exhaust smoke and more!

[Rach81]

Hi all-new to the forum but looks really good, and I'm hoping someone may be able to help me, as the citreon dealer just keeps fobbing me off and making me feel like I'm going mad!
Bought my beautiful ds3 sport, 2011 reg in December 2015-my dream car! Only has 24000 on the clock. However, noticed an oli leak and smoke coming out of the exhaust soooo, back to the dealer I go and after much umming and ahhing they eventually decided there was a leak and changed the tensioner. Couldnt see what I meant about the smoke though-told me it was condensation. Fair enough, its winter and the cars not new so left it. However....Its been 2 weeks and the smoke is still there even when the cars warmed up-it is smoking much more than other cars on the road when idling in traffic-so much that the smoke comes round the side of the car which is a bit odd.... taking it back to garage to go on a test drive yo show them this because they in very few words, don't believe me! Also it judders sometimes on idle but that could be the cold weather maybe? Think I'm imagining smells now through the air con after driving a while too....
am I loosing my mind or has anyone else experienced anything similar??? :-/

[Jamie@SPTuning]

Think your smoke is just condensation, ours does it and all the customer cars we tune are the same also. But your right they do seem to be worst than other cars on the road....don't worry, your not going mad

[Rach81]

Lol-thanks! I hope your right....!? Not sure if I'm imagining the rest..maybe so but am taking it in to the dealer anyway just to make the most of the warranty!

[lfcrule1972]

I'm going to be checking mine tonight now as I've not noticed the condensation either whilst driving or the last few mornings whilst scraping the ice off with the engine running

[FLP]

The THP seems to be some sort of steam engine. A bit more smoke compared to other cars is normal. If it's RPMs are fluctuating at idle, maybe it's some carbon build up at the intake valves? I've had the same thing, but after they cleaned the valves it ran smooth again every time.

[Rach81]

Lol, steam engine is right! Thanks guys-will keep you posted

[SeaHawk123]

I've been having similar problems with my DS3, my dealer also said it's normal and they did replace the timing belt tensioner. Give my reply a read over on this thread.

Also is the smoke you're seeing black or white?

[Rach81]

Ahaha, I see what you mean. I can't believe that these cars use so much oil! It will be interesting to see what they say after your 6oo mile test period.....! Surely so much smoke isn't normal though unless there is a problem somewhere? Is your car smoking a lot too? The smoke from mine is white from what I can tell, but there is a lot of it and it can get quite thick - it comes up the back of my car so I can always see it in my mirrors and then when it gets really thick and smokey it can travel round the car to my side mirrors (I actually thought the car was on fire at one point!) - it just seems a bit wrong to me even though of course, I could be totally paranoid! This is my first Citroën - I've had Renault and Peugeot before and never experienced smoke like this.....never had a turbo before either though....?

[Dangerousfish]

This may be a longshot - I don't suppose there's any heated car parks near you that you could test this theory on?

Get the car into one of those, I'd imagine the ambient temperature should be much higher which should reduce in less of the steam/smoke you're seeing.

[Rach81]

Heated car parks? Not round here unfortunately! Are you thinking it could just be the cold weather? Are you a Citroën dealer from Wakefield..? lol! Probably not the best time to buy a car in winter! I'm going though panic mode thinking it's the head gasket, oil or antifreeze contaminating my petrol...etc! I have bad luck with cars, hence the pessimism :-)

[Dangerousfish]

There's plenty of them round here in Manchester.

It's a bit of a drive for you but if you ever come over to any of the Manchester meets in the near future, give WTF or I a quick shout and we can always take you round to one to give it a try (if it's not resolved itself by then).

I'm as skeptical as yourself when it comes to dealers

[Markymark]

I have a 1.6 thp they do seen ti generate a lot of condensation but it more noticeable in the winter especially in the car behinds head lights,even in the warmer weather the seem to produce mor condensation that most it's nothing to worry about just keep a check on you oil & coolant levels to put your mind at ease,I check mine weekly

[FLP]

it comes up the back of my car so I can always see it in my mirrors and then when it gets really thick and smokey it can travel round the car to my side mirrors

When there is a tail wind the "smoke" (condensation) can get alongside the car when, for example, you're standing still in traffic, that happens to me too. Maybe try to make a video of it if you have the chance? So we can judge. Smoke Factor - the auditions

[DaveB]

For some reason, in cold weather your car always seems to be producing more condensation than everybody else's! There's always water in the exhaust; in cold weather it condenses out in the exhaust system, producing a visible vapour & will only disappear when the exhaust system is thoroughly warmed through, which in near-zero temperatures may need a long drive - 20-30 miles or so.

[Ollie92]

I have this too, when I first noticed it with mine being a Racing I started thinking the engine was gonna go pop (still not happened !! - touch wood) but nope just seems to be normal