Hi All,

 

Smoke has been coming out from the middle of the car, as after a drive I open my door and see smoke coming from the bottom of the car. Could it be my catalytic converters?

 

If so how much to replace them, or can I get some thing to replace the middle pipes?

 

Thanks, Alastair.

Probably the down pipes leaking somewhere.

 

You can get decatted ones for around the £200 mark

Does the exhaust sound blown? could just be a leak anywhere along the pipes - I had one on my decatted pipes and I got clouds of smoke when I pulled up at a stop.

If it is smoke, and there is none coming from the exhaust at the rear, why would it be the cats?

Mark, how can 'loads of smoke' be anything but smoke! :slap:

True, will take it to my local garage so they can see where its coming from exactly may just be a hole. The exhaust does not sound like its blowing. I only thought it may be the cats as the smoke was coming from that direction :)

Maybe check your gearbox / tranny for leaks - any drips on the ground? Could be something leaking or dripping onto the hot pipes

Nigel, as in, if the exhaust is not smoking, why would the exhaust be "leaking" smoke from the cats. I am not saying its not smoking, I was just questioning the source.

Maybe check your gearbox / tranny for leaks - any drips on the ground? Could be something leaking or dripping onto the hot pipes

 

Does smell like oil burning.

 

Mark, smoke is still coming from the back boxes but it is also coming from the middle of the car.

you need to get under it and look. Cats dont smoke on their own, and if its smoking out of the exhausts, sounds iffy.

Long shot but could it be your coolant overflow bottle? If the pipes blocked and it's venting out the top (or split) it could be finding it's way onto the manifold a little coolant creates a lot of worrying smoke, or it could be the heater feed pipes, I'd check your coolant level. This has recently happened to me and I thought the worst.

Im with willieo with the gearbox leaking onto hot zorst,

is it an auto?

I used to have an SD1 and when u booted it the smoke even came

into the cabin. Stopped at traffic lights it would bellow out from each

side of the car.

Im with willieo with the gearbox leaking onto hot zorst,

is it an auto?

I used to have an SD1 and when u booted it the smoke even came

into the cabin. Stopped at traffic lights it would bellow out from each

side of the car.

 

Yes its an Auto (UK)

Even if oil is leaking "ON TO" the exhaust, how would this effect the smoke coming from the tail pipes?

 

Look at this properly, you say smoke is coming from the tail pipes? This in its self is a problem.

 

Smoke coming from outside of the exhausts means something is leaking on to the exhaust.

 

Sounds simple to me. As I said, get under it and LOOK.

Had a look under the car smoke coming from the middle of the car, is coming from the two things arrowed. At least its not the gearbox leaking :hyper:

ive had this and it was due to not using a new washer when changing the oil. oil was leaking onto exhaust and burning, not much only a drip or 2 but enough to case smoke. fitted new washer at next oil change and hey presto smoke gone!

Nice pic!

I dont have them on my car, guess they're heat shields for the cats?

Does the smoke stop when u switch engine off? ie a blowing zorst.

If still smoking with engine off there must be oil/grease in the heat shield tray, those mothers get

wickedly hot.