White Smoke Upon Starting From Cold

Rogmur · **January 24, 2013, 15:23:34**

Hello Fellow i30 Members.

The other morning when I started our 2010 1.6CRDi I noticed a plume of white smoke from the exhaust, although
it was only momentary. It was a particularly icy cold morning (Oh to live in Australia).

Does anyone on the Forum have any ideas what it could be as this is the 3rd time it has now happend?

Kindest regards to you all

Rogmur

eye30 · **Reply #1: January 24, 2013, 15:50:32**

Check this out:

https://www.i30ownersclub.com/forum/index.php?topic=16065.msg175869#msg175869

there are a few other postings talking about differnt coloured smoke at start up.
If you put smoke in the Search they will come up for you to browse at your leisure.

Rogmur · **Reply #2: January 24, 2013, 16:10:44**

Thanks eye30

I shall search.
Hope I do not need to visit Hyundai dealer

Asterix · **Reply #3: January 24, 2013, 20:37:31**

White smoke will normally appear when there's water in the cylinders.

Is the water level dropping..?

Dazzler · **Reply #4: January 24, 2013, 20:43:17**

Does your car's performance still seem normal? Being only momentary I would hope it is nothing to worry about ...

FatBoy · **Reply #5: January 24, 2013, 21:22:17**

White smoke on start up on cold morning with diesels is not uncommon. It is generally unburnt fuel prior to the engine heating up enough to burn the fuel. It used to happen a lot in my old Jackaroo. Do you wait until the glow plug light goes out prior to starting?

Hibs34 · **Reply #6: January 24, 2013, 22:52:11**

could be the exhaust valve stem seal happen to mine took the dealer two weeks to find it. when sitting over nite or at work slight amount of oil was leaking through the seal they had to take the manifold off to find it

Rogmur · **Reply #7: January 25, 2013, 11:02:37**

Thanks to everyone for your help and advice. I shall check the water level.
I always wait until the Glow Plug light goes out before starting the engine.
Once the engine is running all seems ok.

I hope it is just unburnt Diesel on cold morning's.

Thank you all for your superb advice I shall keep you all posted.

Kindest regards

Rogmur

**Reply #8: January 25, 2013, 11:11:03**

It could always be one or more of the glow-plugs not heating. I imagine if just one was faulty the incomplete combustion at start-up would blow a little unburnt fuel for a second or two but still appear to start quite normally from the other three. Unburnt fuel vapour looks white.

bryanj86 · **Reply #9: January 25, 2013, 12:19:01**

I will say that my car will do it also here periodically. Mostly during winter but sometimes in summer too. I asked our dealer here and he said that it was perfectly normal to have a quick puff of smoke at start up. I wouldnt worry unless its running poorly or smoking for extended periods...

Just Rick · **Reply #10: January 25, 2013, 12:46:24**

Rogmur · **Reply #11: January 25, 2013, 13:58:02**

Thank you, Eye30, Asterix, Dazzler, Fatboy, Hibs34, Pip, and bryan86.

I have just checked the water level in the expansion tank all seems ok, and just started the engine and
no white smoke.

Phew!

Kindest Regards

Roger the Dodger

mantaray · **Reply #12: January 26, 2013, 01:02:01**

The most common issue seems to be a bad batch of glow plugs that die prematurely. Mine used to blow smoke ( white ) and run uneven, took it back . It was 3 dead glow plugs, all fixed under warranty, no more smoke.
It can't hurt anything, as it is just unburnt diesel, but it is annoying. If it keeps doing it take it back , most service mangers are aware of the issue, and will organiise a fix under warranty.

Rogmur · **Reply #13: January 26, 2013, 11:08:46**

Hi Mantaray

Thank you for your advice.
I was thinking of visiting our local Hyundai service centre, and getting the Glow Plugs
checked out (just to be on the safe side).

Kindest regards

Rogmur

eye30 · **Reply #14: January 26, 2013, 13:37:29**

Quote from: Rogmur on January 26, 2013, 11:08:46

I was thinking of visiting our local Hyundai service centre, and getting the Glow Plugs
checked out (just to be on the safe side).

Let them diagnose what the issue is and see if it accords with what has been mentioned/suggested on here.

If not then gently suggest - are you sure? could it be this/that etc. - and see how you get on.

Keep us informed.

Rogmur · **Reply #15: January 27, 2013, 14:47:25**

Hi Eye30

I'll ring up our Hyundai dealer tomorrow and ask them to carry out a diagnostic.

I'll keep you posted

Kindest regards

Roger (or Roger the Doger)

eye30 · **Reply #16: January 27, 2013, 14:55:24**

Quote from: Rogmur on January 27, 2013, 14:47:25

I'll ring up our Hyundai dealer tomorrow and ask them to carry out a diagnostic.

