Is my engine over heating?

icescreamqueen

I was just wondering if anyone could solve this for me. Over the 3 days, I have noticed an oily smell everytime I drove my car. Not an overly strong smell but bad enough.
This morning, it was a cold morning and when I was driving to work I got stuck in traffic for about 20 minutes. While I was stopped in traffic I noticed that there was quite bad smoke rising from the engine. However, it could have been bad steam from the cold but doubt it.
On the way home from work, I tried to wash the windscreen but the water had run out so I filled it up with water when I got home. I noticed the engine was really hot which I though was unusual as I only drive for 10mins to get home.
Does anyone think the car might be overheating or is it just my imagination. My car is a 2011 VW polo if that matters. I also got it serviced in July.
Thanks, Dee.

Justin10

What does your temperature gauge read?

Also check your coolant level. Could be a leak resulting in the steam.

alanmc

Surely, if the engine overheats, you'll get a warning light on the dash. Should look like a thermometer dipped in water.

Alanstrainor

The car could be leaking oil from somewhere and not necessarily overheating.

Get it checked out OP, check the oil level before going anywhere in the morning.

Nissan doctor

icescreamqueen wrote: »

I was just wondering if anyone could solve this for me. Over the 3 days, I have noticed an oily smell everytime I drove my car. Not an overly strong smell but bad enough.
This morning, it was a cold morning and when I was driving to work I got stuck in traffic for about 20 minutes. While I was stopped in traffic I noticed that there was quite bad smoke rising from the engine. However, it could have been bad steam from the cold but doubt it.
On the way home from work, I tried to wash the windscreen but the water had run out so I filled it up with water when I got home. I noticed the engine was really hot which I though was unusual as I only drive for 10mins to get home.
Does anyone think the car might be overheating or is it just my imagination. My car is a 2011 VW polo if that matters. I also got it serviced in July.
Thanks, Dee.

The your Polo a diesel? It may be trying to regernate the DPF.

icescreamqueen

Thanks for all your replies. Yeah it's a diesel car if that matters.

Stheno

Do you tend to only drive it for short amounts of time like you described above OP?

icescreamqueen

Yeah mainly short journeys driving the 10 minutes to work and back and about once a month driving home to Donegal. Started a new job at the start of September and I have been driving the car a lot more than I had been before.

firefly08

I was just wondering if anyone could solve this for me. Over the 3 days, I have noticed an oily smell everytime I drove my car. Not an overly strong smell but bad enough.
This morning, it was a cold morning and when I was driving to work I got stuck in traffic for about 20 minutes. While I was stopped in traffic I noticed that there was quite bad smoke rising from the engine. However, it could have been bad steam from the cold but doubt it.

Was it a burning oil smell? If so, that is probably the source of your smoke. Oil can leak and drip onto something hot, like the exhaust or heat shield, then you get smoke + nasty burning oil smell.

If it happens again pull over, pop the bonnet and look for the source of the smoke.

On the way home from work, I tried to wash the windscreen but the water had run out so I filled it up with water when I got home. I noticed the engine was really hot which I though was unusual as I only drive for 10mins to get home.
Does anyone think the car might be overheating or is it just my imagination. My car is a 2011 VW polo if that matters. I also got it serviced in July.
Thanks, Dee.

When you say it's unusual...do you frequently open the bonnet and get close to the engine immediately after driving? In other words, are you sure you don't mean "surprising" instead of "unusual"? I would not notice the difference in heat from my engine bay between normal temps and high temps...but you would see the difference on the dash gauge.

Surely, if the engine overheats, you'll get a warning light on the dash. Should look like a thermometer dipped in water.

Maybe but that is the last thing you should be relying on, same with the low oil warning light. If it's there, it's an absolute last resort. Keep an eye on gauges and check fluid levels regularly - that is the best way to stay on top of things

Stheno

firefly08 wrote: »

Was it a burning oil smell? If so, that is probably the source of your smoke. Oil can leak and drip onto something hot, like the exhaust or heat shield, then you get smoke + nasty burning oil smell.

If it happens again pull over, pop the bonnet and look for the source of the smoke.



When you say it's unusual...do you frequently open the bonnet and get close to the engine immediately after driving? In other words, are you sure you don't mean "surprising" instead of "unusual"? I would not notice the difference in heat from my engine bay between normal temps and high temps...but you would see the difference on the dash gauge.



