Smokey engine (when stationary)

[ings]

Hello all.

I have a slight technical question involving my gen 3 auto. When I am stopped in traffic, occasionally smoke/ steam starts bellowing from the drivers side underneath the bonnet at the front. Could this be some form of fuel leak, water leak, or something stupid that I am doing. It only seems to do this when the car is stationary, and generally the car is in drive/ launch/ sport mode rather than neutral.

Does anyone know what this could be, not does not appear to effect the performance at all, but I keep thinking the engine is on fire.

Many Thanks.

[memski]

Check around the turbos for a coolant leak (you did say steam right?), the two (very difficult to get to) hoses are prone to cracking and leaking over time.

[Bobbit]

Have you left the card running and then lifted the bonnet? If it only does it when stationary it should be easy enough to spot, or it could be doing it all the time and you only notice when stationary.

[nikp]

It probably does it all the time. It\'s just you can only see it when stationary. I had a coolant leak on the turbo supply last week, and it was leaking onto the turbo making a hole load of steam: but only when stationary. When i moved it was fine, but it stil would have been leaking.

[ings]

Thanks all. Guess I will have to get my hands in the engine. It does look to be more steam like than smoke, but the whole engine just looks confusing to me. Only just recently worked out where the oil cap is. It doesnt help that the strut brace is almost covering it to. At least it doesnt sound like the engine is going to give way.

Cheers.

[memski]

Check this out dude: http://www.robrobinette.com/turbo_lines.htm

[ings]

Thats excellent. Thanks very much.

[ings]

Hi,

Just a quick update/ question.

It now seems that the smoke is indeed smoke rather than steam. It smells oily, and only does this when the car is stationary which is baffling me. Smoke just bellows out of the bonnet when I stop the car for a second, but the moment I drive off, it stops.

I have looked into the engine bay, and it looks like it is coming from the lower part of the engine on the drivers side. I am not very technical, but could this possibly have something to do with the turbo\'s, exhaust system or even an oil leak dripping onto somewhere.

Failing that, does anyone know of a rotory specialist in the Bristol or Somerset area.

Many Thanks.

[g11ary]

Dragon is near you, in Honiton  (01404) 891888
Sounds like an oil leak on the turbo, get this check soon if you robbing oil from the turbos they wont last long, the smoke wont stop when you start driving, it probably just gets lost in the wind.

[SiH]

It\'s also a fire risk - get this checked out ASAP. If it were me i\'d be not driving the car.

I had something similar a few weeks ago and was pooing myself. Turns out that an intercooler hose had popped, and oil from the engine breathing in the inlet tract had leaked out and was burning off. Damn the MAP sensor system for being so good at covering boost leaks - If it was a MAF car it would have been so obvious!