Before they do it ask to make sure it is being done under warranty otherwise they will charge a ££££££££

Rogmur · **Reply #17: January 29, 2013, 10:28:41**

Hi eye30

Thats a very good point, I was wondering if our local dealer may try and charge us for
any replacement Glow Plugs.
I have arranged for a initial diagnostic next Wednesday.

Here's hoping all goes well.

Kindest regards
Rogmur

Dazzler · **Reply #18: January 29, 2013, 11:06:44**

Quote from: Rogmur on January 29, 2013, 10:28:41

Thats a very good point, I was wondering if our local dealer may try and charge us for
any replacement Glow Plugs.

Some dealers have tried the "not covered under warranty" trick with Glow Plugs but most seem to be coming to the party for our Members lately

Rogmur · **Reply #19: February 06, 2013, 17:51:09**

Hello to all i30 Members

Just thought I would update you all.

Took our i30 to our Hyundai Service centre this morning so they could run a "diagnostic" regarding the Glow Plugs.
Well, the staff member informed us that the Technician was unable to find any evidence of glow plug problems.
However, he suggested that we leave our car at the service centre over night so it could be tested the following morning from cold start. But I am not happy leaving our gleaming i30 in such a congested service centre, (as the risks of our car getting bodywork damage would be too great).
Perhaps I will wait until our next car service to see if the glow plugs will need replacing by then.

Until then I will continue to monitor the situation.

Kind regards to you all

Roger the Dodger (Rogmur)

Lorian · **Reply #20: February 06, 2013, 18:20:53**

As long as it's not running rough at the same time a bit of white smoke is ok, but it should disappear almost immediately.

sootytorques · **Reply #21: February 06, 2013, 20:00:22**

Quote from: Lorian on February 06, 2013, 18:20:53

As long as it's not running rough at the same time a bit of white smoke is ok, but it should disappear almost immediately.

Sorry your wrong, no modern diesel engine with second generation common rail injection should produce any smoke at all on start up, its seems with hyundai its an accepted practice !!!!, unless the white smoke is condensation/vapour.

Rogmur · **Reply #22: February 06, 2013, 20:31:37**

Hello Lorian and Sootytorques

Thank you for your replies.

Kindest regards

Rogmur

Phil №❶ · **Reply #23: February 06, 2013, 21:18:19**

It has been mentioned here that the "smoke" is unburned fuel and seems to appear when there are glow plug problems. We have 2 diesels, 1 with glow plug roughness, (tested today), and the other without. The car without makes, no visible smoke at start up. The other car, sometimes does.

Rogmur · **Reply #24: February 07, 2013, 15:17:48**

Hi Phil Aka 84

Thank you for your reply.
This morning I started the car and it again produced a plume of white smoke and I have managed to capture it
on video too. I am planning to upload it to YouTube, (once I sort out the format)

Kindest regards

Rogmur

Just Rick · **Reply #25: February 08, 2013, 11:17:01**

Rogmor
just upload it to Youtube and post the link,when you post the link it will look like a video on the forum

Rogmur · **Reply #26: February 08, 2013, 18:34:12**

Hi Rick

Thanks very much for that, I will upload it shortly

Kindest Regards

Rogmur

Rogmur · **Reply #27: February 08, 2013, 21:12:53**

Hi to all i30 Owners

Here is the a video of our car "white smoke at start up" (from cold).
My apologies for the poor quality as it was filmed from our CCTV.

The link to YouTube is below;

Kindest regards

Rogmur

Dazzler · **Reply #28: February 08, 2013, 21:19:40**

Wow that's a hard one .. It seems a bit more than our diesel did at start up (but not a lot and it soon stops)

Be interested to hear other's comments

Trish (My wife) seems to remember about that much on a colder morning when I headed to work .. say under 7 or 8 C mornings...

komaterpillar · **Reply #29: February 08, 2013, 21:34:09**

glow plugs or valve stem seals - but more likely glow plugs, and probably not valve stem seals.

Quote from: Rogmur on February 06, 2013, 17:51:09

Just thought I would update you all.

Took our i30 to our Hyundai Service centre this morning so they could run a "diagnostic" regarding the Glow Plugs.
Well, the staff member informed us that the Technician was unable to find any evidence of glow plug problems.

a failed glow plug won't throw a code, so plugging in a scan tool won't tell them anything. they need to remove each plug and check for continuity and then hook 12 volts up to it and see if it heats up properly. Bloody dealers not having a go

could be valve stem seals leaking down overnight, but doubt it as it doesn't blow any smoke at any other time, only occasionally on cold mornings. correct?
does it use any oil?
only way to diagnose this is to remove the intake and exhaust manifolds and look down each intake and exhaust port.

good luck