My car has decided recently to pump out plumes of black smoke when floored or kicked down. It has always been a remarkably un-smokey car up to now. This has developed the last few weeks.

No warning lights other than the occasional red herring ones many of us get that come and go. None to speak of recently [touch wood].

Digging in the archives here, I gather the culprit may be a plastic/rubber pipe to do with the turbo?

So here is the question: Am I OK to leave this and just have it done at the next service? Or will it cause something else to go wrong?

I ask as we are off to France in ten days or so, so I don't want to be conked out at the side of a French road because the black smoke denoted something urgent I should have had done. Our local indy always seems to have a 3 week waiting list, so it might be optimistic to have it looked over before then.

Sitting on a French hard shoulder while Frenchmen hang out of their Citroens laughing at the le rosbif doesn't appeal. And as that is always a possibility anyway with these cars, I don't want to tempt fate.

But if it will do no harm, I am OK to put up with some smoke till its serviced in January sometime.

Any thoughts please?

Get it checked out, if it's a turbo pipe then a quick fix. Leaving it then doing a long trip is asking for trouble. 2008 G4 RRSport TDV8 current
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Intercooler hose is usual culprit. Easily replaced It's got a split in it or its delaminated. Bodsys Brake Bible
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A new hose is less than £40, and takes around half an hour to fit

i thought if you had your car mapped it kicks out soot? 2006 RRS Supercharged 4.2 HST muthuaflecka!

I had this and it turned out to be a split in the actual intercooler which had to be replaced. Changed the hoses to silicones while it was out. I'd get it checked before you go mate as your options will be more limited once you're there.

As it goes, I couldn't find anyone to look at it before we went, so I went anyway. Apart from smoke, all was well.

I just ordered an intercooler pipe from Duckworths anyway, as without looking, it seems the most likely culprit.

A connected question for you knowledgeable folks please: The car has started to pull away very slowly, more so when cold. Suddenly, it picks up again when the revs go up accompanied by the twin cloud of smoke. Am I right in thinking this is likely the same cause - the intercooler pipe? Or do I have more woes in store?

could still be linked with Intercooler, or could be EGR valves. First port of call on the intercooler hose and see how it goes from there. Bodsys Brake Bible
Software Updates Contact me
RRS Timed Heat/Remote kits - Contact me
BAS Engine Re-maps/ EGR Blank EuIII and EuIV
Clock On The Dash/ SNOTM /3Flash / BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes read\ Gearbox Reset
See it HERE

Thanks Bodsy. The pipe should be here in a day or two.

Are these a simple change? It only looks like a rubber pipe with I am assuming jubilee clips holding it on? Rather than muck about with garages on top of xmas, I'll change it myself if it isn't rocket science to do.

Worth getting it done as you will be getting worse fuel consumption too.
We noticed on a FFRR we had that ours increased by 3-4 mpg once the hose was replaced. ON THE WAY: BMW F21 M140i
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I had the sloooooow pullaway then quick pick up a few weeks back and it was the Egr's, had them blanked and been fine since.

Not saying that is what your problem is but , if it is , it's another easy fix

MisterB wrote:

I had the sloooooow pullaway then quick pick up a few weeks back and it was the Egr's

Interesting about smoke from both tailpipes. Didn't notice any on mine so i expect your right, even cheaper fix

Stuart wrote:

Thanks Bodsy. The pipe should be here in a day or two.

Are these a simple change? It only looks like a rubber pipe with I am assuming jubilee clips holding it on? Rather than muck about with garages on top of xmas, I'll change it myself if it isn't rocket science to do.

Yes, very simple to change, more difficult to get the friggin plastic clips off the lower plastic radiator guard thing in the wheel arch than it is to change the pipe itself.  Bodsys Brake Bible
Software Updates Contact me
RRS Timed Heat/Remote kits - Contact me
BAS Engine Re-maps/ EGR Blank EuIII and EuIV
Clock On The Dash/ SNOTM /3Flash / BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes read\ Gearbox Reset
See it HERE

Thanks again Bodsy. You are an asset to the site.