honest opinion...buy it, there's nothing to worry about in those photos.
A vehicle cold started on a dark frosty evening will be chucking out clouds of steam, easy to confuse with smoke.
Just buy it, rent a ramp, scrub and paint the bottom and enjoy the van.

 

[Puddleduck]

I can't give any sensible advice but good luck no matter what you decide.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Northernraider]

Thanks again for the interest in this thread. Had another viewing of the motorhome and took it for a drive with the wife following. No sign of any smoke. However, Airwaves post has suitably scared me I would be making a good saving on the current market value of this motorhome but I'm not interested in a project. 30k is a lot of money and I need to be 100% sure. I could ask for a new MOT despite the last one being done 5 months ago. Then Airwave mentioned having a compression test carried out.

Will have a think about things. Thanks again.

It's a shame that you have been put off.

I've owned to date over 750 vehicles ranging from cars , vans. Campers and motorhomes. I've never once had anyone check one over for me , I do it myself and in 32 years there are very few that have given me many surprises.


I see nothing wrong with that van to be honest, just an unfortunate plonker giving a poor service . There is good reason the aa does not have a large branch of mechanic workshops and instead tows people to a garage.

Because most are van and lorry drivers with basic mechanical knowledge. If they were good mechanics they'd be repairing cars 8-10 hours a day instead of transporting them round the country.

Someone will likely get a good van with that.

 

[headlight]

Orca76 I recently had the misfortune to have to use the AA when I was stranded away from home at the beginning of a trip unable to start.
AA turned up and after doing nothing other than turning the ignition key said I had a flat battery.
No using a multimeter, checking connections nothing.
He jump started it and said it will be fine just leave it running for half an hour to charge the battery.
Didn't check that the alternator was charging the battery, checked nothing.
I drove for one and a half hours, turned it off then it wouldn't start again.
Checked the battery the following day myself, which showed it was knackered, jump started it and took it to a garage and had a new battery fitted.
The garage tested the battery and confirmed it was knackered.
If the AA had checked the battery they could have fitted a new one.
As it was I had to cancel my little 2 day trip.
I don't rate the AA.

 

[ianp]

Hmmm , i have to disagree , like i said , there are a few things that can cause blue smoke , however the most likely root cause , it's burning oil , and that is possible even with a brand new motor . Quite simply by just waiting for the oil warning light to come on , before filling the sump .
Because it only has 50 k on the clock , in no way guarantees the engine is in good health . It does increase the chance , it is , but ultimately , you have no idea how the engine has been treated in the past . The tester mentioned excessive blue smoke , and trust me enough damage can be done in a very short time , to deem a rebuild necessary .
Running an engine with too much oil , can cause just as much damage as having not enough . Fuel additive , no , neither will a sticky egr valve . I've never let it go that far , but at worst it would probably be the same as a burnt valve , black smoke , it's essentially the same thing . And in the case of a burnt valve , plenty of smoke . A sticky valve would also only be part time .
In my opinion , the most likely cause is a slick bore , often referred to as glazing . The engine has been excessively idled , being as we are talking motorhome , probably to charge the batteries . This prevents the rings from sealing properly , allowing oil to pass to the hot side of the piston , and so is burning . It is possible to hone the bore , but it maybe necessary to rebore , either way your talking rebuild .
A simple compression test would tell whether i'm right , or not , but my guess is low compression on at least one pot , meaning a rebuild . A far more serious issue , is the turbo is also at high risk , and should the worse happen here , i can guarantee , you're need to rebuild , ahem whats left . Be prepared for an extensive parts list though . Personally speaking , i wouldn't even risk a good run , the end result may not be palatable .

Generally speaking , as a rule of thumb ;

• White smoke indicates water ,
• Blue smoke indicates oil ,
• Black smoke indicates combustion ,

All three are an instant mot failure under current emission regulations , but then , any one of the first four issues on the test list are failures anyway , with a question mark over issue five . Though to be honest , this sounds more like a lack of paint .

jeeezzzzz I'd hate to see you with a head ache.............!

