Huge clouds of white smoke, rough idle. No catch can, no coolant leak. Help Please!

[p0isin]

As the title describes, ever since it got cold outside there its a 50% chance that when I drive I have HUGE clouds of white smoke coming from the exhaust. It's to the point that other drivers will stay many car lengths behind me.

I have no catch can just a straight VTA setup that points straight down to prevent moisture from freezing in the lines.

What I've noticed is that at idle the rpms bounce between 550 -1200 and puffs of smoke come out the exhaust. When I am driving at normal speed if I take it out of gear it idles fine. Only when I stop moving does it bounce around at idle. Coolant level hasn't moved in weeks so it's not a leak or burning of coolant.

Does anybody have any suggestions? I have no fault codes or anything and this is killing me I feel like I'm driving a beater not an Audi. I try to help the community when I can, hopefully someone has some advice for me.

[aluthman]

Sure it's not just steam from the exhaust from being cold? Does it go away once the car is up to temp?

[p0isin]

Thanks for the response, I don't think it's stream because it never goes away, even after a thirty minute drive as soon as I stop and idle it pours out smoke.

It has a distinct smell, not sweet but like burning and heavy/thick. If I stomp it from idle I can make a cloud that envelops the nearest four cars behind me [=(]

[aluthman]

Yeah, that's not good...

[fly300kts]

White is usually coolant = head gasket
Did you try to pull the plugs?

Phil

[aluthman]

Pull the dipstick and check the oil. If it's foamy and looks like chocolate milk, that also points to a head gasket.

[fly300kts]

Pull the dipstick and check the oil. If it's foamy and looks like chocolate milk, that also points to a head gasket.

Rough idle makes me think that water/moisture gets in one of the combustion chamber and transfer might not be in the oil side. In any case, good point since it's a quick check.

Phil

[Deep6ed]

I had the exact same symptoms on my old A6. Head gasket for sure. Either drive it to the shop/location you want to do the work, or expect to be stranded somewhere when it turns un-driveable within 30 mins.

[AbigFern]

how far down is this custom CAI of yours could have sucked up some water maybe

[p0isin]

I will pull the plugs and the dipstick tonight but when I checked it a few days ago it was normal colored and not foamy.

It seems like the consensus is the head gasket so I will replace that asap. Thanks all for your help on this issue.

As for the cai it's near level with the head lights so I'd have had to gone through a massive snow pile for water to have gotten in there which didn't happen.