Subaru Levorg - Mystery smoke

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Thu 9 Dec 2021 15:22
Subaru Levorg - Mystery smoke - jcnipper

Hi,

I have a 2018 1.6GT Levorg (48000k miles and Full Dealer History) which I have owned for 3 months and a few weeks into my ownership the car intermittently started to produce an amount (quite a plume on occasions) of blue / grey smoke on start-up which quickly clears. Never smokes starting from cold (overnight) but after a short 5-8 miles run, if left for a hour or so will smoke on start-up.

Car is under warranty but dealer is dismissing the grey / blue smoke (which I believe is probably oil) as condensation. I have a number of video's of the smoke all dismissed by the M dealer.

Usage of oil is not high although I can't help but feel this is a fault and not normal.

Any views / suggestions gratefully received.

Cheers

Billy

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 9 Dec 2021 15:43
Subaru Levorg - Mystery smoke - _

Have you tried the subaru forums?

lots of smokers there.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 9 Dec 2021 17:18
Subaru Levorg - Mystery smoke - bathtub tom

Valve stem oil seals? But if it were I'd expect it at every start up of after a few miles.

Edited by bathtub tom on 09/12/2021 at 17:19

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 9 Dec 2021 22:59
Subaru Levorg - Mystery smoke - Big John

If it was crankcase pressure, valve oil seals etc it would blow blue smoke on first startup after after a run including from cold/overnight. If it was a piston ring issue it would not clear. Also oil usage would be high.

To be honest steam/smoke that quickly clears on startup does sound like condensation - especially with a direct injection petrol engine and when outside temperatures have got much colder!! My tsi Superb generates quite a plume at this time of year until warmed up - it has done this since I've owned from nearly new.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 10 Dec 2021 14:42
Subaru Levorg - Mystery smoke - jcnipper

Thanks for replies,

The initial 'plume' is grey / blue which quickly clears to white - condensation type smoke.

Its a strange one that's for sure but disappointingly neither dealer of Subaru UK have a clue as to the cause. Was hoping to run it to 150k miles plus but have lost confidence in the mechanics so it will need to go before warranty is up.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 10 Dec 2021 15:37
Subaru Levorg - Mystery smoke - madf

Almost certainly excess fuel.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 18 Aug 2022 08:54
Subaru Levorg - Mystery smoke - jcnipper

Vehicle now for sale again at main dealer - BF67 EJK

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

10 warranty myths exposed

Here’s how to sort the fact from the fiction when it comes to car warranties.

Cheap Car Warranties

A guide to how much VED you will need to pay on your car.

Road Tax Bands and Rates