Masses of white smoke

[manfrotto]

Is your brake fluid level dropping?

Another cause of white smoke with strong smell is brake fluid leaking into the brake booster and then into the engine via the vacuum pump.
I am not sure if it is a known issue on the VW transporters, but certainly well documented for other vehicles.

 

[bins73]

Thanks @jasshrie
I’m picking it back up today, all work done under warranty. The entire exhaust system has been removed and cleaned - apparently there was adblue in it… Sounds as though it wads stuck in regen, but we’ll see if it’s fixed…

 

[DXX]

Thanks @jasshrie
I’m picking it back up today, all work done under warranty. The entire exhaust system has been removed and cleaned - apparently there was adblue in it… Sounds as though it wads stuck in regen, but we’ll see if it’s fixed…

Adblue has nothing to do with the regeneration process?

 

[Sasquatch]

Adblue has nothing to do with the regeneration process?

Indeed, its nothing to do with regen.

However, if the injector fails or sticks in the open position the low pressure caused by the exhaust gasses flowing past the nozzle can draw adblue out and quickly fill all the chamber sections of the exhaust, by product being intense white smoke and white deposits around the tailpipe.

If all they've done is empty it out the exhaust but not actually addressed how it came to be there (and being stuck in a regeneration program absolutely will not cause it) then they've fixed nothing.

 

[DXX]

Indeed, its nothing to do with regen.

However, if the injector fails or sticks in the open position the low pressure caused by the exhaust gasses flowing past the nozzle can draw adblue out and quickly fill all the chamber sections of the exhaust, by product being intense white smoke and white deposits around the tailpipe.

If all they've done is empty it out the exhaust but not actually addressed how it came to be there (and being stuck in a regeneration program absolutely will not cause it) then they've fixed nothing.

I did wonder if that was the case, I just thought / hoped the Adblue injection was a more advanced than a simple dosing system. Surely if the flow rate exceeds the required dosing a fault would be logged.

 

[Sasquatch]

You would think so, but the flow rate is probably only monitored when the pump is actuated.

Indeed, thats if its actually monitored at all - it may simply rely on a known fixed flow rate X injector open for a known interval type equation.

 

[bins73]

Well, it got about 60 miles down the road and then the Adblue "650 miles to go, engine won't start then" alert came on, followed about 60 miles later by the engine management light. To be fair to the guys I bought it from, they are being excellent, and will take it back to the garage that "fixed" it under their warranty - I'm really impressed with their care and service.

I gather that after the exhaust was refitted the same error came up during road testing and they then replaced the adblue injector.

At the very least it will be an AdBlue tank sensor, but I am starting to lose faith in this van. Even started looking at a Nissan commercial for a third of the money!

 

[Sasquatch]

Of course the adblue is low, because the injector has spunked it all out.

I have experience of this, hence me being fairly certain it as adblue related. See, this happened to my SiL's NIssan NV300...

They shouldn't be allowed near a spanner if they though this was related to regens.