Smoke from Diesel engine

DanSellers

Hi,

I've tried other motoring sites for some information, but to no avail. I was wondering if any of you might be able to help, or lend a guiding hand here...

I have a DS DS5 (not branded as Citroen) powered by a 2.0 BlueHDi 180 diesel with a 6 speed auto. It's a 65 plate with 17k on the clock. I got it three months ago and have put 3k on it. It does regular short journeys and as such doesn't get up to temperature. However it often gets good long runs at speed, the last being 500 miles over Christmas up to Aberdeen and back. I've always filled it up with Shell V-Power Diesel.

Today I went on a short run of about 10 minutes to the supermarket, and back home again after about half an hour. The engine temperature guage didn't even register any heat on either part of the journey. When I turned into my driveway I could smell burning, just like you get when lighting a barbeque using lighter fluid. I stopped to reverse and saw alot of smoke from the rear of the car. My driveway is quite tight to turn round so it takes a few movements to turn fully. Each push of the accelerator gave off more smoke. I stopped and revved it again - lots more smoke, a kind of white/grey colour. I checked the dash, no warning lights or messages or fault indications. Temperature guage hadn't even registered any heat (it's a digital one) and AdBlue level was sufficient. Revved it a few more times and more of the same smoke came out. With the engine still running I opened the bonnet and the smoke smell was in there. I revved the engine again and could see the same smoke coming from behind the engine block. Checked under the car and could see nothing escaping from the exhaust. I took the cover off the engine for a better look and could see nothing untoward, no obvious leaks. Coolant level was normal and the oil level too, although I did notice a few bubbles on the oil on the dipstick. I also found a little bit of mayonnaise under the oil filler cap. During this time the radiator fan came on and the temperature guage had risen only to the first mark, which is 60 degrees. Despite all of this, the engine sounds like a diesel should - no knocks, is steady and quiet (for a Diesel).

I'm thinking a few things here:
First being that I've interrupted it's DPF regeneraton procedure. However, it's nowhere near up to temperature and hasn't got to the desired speed - I might have just hit 30 mph briefly after a cold start under urban driving conditions. Although I'm not altogether familiar with the Euro6 Diesel workings I'm sure a DPF regen won't have started under the above conditions.
Secondly, I've got water ingress into the engine block ie cylinder head gasket failure (I hope not) looking at the white smoke and mayonnaise under the filler cap.
Thirdly, could the mayonnaise under the cap be due to the short runs? Any moisture in the engine hasn't had a chance to dissapate?

Has anyone else experienced similar? Does it just need a good run (which I was planning to do tomorrow) or does it need a visit to the Citroen garage before I do any damage?

Thanks in advance

arcon5

Might just need a regen. Short journeys and dpf filters are not good friends at all. Let it settle and check all levels.

Condensation under the fuel cap is probably all that is.

May be worth a garage having a check if unsure though

Alter_ego

arcon5 wrote: »

Condensation under the fuel cap is probably all that is

???????????????????

DanSellers

Hoping that's all it needs. Although the smoke coming from the back of the engine at the same time as from the exhaust is a bit of a concern. I'll take it a run tomorrow and see how I get on.

Joe_Horner

Alter_ego wrote: »

???????????????????

Cold, damp, weather tends to let moisture in the air condense under the cam covers. When you run the engine it gets mixed with oil and makes lubbly jubbly mayo around the filler. A good long run up to temp evaporates the water off and clears it.

tedted

the post from arcon says fuel cap that is the query not the oil cap

arcon5

tedted wrote: »

the post from arcon says fuel cap that is the query not the oil cap

Ok yes it does. Although it doesn't take more than half a brain cell to realise I meant oil cap. Thus another poster correctly elaborated on my comment without making a big deal

arcon5

DanSellers wrote: »

Hoping that's all it needs. Although the smoke coming from the back of the engine at the same time as from the exhaust is a bit of a concern. I'll take it a run tomorrow and see how I get on.

Could be a leaking exhaust. Could be a leak of fluids vaporising. Hard to say what's what from a keyboard tbh. Could be something or nothing.
A quick check at a local trustworthy garage may well be your best bet in this case before taking it for long drives. Checking levels of course before going anywhere as this would be a big clue

Norman_Castle

DanSellers wrote: »

Today I went on a short run of about 10 minutes to the supermarket, and back home again after about half an hour. The engine temperature guage didn't even register any heat on either part of the journey.

During this time the radiator fan came on and the temperature guage had risen only to the first mark, which is 60 degrees.

Might be overcooling. Having the heater turned up and the fan on high will also slow the engine warm up.

Joe_Horner

tedted wrote: »

the post from arcon says fuel cap that is the query not the oil cap

Such an obvious slip, especially as the OP had mentioned the oil cap, that my inbuilt autocorrect seamlessly substituted oil for fuel :;

System

DanSellers wrote: »

Hoping that's all it needs. Although the smoke coming from the back of the engine at the same time as from the exhaust is a bit of a concern. I'll take it a run tomorrow and see how I get on.

If its doing a regen it'll get well hot. If its been damp weather and you've driven on wet roads you'll get steam coming out from all over the spot in a regen.