 

[Orca Brody]

It's a shame that you have been put off.

I've owned to date over 750 vehicles ranging from cars , vans. Campers and motorhomes. I've never once had anyone check one over for me , I do it myself and in 32 years there are very few that have given me many surprises.


I see nothing wrong with that van to be honest, just an unfortunate plonker giving a poor service . There is good reason the aa does not have a large branch of mechanic workshops and instead tows people to a garage.

Because most are van and lorry drivers with basic mechanical knowledge. If they were good mechanics they'd be repairing cars 8-10 hours a day instead of transporting them round the country.

Someone will likely get a good van with that.

Not been put off ,just going over a few things. I could have used you Northernraider. Even before I started this thread, your name would often pop up in other threads I'd read and you sound a knowledgeable lad. Unfortunately my eyes and ears aren't as in tune with vehicles and their quirks as yours. I'm a fast learner though. If I purely based everything on the damp check, my own initial thoughts and the test drives, I would have the motorhome by now. I have negotiated a good price for the motorhome based on a few internal repairs and missing items. That one mention of blue smoke kind of threw me off a bit as it would anyone buying a 30k motorhome.

I've put a complaint in with AA regarding the how the inspection was carried out. Never felt the need for an inspection of any kind with previous cars ,caravans and a small camper but when I get over 10k I can't afford costly mistakes.

Great supportive lot you all are . Thank you,

 

[Northernraider]

Not been put off ,just going over a few things. I could have used you Northernraider. Even before I started this thread, your name would often pop up in other threads I'd read and you sound a knowledgeable lad. Unfortunately my eyes and ears aren't as in tune with vehicles and their quirks as yours. I'm a fast learner though. If I purely based everything on the damp check, my own initial thoughts and the test drives, I would have the motorhome by now. I have negotiated a good price for the motorhome based on a few internal repairs and missing items. That one mention of blue smoke kind of threw me off a bit as it would anyone buying a 30k motorhome.

I've put a complaint in with AA regarding the how the inspection was carried out. Never felt the need for an inspection of any kind with previous cars ,caravans and a small camper but when I get over 10k I can't afford costly mistakes.

Great supportive lot you all are . Thank you,

I would still consider either having a mechanic of your own choosing just give it a check over to make sure . You may well be able to negotiate that small cost of the van too as I'm sure the seller will also be looking for a hassle free transaction but I suspect the vans biggest problem is lack of use . My current van is 16 years old and had only 28000 miles on it when I bought it last May , most issues it had were also down to lack of use , it's now done 34.5 k miles and will have another few thousand before I've had it a year . They are comercial vehicles and need to be used

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[ianp]

I tend to think that Northernraider and Googlebot have the right view on this. The only significant issue here is the 'blue smoke'. Only 'seen' by the AA man so the suggestion by many to have the van MOT'd is a no brainer for both you and the seller. Have a word with him and tell him if you buy the van ( ie it passes with good emissions etc), you'll pay the cost of the MOT and if you don't buy it then its his baby. Prior to the test have him take the van for a good hard run up the nearest motorway for an hour or so to get the engine and running gear in 'normal' condition and take it from there......... what's to lose?

 

[airwave]

Thanks again for the interest in this thread. Had another viewing of the motorhome and took it for a drive with the wife following. No sign of any smoke. However, Airwaves post has suitably scared me I would be making a good saving on the current market value of this motorhome but I'm not interested in a project. 30k is a lot of money and I need to be 100% sure. I could ask for a new MOT despite the last one being done 5 months ago. Then Airwave mentioned having a compression test carried out.

Will have a think about things. Thanks again.

I'm sorry , Orca . It's certainly not my intention to cause worry , or upset . But you are being given incorrect information for the given symptoms you stated , the result would cost serious money to put right . My post was in direct response to what at best , was making light of what is clearly a serious issue , and required a forceful , and blunt push back . Actually i'm quite surprised at that response , as i've found him pretty much spot on in the past .

