Zafira billowing out white smoke

mum2four

Hi I don't know if this is the place to ask but my zafira has started throwing out a lot of white smoke, this happen generally in slow moving traffic. Any ideas what it might be.

Many thanks

Nikki

mikey72

Is it a petrol or diesel,
all the time, some of the time
hot or cold?

mum2four

Thanks for the reply, it is petrol and car doesn't run hot, usually at low revs.

Nikki

mikey72

Could be something as simple as the air being damp now, with the cold mornings here.
Mine steams in the morning until the engine and exhaust warm up.
Otherwise it could be the headgasket, but it would be losing water if it was.
Have you had to top up the header tank alot recently?

mum2four

Thats the thing its not using water and generally starts smoking when I have to slow down for a roundabout then when I move off it smokes. I can happen on a long journey.

Nikki

vaio

If it's not just normal water vapour then one of your car fluids will be going down, once you find out which one it is the cure will be obvious

Strider590

Is it running ok?
Making any odd noises?
Do you get the normal power?
is it running "lumpy"?
Any warning lights?
When was it last serviced?
If you've got the radio on to drown out the sound of the engine falling apart, try turning it off

Might possibly be running slightly rich on fuel, however this is very uncommon in modern cars.

If it's not been serviced on schedule and cheap crap oil was used, it could be vaporising and entering the inlet manifold (where the fuel and air are pushed into the engine).

I think he cold weather is more than likely the cause, you mention it can happen on long journey's, but if you mainly do just short journeys (taking the sprogs to school in the next street for example), you'll build up quite a lot of damp in the exhaust.

mum2four

Strider590 wrote: »

Is it running ok?
Making any odd noises?
Do you get the normal power?
is it running "lumpy"?
Any warning lights?
When was it last serviced?
If you've got the radio on to drown out the sound of the engine falling apart, try turning it off

Might possibly be running slightly rich on fuel, however this is very uncommon in modern cars.

If it's not been serviced on schedule and cheap crap oil was used, it could be vaporising and entering the inlet manifold (where the fuel and air are pushed into the engine).

I think he cold weather is more than likely the cause, you mention it can happen on long journey's, but if you mainly do just short journeys (taking the sprogs to school in the next street for example), you'll build up quite a lot of damp in the exhaust.

Thanks for the reply, the car runs fine no loss of power and no extra noise from the engine, I do listen to the radio but it is not loud. It is mostly used for the supermarket (sprogs are walked to school as it is only over the road) occasionally my other half uses it for work and can do 120+ miles and can still have the smoke.

I don't if this help but I am grateful for any advice.

Nikki

It only passed its MOT a couple of months ago and has been smoking since.

mikey72

Blue smoke would be oil, black smoke would be overfuelling.
White smoke is usually steam, from damp air, or water getting into the combustion chambers from the cooling system.
Is the car running cold, or does the gauge get to the middle.
Is it the 1.6 petrol?

mum2four

mikey72 wrote: »

Blue smoke would be oil, black smoke would be overfuelling.
White smoke is usually steam, from damp air, or water getting into the combustion chambers from the cooling system.
Is the car running cold, or does the gauge get to the middle.
Is it the 1.6 petrol?

The gauge is only ever on about 80, if that helps.

Its the 2lt GSI Turbo.

Nikki

mikey72

It's not running hot enough, so that alone will cause problems with condensation.
Keep an eye on the water, and change the thermostat in the meantime.