Smoke from under car

kamb · Post by **kamb** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 1:07 pm

Today noticed white smoke lots of it for approx 10 seconds coming from a small exhaust pipe under the passenger side any ideas what's causing this

And am I right in thinking this for aux heater

Steamyrotter · Post by **Steamyrotter** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 1:08 pm

Yup

Thats it

kamb · Post by **kamb** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 1:23 pm

Any idea why it was smoking?

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 2:35 pm

It has to warm up, and the same as the car exhausts will steam for a while, the aux heater does the same.

Richard

kamb · Post by **kamb** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 3:02 pm

Should it smell of diesel

Bargain Bucket · Post by **Bargain Bucket** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 3:08 pm

Yes. It's a diesel powered heater.

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Tue Mar 04, 2014 3:16 pm

Runs off your fuel tank.

Steamyrotter · Post by **Steamyrotter** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 1:29 pm

They will smoke especially if there is unburnt fuel left in the system after shutdown, or failure to ignite.

I inadvertantly "tested" my fuel pump and filled the thing with diesel...
Lost the car in the plumb for a bit and then finally found it again....

Quite impressive smoke screen but not for the weak hearted!!!

Lyons · Post by **Lyons** » Wed Dec 20, 2017 9:04 am

Ive noticed smoke coming from under the passenger side of my car a few times now after I turn the ignition off. I assumed it was something to do with the auxiliary heater, but Mrs Lyons nearly had a heart attack when she saw it at the weekend so I thought I should just check what the story is with it!

Under what circumstances does it smoke, given that it doesn’t happen every time? Is the auxiliary heater something that works all the time- it can’t be turned off etc? I have no idea what it does! If it makes a difference, I dont even have the timer set to come on :hmmm:

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Wed Dec 20, 2017 9:25 am

Almost certainly your Webasto auxiliary coolant heater running.

It burns diesel and the exhaust is where you are seeing smoke. It will take a few moments to fully fire up and might smoke (or steam) whilst it does. You should also hear a steady clicking noise whenever temperatures fall below 5°C. It runs automatically.

It’s there to bring the coolant temperature up much faster on diesel vehicles in very cold weather (which you probably knew) and can also be upgraded to provide additional heating on demand. That functionality was the extra option and adds a remote key fob that allows you to toggle it.

Lyons · Post by **Lyons** » Wed Dec 20, 2017 4:02 pm

Very informative thanks. I didn’t realise it came on automatically below 5 degrees. I have also heard the clicking but assumed it was the climate control so always just turned it off before it blew up!

Do all cars have the timer option, or was that the extra? If the latter, should it have come with a remote? My car has the timers, but no remote.

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Wed Dec 20, 2017 4:46 pm

The timer option applies to the cooling system - I can’t remember what it’s called now but something like Aux ventilation? That was standard across the range I think if you had climate control rather than basic air con. It is supposed to get the hot air changed out just before you get in the car (as long as the battery is OK). No remote, just settings on the screen.

Lyons · Post by **Lyons** » Wed Dec 20, 2017 8:18 pm

Ok, cheers. The bottom line is there’s nothing wrong with my car, so I can relax!

Thegolfking · Post by **Thegolfking** » Wed Jan 19, 2022 4:22 pm

I can set mine to come on in the morning so car toasty hot

Alan Gunn · Post by **Alan Gunn** » Thu Jan 20, 2022 6:18 am

Thegolfking wrote: Wed Jan 19, 2022 4:22 pm I can set mine to come on in the morning so car toasty hot

Don't forget it also uses the battery so make sure it is a good one and well charged up.

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