Fiat Euro5 2.3: masses of white smoke on power: could it be a regen?

[Bertilak]

Tonight, after an unususally free run up a long steep hill I noticed the van was smoking heavily... . White, so over-fuelling. Sometimes it didn't seem to do it when I was on the power, as if intermittent. Could this simply be a regen?

I've not noticed the van doing a regen in the 15month we've had it. Usual use is 7 mile country-ish commute, plus occasional longer MH trips. Never missed a beat before.
2016 2.3 130bhp, c100k, pvc running c 2.6ton so rarely gets the chance to work hard...

Anyone got favourite apps to test the odbc with? - I've got a suitable dongle but never got round to using it in anger.
Any other ideas before taking it to a diesel specialist?
Sod's law, as we're booked on a ferry Thursday night!!

 

[daveandsan]

Could be faulty injector or head gasket.

 

[cranky]

have you filled up with cheapo fuel? could be a bit of water in it.

 

[Landy Andy]

Sounds like a good, long, and spirited drive would do it some good.

 

[Next Stop]

When mine (VW Crafter) goes into Regen you can tell as the idle is slightly higher (900-1000rpm) and the engine sounds deeper, I use Car Scanner as a quick code reader:

https://www.carscanner.info/

It's free to download and use with basic settings.

<M>

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[Bessy765]

First thing I might try is to take the air filter element out then give it a run, lack of air can cause white smoke as not enough oxygen to burn all the fuel. Check any air leaks from the turbo to the intake

 

[the1andonly]

The best OBD2 tool for Fiats out there is Multiecuscan (windows). Alfaobd is available on android and free version is usable but full version has full fiat capability unlike generic devices. specifically for dpf issues there is an ap DPF Monitor Fiat ( not used it).

 

[Landy Andy]

White smoke could be water in the fuel.

 

[Bertilak]

I use Car Scanner as a quick code reader:

I put that on last night, but had no error codes.

Thanks all, I've just got home after a couple of full-bore long Pennine climbs, and it's it's been spot on.
I'm feeling easier about going abroad, as it shouldn't need to work that hard just wombling round Holland!

I'm thinking the suggestions of water in the fuel may have been on the money, I had recently tanked up. I'm just surprised water wouldn't get separated within the filter.

 

[Daffy64]

It won’t be water in the fuel, it would have to be lots to give a problem that you could see when driving.

Don’t run it without an air filter, you won’t help anything and may cause damage, a blocked or restricted air filter won’t produce whits smoke.

White smoke is unburnt fuel (usually), you’ll need to smell it to be sure though.

You say it was a free run up a hill & (I think) a shortish run, my guess would be an engine that wasn’t properly up to operating temperature - just because the gauge reads normal doesn’t mean the engine is up to temp.

If it’s cleared & coolant levels are normal then it’s likely to be something and nothing so just keep an eye on it would be my advice.

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[poisondwarf]

If it’s cleared & coolant levels are normal then it’s likely to be something and nothing so just keep an eye on it would be my advice.

Agree...check the coolant level when cold. White smoke is usually (not always) caused by water.
If an injector has gone down then it either wont run at all, or it will be extremely lumpy and VERY loud.
I speak from experience on an old van (not camper).

 

[LittleGreyCat]

I though:
Black smoke=unburnt fuel
Blue smoke=oil
White smoke=water

Having blown some head gaskets in my time, white smoke was a symptom.

 

[Mac1]

I had the same thing happen just a small puff of white smoke then it was like fuel starvation speed going down to about 10 miles per hour pulled over phoned the breakdown people they put there machine on it and confirmed it was an injector had gone.

 

[Mac1]

Sorry my last post should also have
read left it for about 20 minutes then drove home about 15 miles without any problem

 

[Daffy64]

Black

I though:
Black smoke=unburnt fuel
Blue smoke=oil
White smoke=water

Having blown some head gaskets in my time, white smoke was a symptom.

If only it was that simple.

Black and white smoke can be the result of too much fuel -

Black is too much relative to the volume of air - it’s all burning but not properly.

White is unburnt fuel, it’s got the oxygen but for some reason it’s not burning properly.

White smoke can be a head gasket but by then it’s gone and they seldom heal up on their own so in the circumstances described by the op and the fact that it cleared after being stood then I’d say it was either an electronic glitch or the engine not properly warm.

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[Bessy765]

It won’t be water in the fuel, it would have to be lots to give a problem that you could see when driving.

Don’t run it without an air filter, you won’t help anything and may cause damage, a blocked or restricted air filter won’t produce whits smoke.

White smoke is unburnt fuel (usually), you’ll need to smell it to be sure though.

You say it was a free run up a hill & (I think) a shortish run, my guess would be an engine that wasn’t properly up to operating temperature - just because the gauge reads normal doesn’t mean the engine is up to temp.

If it’s cleared & coolant levels are normal then it’s likely to be something and nothing so just keep an eye on it would be my advice.

Just to be clear the intention was not to run other than a short drive to check, over that short period of time no detriment to the engine and a blocked air filter such in the weave failing and restricting air flow will cause white smoke it is rare but it has happened and it is best to try the simple no expense ones first. Unless 45 years as a diesel engineer and having seen this happen on an odd occasion has no merit.

 

[Guigsy]

I got white smoke when I had a faulty throttle butterfly. It wasn't fully opening, so it was starving the engine of air.

 

[Daffy64]

Just to be clear the intention was not to run other than a short drive to check, over that short period of time no detriment to the engine and a blocked air filter such in the weave failing and restricting air flow will cause white smoke it is rare but it has happened and it is best to try the simple no expense ones first. Unless 45 years as a diesel engineer and having seen this happen on an odd occasion has no merit.

Of course your experience has merit and I’m not looking to offend you but I’m thinking about what the problem might be so I’m not really considering what’s possible but rather what’s likely.

I’ve some experience also but never seen a blocked air filter cause white smoke though.

 

[Badknee]

Last time I had white smoke was when a turbo let go on the truck I was driving.

 

[Bertilak]

I got white smoke when I had a faulty throttle butterfly. It wasn't fully opening, so it was starving the engine of air.

That makes sense... and is consistent with the intermittent nature when it was on full smoke. Perhaps it was a while since the throttle was fully open!

Just to be clear the intention was not to run other than a short drive to check, over that short period of time no detriment to the engine and a blocked air filter such in the weave failing and restricting air flow will cause white smoke it is rare but it has happened and it is best to try the simple no expense ones first. Unless 45 years as a diesel engineer and having seen this happen on an odd occasion has no merit.

Air filter seems ok (-one of the drive screws was being obstinate, I don't have time to start drilling it out or dismantling the air side but I could see one pristine edge, where the fresh air goes in). Motor was supposedly serviced before we got it last year.

No coolant loss, and full power, suggests CHG is still good. Ditto turbo.

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[Silver-Fox]

I though:
Black smoke=unburnt fuel
Blue smoke=oil
White smoke=water

Having blown some head gaskets in my time, white smoke was a symptom.

Not always with white smoke.

Un burnt diesel comes out white.

 

[Bubble 12]

I though:
Black smoke=unburnt fuel
Blue smoke=oil
White smoke=water

Having blown some head gaskets in my time, white smoke was a symptom.

White smoke can also indicate a timing fault, but that's not the case here. Most likely condensation burning of from within the exhaust system.