To be clear ;

• White smoke , now this one is generally the least worrying of the three . Every van will display this at some point in it's life . Its cause is so often the result of water being in the exhaust system , however it can also indicate issues with the cooling system . By far the most common cause , is an early morning start , following a late night run , on a cold winters day . As the hot exhaust cools in a cold atmosphere , and in this case , lets not forget a seriously warm turbine , it is prone to condensation . This can result in a pool of water laying within the system . During start up the next day , the water instantly converts to stream , and exits the pipe as white smoke . It's usually short lived , and often very light while idling . However it will become heavier , if the vehicle is driven , to a point where it can become worryingly heavy , under heavy acceleration . This is quite normal , however the trouble signs are when the smoke doesn't clear after 5- 10 minutes of running , and instead remaining constantly heavy .
• Black smoke , probably the next one on the list of concerns . Under normal conditions this should never be seen , however to see it , is often a sign that all is not well . In very general terms it's indicating poor combustion , but the problem is , so many things can cause it , ranging from a blocked air filter , through to as i've already mentioned valves not seating correctly . Once again the smoke will be light at idle , however if the vehicle is driven , it can become so thick , it's impossible to see behind you . I can almost guarantee your get a pull , by the boys in blue , with an instant prohibition . There is no usual cause with this one , however if i was to be pushed on the point , i may point towards injectors . Often overlooked , i found out when renewing a cylinder head gasket , years back on my Citroen , they should themselves , be cleaned , and reset every 60.000 miles . I must admit i didn't know this at the time , and frankly it's a struggle to find this mentioned anywhere .
• Now finally we come to blue smoke . Probably the most serious of all , only one cause here , the vehicle is burning oil . This has serious implications for any engine , be it diesel or petrol , but for turbo engines in particular , the consequences can be catastrophic . The only real repair is a rebore , or engine replacement . Bearing this in mind , the symptoms can be surprisingly light . The smoke is often a light grey , with a blue tint or haze . The difference is , you will smell the oil , i've been told similar to fresh tarmac . Despite a few here saying , it's fine , or it's quite normal , i can tell you categorically it's most certainly is not . To be clear , you should never under any circumstance ever see this .

You should see none of these in a 50.000 mile vehicle , if you do , walk away . A motorhome is a complicated animal , there are many hidden bits , some you may never see yourself . If the engine is poor , my question is what are the other bits like . It smacks of neglect at best , so if you're not mechanically minded , do yourself a favour , and leave the deal for someone else .

That vehicle may seem cheap , and let's face it . We all want a deal , for bragging rights if nothing else , but i can assure you , if it's blowing blue smoke it won't be . Sorry but that's my opinion , and i'll stand by that .

 

[Northernraider]

I'm sorry , Orca . It's certainly not my intention to cause worry , or upset . But you are being given incorrect information for the given symptoms you stated , the result would cost serious money to put right . My post was in direct response to what at best , was making light of what is clearly a serious issue , and required a forceful , and blunt push back . Actually i'm quite surprised at that response , as i've found him pretty much spot on in the past .

To be clear ;

• White smoke , now this one is generally the least worrying of the three . Every van will display this at some point in it's life . Its cause is so often the result of water being in the exhaust system , however it can also indicate issues with the cooling system . By far the most common cause , is an early morning start , following a late night run , on a cold winters day . As the hot exhaust cools in a cold atmosphere , and in this case , lets not forget a seriously warm turbine , it is prone to condensation . This can result in a pool of water laying within the system . During start up the next day , the water instantly converts to stream , and exits the pipe as white smoke . It's usually short lived , and often very light while idling . However it will become heavier , if the vehicle is driven , to a point where it can become worryingly heavy , under heavy acceleration . This is quite normal , however the trouble signs are when the smoke doesn't clear after 5- 10 minutes of running , and instead remaining constantly heavy .
• Black smoke , probably the next one on the list of concerns . Under normal conditions this should never be seen , however to see it , is often a sign that all is not well . In very general terms it's indicating poor combustion , but the problem is , so many things can cause it , ranging from a blocked air filter , through to as i've already mentioned valves not seating correctly . Once again the smoke will be light at idle , however if the vehicle is driven , it can become so thick , it's impossible to see behind you . I can almost guarantee your get a pull , by the boys in blue , with an instant prohibition . There is no usual cause with this one , however if i was to be pushed on the point , i may point towards injectors . Often overlooked , i found out when renewing a cylinder head gasket , years back on my Citroen , they should themselves , be cleaned , and reset every 60.000 miles . I must admit i didn't know this at the time , and frankly it's a struggle to find this mentioned anywhere .
• Now finally we come to blue smoke . Probably the most serious of all , only one cause here , the vehicle is burning oil . This has serious implications for any engine , be it diesel or petrol , but for turbo engines in particular , the consequences can be catastrophic . The only real repair is a rebore , or engine replacement . Bearing this in mind , the symptoms can be surprisingly light . The smoke is often a light grey , with a blue tint or haze . The difference is , you will smell the oil , i've been told similar to fresh tarmac . Despite a few here saying , it's fine , or it's quite normal , i can tell you categorically it's most certainly is not . To be clear , you should never under any circumstance ever see this .

