oh dear

got to work this morning and noticed smoke/steam coming from under the bonnet, when i lifted it to have a look the smoke/steam was coming from the oil filler cap, is it goosed? the temp gauge was where it normally is but the heater didn't get as hot as usual, so i think i must be losing some coolant into the system somewhere, any advice welcome

Which engine type?

Always tell us that.

Sounds like head gasket failure at first glance.

Make sure the water level is right up before you drive home slowly.

CharlesY

He's got a Tdi... dunt look good do it? I'l have a guess that it's a 300 and the HG has blown on number 4.

sorry i forgot to mention it's a 200tdi, just been and checked in my lunch break, the coolant level seems the same as usual, when i started it up, the smoke started to come out of the cap straight away, i checked the dipstick, there isn't much oil left ( checked it a couple of weeks ago, all ok then).............it never rains but pours

disco dan said:

it's a 200tdi

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Good job there wun't any munney on it then

disco dan said:

sorry i forgot to mention it's a 200tdi, just been and checked in my lunch break, the coolant level seems the same as usual, when i started it up, the smoke started to come out of the cap straight away, i checked the dipstick, there isn't much oil left ( checked it a couple of weeks ago, all ok then).............it never rains but pours

Click to expand...

A couple of weeks ago the oil level was ok but now it's not... how many miles do you do in a week? If we're talking shopping trips and a 5 minute drive to work each day and your car doesn't smoke like Andy Capp then it'll be leaking somewhere obvious that you'll be able to spot easily.

If you're doing major miles to work each day check your oil more often than every other week.

This smoke? Is it actually steam - so it dissipates quite quickly and doesn't smell too strong, or is it a blueish oil smoke that hangs around longer than a few seconds and smells like someone just lit their BBQ ?

i drive between 100 and 200 miles most weeks, i haven't noticed it smoking excessively before, there are no major leaks, ( bit of a leak from rocker cover but not enough to drip on the ground ) there doesn't seem to be any loss of power, i don't think its steam thats coming out, when i checked it at dinner time the engine hadn't been run for 5 hours, so the coolant was cold, the smoke appeared as soon as i started the engine, a guy at work suggested the crank case breather might be blocked

Keep calm ..... it's probably engine oil reaching one or more cylinders ....

Logic tells you there are only so many ways it can get there.

Breather system, turbo, past the pistons, down valve stems, are the usual culprits.

Do the easy one first - engine breather system.

Next check the inside of the fist air inlet pipe or hose between turbo and manifold. It may be a little oily normally but not swimming in the stuff.

If the engine is running well enough it probably won't be bores/rings/pistons unless you've cracked a piston but that would be very unusual.

Valve stems seals can leak a little oil, but not as much as you describe.

My bets are breather and turbo.

You may need to wash the intercooler out with a bit of kerosene.

Let us kniow what the problem was when you fix it.

CharlesY

thanks for the replies, i'll update you, going home from work the day i started this thread, i topped up with oil and then half way home the engine juddered a bit and wouldn't rev, then it revved like mad and lots of smoke out of the exhaust pipe, i just managed to get into a layby and stalled the engine ( have heard of diesels running on thier own oil, and turning off with the key doesn't stop it ) called the AA and waited about an hour, they towed me to a garage, the mechanic reckons its head gasket or a broken piston, he's taking the head off today for a proper look, hope it's the gasket

got the disco back, thankfully it was the just head gasket, the guy that fixed it for me enquired about getting the head skimmed while it was off, and was told that these cylinder heads can't be skimmed, can anyone confirm this?