Smoke & oil use

Exhaust smoke and oil consumption · what to check

Colour tells you what is burning. A puff on start-up and a haze at every throttle opening are very different conversations.

Quick answer

Smoke & oil use appears as a documented fault on 43 models in our library, across 46 separate faults. The most common areas involved are Engine, Emissions, Engine (Diesel), Exhaust, Engine (V8 Petrol), Turbo.

What it usually means

  • Blue smoke · oil burning, usually rings, valve guides or turbo seals.
  • White smoke that does not clear when warm · coolant entering the engine.
  • Black smoke on a diesel · over-fuelling, air restriction or a failing sensor.
  • Oil top-ups between services on a modern engine · treat as a documented fault, not normal.

How to check it on the forecourt

  1. 01Have someone watch the exhaust on a cold start while you sit inside.
  2. 02Accelerate hard in a low gear on the test drive and watch the mirrors.
  3. 03Check the oil level against the last service sticker for consumption.
  4. 04Pull the dipstick and look for fuel smell or a milky film.

Models where this is documented

Each entry links to that model's full fault page, with onset mileage, severity and what to inspect.

Chevrolet Cruze2011–20192 matching faults
  • 1.4T turbo wear.· 90,000+ miles
  • Oil mixing with coolant or a strong smell of burning oil from the engine bay.· 60,000-100,000 miles
Fiat Doblo2010–20222 matching faults
  • 1.6 and 2.0 Multijet diesel turbo and DPF issues· 70,000+ miles
  • Hesitation under acceleration, lumpy idle, and excessive black smoke caused by a clogged or sticking EGR valve.· 60,000-90,000 miles
Renault Kangoo2013–20212 matching faults
  • Injector and glow plug faults on dCi diesels· 100,000+ miles
  • DPF blockage and EGR valve clogging causing limp mode and warning lights.· 40,000-70,000 miles
Audi A12012–20251 matching fault
  • Engine management light, erratic idling, or limp mode resulting from EGR valve failure or heavy carbon build-up on 1.6 TDI models.· 50,000-80,000 miles
Audi A42009–20161 matching fault
  • 2.0T TFSI excessive oil consumption from worn piston rings (early builds).· 60,000+ miles
BMW 2 Series2014–20251 matching fault
  • Timing chain and turbo issues on early three-cylinder units· 70,000+ miles
BMW 7 Series2015–20221 matching fault
  • Blue smoke from the exhaust after extended idling, indicating valve stem seal failure on N63 engines.· 70,000-100,000 miles
Citroen Dispatch2016–20241 matching fault
  • 1.6 and 2.0 BlueHDi turbo and DPF issues on stop-start work· 70,000+ miles
Fiat Punto2005–20181 matching fault
  • 1.3 MultiJet diesel injector wear and turbo issues· 90,000+ miles
Fiat Talento2016–20241 matching fault
  • 1.6 and 2.0 dCi turbo and DPF issues on stop-start work· 70,000+ miles
Ford Edge2015–20231 matching fault
  • 2.0 EcoBoost coolant intrusion into cylinders.· 70,000+ miles
Ford Fusion2013–20191 matching fault
  • Burning oil smell or whining noise from the front axle on AWD models.· 60,000-90,000 miles
Ford Grand C-Max2010–20191 matching fault
  • 1.6 and 2.0 TDCi DPF blockage on short-run cars· 70,000+ miles
Ford Mustang2015–20231 matching fault
  • Coolant leaking into the cylinders causing rough idling, misfires on cold start, and unexplained coolant loss.· 40,000-70,000 miles
Ford S-Max2015–20231 matching fault
  • Coolant intrusion into cylinders causing cold-start misfires and unexplained coolant loss.· 40,000-60,000 miles
Ford Transit Connect2013–20231 matching fault
  • 1.5 TDCi injector and EGR faults· 80,000+ miles
Hyundai Santa Fe2013–20181 matching fault