You should see none of these in a 50.000 mile vehicle , if you do , walk away . A motorhome is a complicated animal , there are many hidden bits , some you may never see yourself . If the engine is poor , my question is what are the other bits like . It smacks of neglect at best , so if you're not mechanically minded , do yourself a favour , and leave the deal for someone else .

That vehicle may seem cheap , and let's face it . We all want a deal , for bragging rights if nothing else , but i can assure you , if it's blowing blue smoke it won't be . Sorry but that's my opinion , and i'll stand by that .

I'm afraid you are repeatedly talking nonsense.

YES the worst case scenario of blue smoke and I mean serous blue smoke is the engine burning oil....and when it is you can usually smell it.

But there are several other things that can cause light blue smoke.

However I seriously doubt anyone saw blue smoke in the dark .


One thing is for sure , IF the aa man did see blue smoke and the van was burning oil it would still be doing it now, it doesn't come and go , once it's there it's there all the time until the issue is fixed...and it would be far more visible in daylight than it would ever be in the dark.

Yet there is now no sign of blue smoke.


Every other issue on the van is perfectly normal for a vehicle of its age , in fact from what I can see its above average underneath.

 

[Landy Andy]

I'm sorry , Orca . It's certainly not my intention to cause worry , or upset . But you are being given incorrect information for the given symptoms you stated , the result would cost serious money to put right . My post was in direct response to what at best , was making light of what is clearly a serious issue , and required a forceful , and blunt push back . Actually i'm quite surprised at that response , as i've found him pretty much spot on in the past .

To be clear ;

• White smoke , now this one is generally the least worrying of the three . Every van will display this at some point in it's life . Its cause is so often the result of water being in the exhaust system , however it can also indicate issues with the cooling system . By far the most common cause , is an early morning start , following a late night run , on a cold winters day . As the hot exhaust cools in a cold atmosphere , and in this case , lets not forget a seriously warm turbine , it is prone to condensation . This can result in a pool of water laying within the system . During start up the next day , the water instantly converts to stream , and exits the pipe as white smoke . It's usually short lived , and often very light while idling . However it will become heavier , if the vehicle is driven , to a point where it can become worryingly heavy , under heavy acceleration . This is quite normal , however the trouble signs are when the smoke doesn't clear after 5- 10 minutes of running , and instead remaining constantly heavy .
• Black smoke , probably the next one on the list of concerns . Under normal conditions this should never be seen , however to see it , is often a sign that all is not well . In very general terms it's indicating poor combustion , but the problem is , so many things can cause it , ranging from a blocked air filter , through to as i've already mentioned valves not seating correctly . Once again the smoke will be light at idle , however if the vehicle is driven , it can become so thick , it's impossible to see behind you . I can almost guarantee your get a pull , by the boys in blue , with an instant prohibition . There is no usual cause with this one , however if i was to be pushed on the point , i may point towards injectors . Often overlooked , i found out when renewing a cylinder head gasket , years back on my Citroen , they should themselves , be cleaned , and reset every 60.000 miles . I must admit i didn't know this at the time , and frankly it's a struggle to find this mentioned anywhere .
• Now finally we come to blue smoke . Probably the most serious of all , only one cause here , the vehicle is burning oil . This has serious implications for any engine , be it diesel or petrol , but for turbo engines in particular , the consequences can be catastrophic . The only real repair is a rebore , or engine replacement . Bearing this in mind , the symptoms can be surprisingly light . The smoke is often a light grey , with a blue tint or haze . The difference is , you will smell the oil , i've been told similar to fresh tarmac . Despite a few here saying , it's fine , or it's quite normal , i can tell you categorically it's most certainly is not . To be clear , you should never under any circumstance ever see this .

