Quick smoke mystery

[GSTheo119]

Bit of a wierd one. Last weekend, about 10 minutes into some local suburban low speed driving I noticed my '03 D5 with 95k was leaving a fair bit of smoke trailing behind it. Initailly assumed it was acceleration related and that I suddenly had badly worn rings, 2 minutes later pulled up at some lights and it was getting a lot worse, it was like the car was on fire at the back. Alarmed, I pulled over to inpect the exhaust, left it idling, quite light grey/blue smoke was pouring from only one of the two pipes, the one centre most. I decided to drive the 1 mile back home and during this journey the smoking stopped, by the time I got back not a trace of it. completely smokeless exhaust as it always has been.
Today completed a 1 hour drive (crucial work related journey), no sign, no messages, no bad running.
So it seems this was a one off 5 minute smoke up from one pipe. Was it a fire in the rear silencer? did something get pushed through the exhaust and burn up? Is it likely to happen again? I did use some turbo cleaning products last year before replacing the turbo FWIW.

These are wierd times but can someone shed light on this by any chance?

[gmonag]

Yes, wierd. I have nothing to suggest, sorry. Monitor it.

[john langrick]

As far as I know, both exhaust pipes that run from the rear box simply are two exits from the same box. There is only one pipe to the engine via the middle box.

I can only guess to did indeed have a burn up in the rear box, could have been crud from the clean and turbo swap.

My experience from marine engines is that blue smoke is from unspent fuel wheras darker smoke from burning engine oil.

It could be that you has a build up of both diesel and cleaner fluid in the rear box, probably towards the offside, it caught fire and burned out.

I doubt if this would throw codes as much beyond the engine.

Just my thoughts, I too have my03.

John ll

[S60D5-185]

That sounds as good a theory as any other John.👍

[ksmi]

It is a well known fact that the Oozlum bird favours the same nesting site as our own Sand Martin, so an exhaust tail pipe would be ideal.The Oozlum Bird was probably blown off course by one of those pesky storms invented by the Met.Orifice. The only place they normally visit in the UK is the far north of Scotland, but all the nest sites have been acquired by the Pangolin birds.
So it is more than likely the smoke was caused by the burning nest. Oh must go ,I think I see the funny farm van pulling up outside.........

Ke...........

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by ksmi

It is a well known fact that the Oozlum bird favours the same nesting site as our own Sand Martin, so an exhaust tail pipe would be ideal.The Oozlum Bird was probably blown off course by one of those pesky storms invented by the Met.Orifice. The only place they normally visit in the UK is the far north of Scotland, but all the nest sites have been acquired by the Pangolin birds.
So it is more than likely the smoke was caused by the burning nest. Oh must go ,I think I see the funny farm van pulling up outside.........

Ke...........

What have you been drinking? I want to try some...

[ksmi]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

What have you been drinking? I want to try some...

Funny you should ask that,I thought it was Tizer, but now I have my glasses on it's.. Jizer!


Regards,

Keith.

[GSTheo119]

Thanks for the input chaps. Actually the mad sounding theory that something got in there and burned up makes most sense. It was parked up near our big local park for an hour before hand. Loads of wildlife there, Squirrels are nest building so are lots of other creatures. there's got to be a reason it was just the one pipe that seemed to catch fire - whatever it was can't have come down the single exhaust from the manifold and ended up in one of two end pipes. Either that or a kid pranked me, sticking a sock up there.
Just glad its all back to normal, bit of a heart stopper at the time to be honest.

[ksmi]

Originally Posted by GSTheo119

Thanks for the input chaps. Actually the mad sounding theory that something got in there and burned up makes most sense. It was parked up near our big local park for an hour before hand. Loads of wildlife there, Squirrels are nest building so are lots of other creatures. there's got to be a reason it was just the one pipe that seemed to catch fire - whatever it was can't have come down the single exhaust from the manifold and ended up in one of two end pipes. Either that or a kid pranked me, sticking a sock up there.
Just glad its all back to normal, bit of a heart stopper at the time to be honest.

Morning Theo, Could have been a discarded jock strap,from Twickers. BTW Most offended by your madness comment,I shall stay at home and sulk for the foreseeable future.