  • Rough idle, hesitation, and illuminated EML caused by a carbon-clogged EGR valve or cooler.· 50,000-80,000 miles
Jeep Cherokee2014–20191 matching fault
  • Hesitation, rough idle, or illuminated engine management light caused by a clogged EGR valve or DPF on 2.0L/2.2L Multijet diesels.· 50,000-70,000 miles
Kia Stinger2017–20231 matching fault
  • Oil weeping from the left-hand turbocharger oil feed pipe on 3.3 T-GDI models, causing a burning smell.· 30,000-60,000 miles
Kia Venga2010–20191 matching fault
  • DPF blockage or EGR valve sticking on CRDi diesels used for short urban trips, leading to limp mode.· 60,000-90,000 miles
Land Rover Discovery Sport2015–20251 matching fault
  • Ingenium diesel timing chain and turbo faults on earlier cars· 70,000+ miles
Land Rover Freelander2006–20141 matching fault
  • 2.2 TD4 injector and turbo problems· 90,000+ miles
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque2011–20251 matching fault
  • Sudden loss of power, 'Restricted Performance' warning on the dash, black smoke from the exhaust, and a loud whooshing noise.· 60,000-80,000 miles
Mercedes-Benz E-Class2013–20251 matching fault
  • Injector and turbo actuator faults on older diesels· 90,000+ miles
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter2013–20251 matching fault
  • Injector and turbo wear on very high-mileage vans· 150,000+ miles
Mitsubishi ASX2010–20231 matching fault
  • 1.8 DI-D diesel injector and DPF problems on short-run cars· 60,000+ miles
Mitsubishi Shogun2007–20191 matching fault
  • 3.2 DI-D injector and turbo issues, sometimes cracked pistons on neglected cars· 100,000+ miles
Nissan Titan2016–20241 matching fault
  • Unexplained coolant loss, white smoke from the exhaust, or a sweet smell under the bonnet.· 40,000-70,000 miles
Renault Master2010–20241 matching fault
  • 2.3 dCi turbo and EGR failures on hard-worked examples· 90,000+ miles
Renault Trafic2014–20251 matching fault
  • Injector and turbo issues on high-mileage dCi units· 120,000+ miles
Subaru Forester2014–20191 matching fault
  • Oil weeping onto the exhaust manifold causing a burning smell, stemming from the cam carrier seals due to RTV sealant failure.· 70,000-100,000 miles
Subaru Impreza2012–20161 matching fault
  • Burning oil smell through the cabin vents and visible oil seepage above the exhaust manifold.· 70,000-100,000 miles
Subaru Legacy2010–20191 matching fault
  • DPF blockage and EGR valve sticking on 2.0D boxer diesel models, causing limp mode.· 60,000-80,000 miles
Subaru Outback2015–20191 matching fault
  • FB25 oil consumption on some engines.· 60,000+ miles
Toyota Avensis2009–20181 matching fault
  • D-4D diesel injector seal leaks causing white smoke on start-up· 80,000+ miles
Toyota Camry2012–20171 matching fault
  • Excessive oil consumption on the 2.5L 2AR-FE — some cars burn oil between changes.· 60,000+ miles
Toyota Hilux2016–20251 matching fault
  • Cold start diesel knock, rough idle, or white smoke from unburnt fuel.· 50,000-80,000 miles
Toyota Land Cruiser2009–20231 matching fault
  • DPF and injector faults on the 2.8 diesel· 90,000+ miles
Vauxhall Astra2012–20211 matching fault
  • Rough idle and misfires caused by cracked pistons from Low Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI) on 1.4T models.· 40,000-70,000 miles
Vauxhall Meriva2010–20171 matching fault
  • DPF blockage and EGR valve sticking on 1.3 and 1.7 CDTi diesels, often causing the vehicle to enter limp mode.· 50,000-90,000 miles

Showing the 40 models with the most documented matches · browse the full library.

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