You should see none of these in a 50.000 mile vehicle , if you do , walk away . A motorhome is a complicated animal , there are many hidden bits , some you may never see yourself . If the engine is poor , my question is what are the other bits like . It smacks of neglect at best , so if you're not mechanically minded , do yourself a favour , and leave the deal for someone else .

That vehicle may seem cheap , and let's face it . We all want a deal , for bragging rights if nothing else , but i can assure you , if it's blowing blue smoke it won't be . Sorry but that's my opinion , and i'll stand by that .

The only smoke mentioned is by a person who clearly doesn’t know his, or do his, job properly. The OP has since driven the vehicle themselves, and seen no smoke. The owner has not seen any smoke. It has recently passed a smoke test

Also your description of what smoke causes and when it happens is not completely correct. For instance, as we are talking about blue smoke in the post, often it will be seals in the turbo that have failed, which isn’t mentioned in your post. A new turbo is £250-£700 and can be fitted in a couple of hours. Blue smoke can also be caused by overfilling the oil or problems with PCV. So blue smoke doesn’t always require rebore or engine replacement.

I‘d say that most smoking Fiats is due to failed EGR systems, and that there engines are very robust units, especially from this era, and failure is very rare.

But we are talking about smoke that one person apparently saw, it was so bad he couldn’t drive the vehicle, even in the dark, but it did enabled him to go home early.

 

[Shrimp]

I’m a mere woman…..but I am mechanically minded and I’ve seen the underside of numerous vehicles, I understand about coloured smoke from an engine and I’ve a good ear for an engine.
To me the pics of the underside look fine, it is all dry-no oil leaks, rusty but then most vehicles are rusty underneath, there’s nothin there that would frighten me.
If you’ve driven it and someone following hasn’t seen any smoke and you’ve felt happy driving it with no knocks or any odd noises, it pulls well and gear changes are good then it is probably ok.
Sometimes too many cooks spoil the broth!
Just thought of something else-if the AA ’mechanic’ turned up in the dark and drove it in the dark on his own how did he see all this blue smoke?
If he was watching the mirrors for sign of smoke you’re lucky he didn’t drive into something!
Put it down to experience and buy the van!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[chaser]

I'm sorry , Orca . It's certainly not my intention to cause worry , or upset . But you are being given incorrect information for the given symptoms you stated , the result would cost serious money to put right . My post was in direct response to what at best , was making light of what is clearly a serious issue , and required a forceful , and blunt push back . Actually i'm quite surprised at that response , as i've found him pretty much spot on in the past .

To be clear ;

