Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posts: 6100
FBH - Excessive Smoke
Temp down to 1C this morning so FBH fired up, however the smoke cloud was terrible. When it first fired up a couple of weeks ago I put it down to a few months of inactivity and perhaps a little water in the mix burning off but as it has run a few times now I'm not sure that could be the case.
Any ideas what causes the excessive smoke? There is a slight leak on the flexi exhaust before it enters the small silencer but I doubt that would cause the issue.
Any thoughts?
2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
7th Nov 2011 10:21 am
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
Just crud really. It may have primed a couple of times previously before firing. It'll sort itself out when it's burned a few times. Bodsys Brake Bible
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7th Nov 2011 10:22 am
CFB
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posts: 6100
I hope so as I'm getting some very funny looks from the neighbours out scraping their windscreens 2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
7th Nov 2011 10:25 am
mark the spark
Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: southampton
Posts: 2484
just enjoy it while it lasts ( the smoke i mean not the fbh )
its like the dry ice smoke effect befor the main headline act comes on looks pretty good to me and still better than a scraper and kettle ! MY05 SE D3 Manual my first LR what a car
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7th Nov 2011 10:29 am
CFB
Member Since: 02 Dec 2005
Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
Posts: 6100
Not sure I agree with you TBH, I'm glad it kicks in but it shouldn't make this much smoke! A gentle cloud emitting from the front is ok but this is rather excessive!2020 BMW X1 18d XDrive X-Line Auto
I only wish mine smoked like that this morning, it worked in January but this morning nothing , didn't even attempt to start. I have just under 1/4 of a tank, could this be the reason? anybody.
Paul
7th Nov 2011 10:47 am
Dave T
Member Since: 03 Jul 2009
Location: Glasgow
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there is a fuel level interlock, just can't remember what level it is, although quarter would sound logicalJoined the BMWX5 45e group
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I fit the Eberspacher D5W heater (like the Webasto) to my narrow boats, unlike the standard setup on the cars you can run the heater anytime on the boats. It’s at this time of without fail that I get customers ringing me with one of two complaints, 1, plumes of smoke when first starting 2, won’t start, both of which usually occur because they neglected to heed my advice and run the heater at least once a month, this of course is not possible to do on the Disco’s without specialist equipment because of the 5 degrees setting?.
Thanks Dave , off to fill up.
Paul.
7th Nov 2011 11:06 am
crwoody
Member Since: 09 Mar 2009
Location: Littleborough
Posts: 2109
Dave T wrote:
there is a fuel level interlock, just can't remember what level it is, although quarter would sound logical
ISTR it's tied in with the low fuel warning light on the gauge.Clive
Clive,
Your theory of it being tied to the low fuel light sound more logical than if you have quarter tank or less = no FBH, i would expect the FBH still to run with fuel level @ 1/4 however............ just filled up and guess what , yes that’s right, nice white smelly smoke (not nearly as much as in the picture above) and the loverly sound of a jet engine .
CFB, I have to agree with Bodsy. These units like to be worked very hard and don’t like short cycling as this causes them to carbon up, so if you only did short journey's earlier this year when the temp was 5 or bellow there is a very good chance that you have carbon and un-burnt deposits which will burn off in time. There is also a gauze which atomizes the fuel, these can become dirty thus not atomizing fuel and causing the unit to smoke.
It is common practice in the boating fraternity to have the units cleaned and new atomizers fitted every 3 to 5 years (bits cost about £80 and it's quite easy to do if your handy).
I can only assume that because the units are regulated by the temperature of the water on the return side the FBH’s are shutting down fairly quickly as it doesn’t take long for the water to reach normal operating temp, on boats they run for over an hour 2 or 3 times a day and they still carbon up(although they are using high sulphur fuel). Some customers ask that a separate fuel tank be fitted so that the FBH’s can be run off kerosene/ paraffin which has been proven to increase the service intervals of the FBH, low sulphur fuel is deffo better for your heater , and it's only a guess but maybe using a diesel additive could cause the FBH to smoke .
Anyway good luck, hope the smoke clears , going to sit back now and watch my theory’s be blown out of the water
Someone here with a similar problem
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Paul.
Last edited by ridgy on 7th Nov 2011 2:10 pm. Edited 1 time in total
7th Nov 2011 12:30 pm
caverD3
Member Since: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Oberon, NSW
Posts: 6922
Could be fog or smog. Under certain conditions water will attch to smoke particles making a particularly heavy fog. As as been suggested for the very thick fog on the M5. “There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely gamesâ€
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7th Nov 2011 12:38 pm
aman822311
Member Since: 09 Dec 2010
Location: newcastle upon tyne
Posts: 66
Hi chaps. I know there is a lot of info on the FBH on the site. I have one thing which needs clarifying. There are conflicting posts about whether you need to have the CC set to AUTO and on full heat for the FBH to kick in. Is this actually the case or will it just start up regardless as long as the outside ambient temp is less tha 5c [?].
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looks pretty good to me and still better than a scraper and kettle ! 
, didn't even attempt to start. I have just under 1/4 of a tank, could this be the reason? anybody.
, yes that’s right, nice white smelly smoke (not nearly as much as in the picture above) and the loverly sound of a jet engine 
, and it's only a guess but maybe using a diesel additive could cause the FBH to smoke 
, going to sit back now and watch my theory’s be blown out of the water 
