Super Smoky Thermotop Auxiliary Heater
 

Today, I started the engine while I put warm water over the windows and frozen-shut doors and noticed that after a few minutes the auxillary heater was very smoky.
As I usually drive the car straightaway up to 40mph maybe it is normal and dissapates as I'm driving. Do you think this is normal or it needs taking out and servicing?:Confused: There are no fault codes, but I didn't have chance to check the live data at the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xxmNlDGC4w

I've noticed some smoke before when idling my TDi's. Like you say, you normally don't notice as you drive off fairly promptly. Possibly more noticeable in the cold weather too ?

I wouldn't be too worried personally.....

Do the A8 TDis have webasto heaters? My old A2 did, the later models had auxiliary electric heaters.

If so, that's completely normal behaviour for a webasto. Or maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree.

Yup, The A8, and A6, Q7 and probably others all have Webastos as standard when its an oil burner... +++

Thanks for the replies. I'll not worry about it but may do the auxiliary waterpump mod this summer so I can use it as a parking heater. The pumps are less than £60 shipped these days. The two pipes are about £15 each from Audi. While it's out, I'll give it a good clean inside.

I'm surprised the later cars didn't/don't have auxiliary electric heaters like the A2s. It's a good thing though, as the electric heaters do not heat the engine coolant, like the webastos.

You can adjust the combustion process on the heater and it maybe something that could cure your smoky one.

http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/attachmen...5&d=1420367344

The A8 Webasto is just to warm the engine quicker on diesel models.
Obviously that will make the heaters warm quicker.
They also have electric footwell heaters.
As an option, you could have parking heaters and these had timers in the MMI, a remote control and and had a shutoff valve and electric waterpump which are not present with the basic auxiliary heater version.

Thanks Delboy. I really appreciate that and the other documents you posted links to. +++

That got removed after 2005/6 due to emission laws I think.

Would be lovely to have.
But the pump and pipe work will have to do.