• White smoke , now this one is generally the least worrying of the three . Every van will display this at some point in it's life . Its cause is so often the result of water being in the exhaust system , however it can also indicate issues with the cooling system . By far the most common cause , is an early morning start , following a late night run , on a cold winters day . As the hot exhaust cools in a cold atmosphere , and in this case , lets not forget a seriously warm turbine , it is prone to condensation . This can result in a pool of water laying within the system . During start up the next day , the water instantly converts to stream , and exits the pipe as white smoke . It's usually short lived , and often very light while idling . However it will become heavier , if the vehicle is driven , to a point where it can become worryingly heavy , under heavy acceleration . This is quite normal , however the trouble signs are when the smoke doesn't clear after 5- 10 minutes of running , and instead remaining constantly heavy .
• Black smoke , probably the next one on the list of concerns . Under normal conditions this should never be seen , however to see it , is often a sign that all is not well . In very general terms it's indicating poor combustion , but the problem is , so many things can cause it , ranging from a blocked air filter , through to as i've already mentioned valves not seating correctly . Once again the smoke will be light at idle , however if the vehicle is driven , it can become so thick , it's impossible to see behind you . I can almost guarantee your get a pull , by the boys in blue , with an instant prohibition . There is no usual cause with this one , however if i was to be pushed on the point , i may point towards injectors . Often overlooked , i found out when renewing a cylinder head gasket , years back on my Citroen , they should themselves , be cleaned , and reset every 60.000 miles . I must admit i didn't know this at the time , and frankly it's a struggle to find this mentioned anywhere .
• Now finally we come to blue smoke . Probably the most serious of all , only one cause here , the vehicle is burning oil . This has serious implications for any engine , be it diesel or petrol , but for turbo engines in particular , the consequences can be catastrophic . The only real repair is a rebore , or engine replacement . Bearing this in mind , the symptoms can be surprisingly light . The smoke is often a light grey , with a blue tint or haze . The difference is , you will smell the oil , i've been told similar to fresh tarmac . Despite a few here saying , it's fine , or it's quite normal , i can tell you categorically it's most certainly is not . To be clear , you should never under any circumstance ever see this .

You should see none of these in a 50.000 mile vehicle , if you do , walk away . A motorhome is a complicated animal , there are many hidden bits , some you may never see yourself . If the engine is poor , my question is what are the other bits like . It smacks of neglect at best , so if you're not mechanically minded , do yourself a favour , and leave the deal for someone else .

That vehicle may seem cheap , and let's face it . We all want a deal , for bragging rights if nothing else , but i can assure you , if it's blowing blue smoke it won't be . Sorry but that's my opinion , and i'll stand by that .

Thing is though ,it's not smoking.

 

[Bailey58]

I’m a mere woman…..but I am mechanically minded and I’ve seen the underside of numerous vehicles, I understand about coloured smoke from an engine and I’ve a good ear for an engine.
To me the pics of the underside look fine, it is all dry-no oil leaks, rusty but then most vehicles are rusty underneath, there’s nothin there that would frighten me.
If you’ve driven it and someone following hasn’t seen any smoke and you’ve felt happy driving it with no knocks or any odd noises, it pulls well and gear changes are good then it is probably ok.
Sometimes too many cooks spoil the broth!
Just thought of something else-if the AA ’mechanic’ turned up in the dark and drove it in the dark on his own how did he see all this blue smoke?
If he was watching the mirrors for sign of smoke you’re lucky he didn’t drive into something!
Put it down to experience and buy the van!

On the last couple of paragraphs if he was driving in the dark, and in the drivers seat, how could he tell blue smoke from black smoke?

 

[scotzsue]

Having read all through the thread i would like to change my view of run away to snatch it with both hands if it is what you want.
Have bought a couple of low mileage used vehicles which both much improved after decent usage.
Can remember too the horrible blue smoke out of my cortina, mechanic had deliberately over filled it as a friend of his wanted to buy it. Was fine after excess oil was drained. Sometimes wonder if it was one of them who eventually stole it.

 

[Orca Brody]

Thanks for the latest replies. No real update at the moment. Seller notified me that the fridge freezer has decided to play up and lock him out. Looking into that at the moment. Thanks again.

 

[chaser]

Thanks for the latest replies. No real update at the moment. Seller notified me that the fridge freezer has decided to play up and lock him out. Looking into that at the moment. Thanks again.

Not meaning to be miserable, but with the state of the market and spring coming, if this van is anywhere near the right price,it's not going to be around for ever, if it's definitely what you want,I wouldn't hang about for long or it will be gone.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Orca Brody]

Not meaning to be miserable, but with the state of the market and spring coming, if this van is anywhere near the right price,it's not going to be around for ever, if it's definitely what you want,I wouldn't hang about for long or it will be gone.

No, I understand, you're quite right.