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Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes

 
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Schmierpfote
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Post16-09-2017, 16:46    Subject: Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes Quote

Hello everyone in the forum,
My Passat 1.9 TDI PD with engine code AVB is experiencing excessive oil consumption again. It's smoking heavily, and even at idle, there's a lot of smoke. The engine seems to have more internal pressure than usual. When I remove the oil filler cap, white-gray smoke comes out, and a little engine oil sprays out. Hopefully, it's just another PD injector that's failing.
Please review my log.
Thank you very much, and have a nice weekend, Wolfgang.



Log-SU-WVWZZZ3BZ2E385918-571240km.txt
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 Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes
Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes
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Post16-09-2017, 18:16    Subject: Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes Quote

Hello Wolfgang,

Your log doesn't say much, except that it seems I can still drive my engine for a few more kilometers. icon_cool.gif

As you already mentioned, a problem with the glow plug could cause a leak in the combustion chamber or fuel supply within the cylinder head.
With a bit of bad luck, a cracked piston could also be possible at this mileage, but the negative fuel injection deviation reported by the idle speed control system suggests a more likely cause: a worn or leaky common rail injector element in the cylinder head.

Best regards, Rainer.


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Post16-09-2017, 21:34    Subject: Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes Quote

Hello Rainer,

Thank you for the quick help. I just inspected the ZKH (presumably a component or system) and saw that three PD (presumably a type of component) housings in the ZK (presumably another component or system) have been cleaned by the escaping diesel fuel. (Photo)

I don't think the engine has a piston problem; it accelerates well and reaches its top speed. I'll replace the seals in two months, as I'm getting a Touran then, and I need to keep this car running until then.

Thank you, Rainer. Best regards, Wolfgang.



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Post18-09-2017, 6:06    Subject: Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes Quote

It would be very interesting to see what the values look like after the procedure.
Right now, it looks like this to me:
PDE2 and PDE3 are internally blocked and mechanically damaged; PDE4 is on its way to being the same. Only PDE1 is still functioning properly.
The lean-out regulation attempts to keep the slower injectors working properly by providing them with more fuel. PDE1 roughly compensates for this amount. That's why there are such high negative values.
Passat Variant BGW 2005
2024 Dacia Duster blue dci 115


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Post18-09-2017, 22:24    Subject: Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes Quote

Hello Steffen W,

I have sealed all the injectors, changed the oil, and the smoke from the exhaust has disappeared. I moved the injector from cylinder 1 to cylinder 4, the injector from cylinder 2 to cylinder 4, the injector from cylinder 4 to cylinder 1, and the injector from cylinder 3 remains in its original position.
I checked the log, but it didn't work at a higher speed. I hope the Passat will last for at least another two months.
I will no longer install new Positive Displacement Elements (PDEs) in this worn-out control head. However, even when I remove the oil filler cap, there is still a lot of pressure in the engine.

Best regards, Wolfgang.



Log-SU-571290km.txt
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 Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes
Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes
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Post20-09-2017, 6:18    Subject: Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes Quote

Thank you for the values.
Since he's retiring in 2 months anyway, I wouldn't do anything else. Power equipment isn't exactly cheap. He's driving it, so just keep an eye on the oil level.
It has definitely reached a biblical mileage.
Passat Variant BGW 2005
2024 Dacia Duster blue dci 115


Translated on 28-09-2026, 10:57.
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Post20-09-2017, 6:20    Subject: Grey White Exhaust Smoke: Causes & Fixes Quote

Schmierpfote wrote:

I checked the log, but it didn't work at higher speeds.

Greetings Wolfgang


If it's about MWB13, that's normal. It's an idle speed control system.
Passat Variant BGW 2005
2024 Dacia Duster blue dci 115


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