Maybe but that is the last thing you should be relying on, same with the low oil warning light. If it's there, it's an absolute last resort. Keep an eye on gauges and check fluid levels regularly - that is the best way to stay on top of things

It's a small diesel that is usually used for short journeys with the odd trip a month to Donegal. The dpf could be the issue as Nissan Doc has said, I don't know enough about them to comment, but they do not cope well with lot of urban driving

sham58107

Had that problem too was hose cracked by stone happened twice,go to garage and get it checked,as soon as you can.

firefly08

Stheno wrote: »

It's a small diesel that is usually used for short journeys with the odd trip a month to Donegal. The dpf could be the issue as Nissan Doc has said, I don't know enough about them to comment, but they do not cope well with lot of urban driving

Oh yeah I don't mean to sound like I'm contradicting any of the suggestions already given...I am just adding my suggestion, largely because I get an oily smell and smoke every time I drive my car, and I know the reason is what I described above

Stheno

firefly08 wrote: »

Oh yeah I don't mean to sound like I'm contradicting any of the suggestions already given...I am just adding my suggestion, largely because I get an oily smell and smoke every time I drive my car, and I know the reason is what I described above

Not suggesting you are at all, but have you had your car checked out?

firefly08

Stheno wrote: »

Not suggesting you are at all, but have you had your car checked out?

No I have diagnosed it myself - I can see it, and know the smell all too well anyway . I actually replaced the leaking gasket before but I must have done something wrong because it's still leaking at the corners. It is a very common problem on my engine anyway (Audi V6).

Stheno

firefly08 wrote: »

No I have diagnosed it myself - I can see it, and know the smell all too well anyway . I actually replaced the leaking gasket before but I must have done something wrong because it's still leaking at the corners. It is a very common problem on my engine anyway (Audi V6).

I'd be running screaming into my mechanic

Mar4ix

well... your polo is 2011 ... it is still under warranty, bring it to dealers.
my wife have same polo, just 2010, 1.6 tdi. nearly 45 k kms, got service kit already, never had burning oil smell , even when regeneration is on.
Those polos has no temp gouge.

Yawns

Bring it to a dealer?

10 mins driving to work then a 10 min drive back daily is not fit for a diesel car. This would be the root cause of your problems. Did you research before you bought the car at all by any chance or did the salesman convince you?

Take it for a long drive tomorrow if you can and see if it helps. A nice trip on the motorway somewhere even. Don't be afraid to give it a bit of poke. Last thing you want is to be forking out money for a DPF.

Stheno

Yawns wrote: »

Bring it to a dealer?

10 mins driving to work then a 10 min drive back daily is not fit for a diesel car. This would be the root cause of your problems. Did you research before you bought the car at all by any chance or did the salesman convince you?
.

In fairness to the OP, between cheap tax, and diesel being more fuel efficient she may have been influenced by that and seen it as a more economic option.

Not everyone obsessively researches the car they are buying for pros and cons

Yawns

No obsessive research really needed tho. It's one of the most common asked questions regarding diesel cars. Have a quick search and you will generally find the given answer is that you ideally would be in the region of 20k annual mileage to get the most out of a diesel car regarding savings etc.

Diesels have shorter servicing periods generally so any fuel savings are null and void if you only drive 10k or less and need to replace a DPF.

Stheno

Yawns wrote: »

No obsessive research really needed tho. It's one of the most common asked questions regarding diesel cars. Have a quick search and you will generally find the given answer is that you ideally would be in the region of 20k annual mileage to get the most out of a diesel car regarding savings etc.

Diesels have shorter servicing periods generally so any fuel savings are null and void if you only drive 10k or less and need to replace a DPF.

But that's my point, people don't do research, look at tax rates, mpg and then decide.

When I bought my current car, I asked about it on here, on an alfa forum, test drove it, checked the history, identified what I needed to do, what was likely to be an issue, evaluated how it would fit my driving schedule, the whole nine yards.

How many people do that and get an understanding? as a result of posting on here and simply liking a type of cars, I've ended up looking up loads of car mechanics stuff, which as only benefitted me to the point that my mechanic almost orders parts based on what I tell him.

Most people see cars almost as consumables, buy car, use it, trade it in.

Yawns

I know what you mean. It's madness tho considering how much they are forking out on the car to begin with.