Smokey Engine Bay

[maxcaddy]

When I start the car especially after leaving it unused for a while, there's a load of billowing smoke in the engine bay coming up from underneath/around the Battery area. Smells like burning diesel or oil, and not exhaust gas, and certainly not water/coolant. 

 

Has anybody else had this issue ?. Is it to do with the EGR valve which is usually stuck in some place that's nigh on impossible to get to ?.

 

Thoughts ?

[JonWright]

Could be a rocker cover gasket leak - this can leak onto the exhaust and create quite a lot of smoke.

 

They tend to crack/leak when getting old.

 

They are fairly easy to replace!

[maxcaddy]

Yep, a good place to start. It's just that to get a good look you have to strip out the Wipers, Battery etc just to get yer head in to see 

[timb02]

Yes mine does that too. it will be the egr and associated pipe work but as above a PITA to get to and repair. I've just put up with the smell for the first few mins.

[maxcaddy]

I also think the EGR is the main contender, but obviously will check cam covers etc for weeping. 

 

If yours is doing the same, what do you do re MoT time ?, take it for a 20 mile thrash first   ?

 

Do you know where the EGR actually is, i.e. do I get to it from the top, the bottom, or go around the side once the Battery is out ?

 

In the good old days you could clean things like that with Caustic Soda, but I guess that's all now banned in 2021  .

[dave62pb]

Could be a rocker cover gasket leak - this can leak onto the exhaust and create quite a lot of smoke.

 

They tend to crack/leak when getting old.

 

They are fairly easy to replace!

Not that easy as cams are actually in the top cover so its a case of timing belt and all that to take off, 

WE must be neighbors I am East Devon Also 

[maxcaddy]

If yours is doing the same, what do you do re MoT time ?, take it for a 20 mile thrash first   ?

 

 

Okay, for any other folk on here with the same issue, the answer is as above. I took the old girl for a re-test after giving it a good 25 mile thrash, and got it nice and hot with no smoke coming out at all. 

 

Fortunately with the new Control Arm Bush fitted, and the smoke cured, it passed, and lives for another year 

[timb02]

I also think the EGR is the main contender, but obviously will check cam covers etc for weeping. 

 

If yours is doing the same, what do you do re MoT time ?, take it for a 20 mile thrash first   ?

 

Do you know where the EGR actually is, i.e. do I get to it from the top, the bottom, or go around the side once the Battery is out ?

 

In the good old days you could clean things like that with Caustic Soda, but I guess that's all now banned in 2021  .

Yes as it's driven to the mot station it's fine when it gets there. The egr valve is at the front towards the top of the engine. it is possible to clean with carb clean however I think the smoke is from a cracked pipe. 

[Grandvoy]

I suspect the culprit might be the egr tube that's connected to the exhaust manifold. Black soot ends up on everything on the passenger side. Had 2 different 2.8 engines & both had cracked around the joint flange at the manifold end!

First one I welded (bought stainless wire & gas for my mig - worked well) which is a pain as it's really thin walled stainless steel.

The second I've just bought a new replacement (this is modified with a corrugated section in it now) but a wallet stinger at £125!!

I can get pictures if interested!

[maxcaddy]

Thanks for that, sorry been stuck under the bonnet of an old FIAT for a few days.

 

Anyway, yes please if you have a picture of where the pipe is fractured I can check and see if it's the same as what I have.

 

Must say that as I have a working solution in terms of thrashing it before the MoT, I'm not keen on stripping the engine/bay to fix it unless I really have to, unless its very straightforward.

[Grandvoy]

Hi. I have been busy swapping engine & trans on mine so was easy to get some photos for you! Spent far to much money with some shiny new parts - as well as cleaning & painting front subframe, steering rack & anti roll bar etc. Drives really nicely again just rear axle to play with now!!

 

You want to look down below where the vacuum hose joins the engine (passenger side rear of engine) it has a jubilee type clamp to retain it that's where both mine had cracked.

 

It's a time consuming job to remove the tube as battery & tray, header tank need removing to get to it for a start.

I was also smelling the fumes from it but not anymore.

The new one in the image shows the convoluted section that is not on the old one.

Hope these help

[maxcaddy]

Excellent photos , and amazing that a Stainless Pipe could deteriorate that much, I'll check mine for comparison. If mine is cracked but not that badly and looks like it'll hold together, it could be that an exhaust paste/bandage might suffice.

[brit644]

Mine was egr tube, mechanic welded it, 8000 mile no prob. You can buy them, maybe 40 quid