Giac smoke out exhaust

**soptic425** · 10-24-2016 04:43 PM

Not sure if the pic loaded properly. Had my tune for a couple of days. 2016 s4, Giac stage 2. Saw tons of smoke coming out and when I got home my pipes went from black to white. Any ideas?

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**whiped** · 10-24-2016 04:48 PM

How are your coolant levels?

Did you add in any additives to the tank? (Sea foam or something?)

**LYKUNO** · 10-24-2016 04:55 PM

Saw this on a Lexus forum ... White residue can mean a few things. You can have some abnormal combustion going on and running lean, possibly from misfiring, but may not be enough to throw a code. It can be due to the precat o2 sensors, even if they are working. A good scanning tool can show the waveforms of the O2 sensors. That's the only way to really tell if they are performing correctly, or not.

Gas that has some lead content would also give you white oxidation on your exhaust tip. You may want to try other gas stations, if you don't already. Some lead content in the gas is a killer for precats. So, as mentioned, it can be a result of them failing.

The last thing that is true is that one cause is antifreeze from a possible blown headgasket. The only way to be sure and rule that out is to so a leak-down and compression test. Since you're not sure about the coolant level dropping, I would consider doing those tests.

So agree with the previous post that coolant could be the culprit. Check those levels, and also scan for codes for issues. Let us know what you find. Oh yeah, also heard race gas can cause white residue, but I suspect that's not it here.

**Loe** · 10-24-2016 05:04 PM

I can say from personal experience that the GIAC file likes to run on the rich side. I would lean towards coolant (since its not pure white and looks pinkish...similar in color to our coolant fluid...)

**soptic425** · 10-24-2016 05:28 PM

Coolant levels are good. I haven't added anything. It was running fine then all of a sudden a raspy exhaust note and billows of smoke

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**soptic425** · 10-24-2016 05:29 PM

Yea I definitely read that they run rich. I will try another gas station, but I've been using the same for some time now with no issue.

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**Sceanzo** · 10-24-2016 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by soptic425

Coolant levels are good. I haven't added anything. It was running fine then all of a sudden a raspy exhaust note and billows of smoke

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Cats burnt up and that's the residue. Although a 16' I think that would be unlikely.

**soptic425** · 10-24-2016 07:12 PM

I'm really hoping it's not the cats. The cars 7 months old. I'm going to my shop Wednesday. Will keep everyone posted. Thanks for the responses

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**Badja05WB** · 10-24-2016 07:22 PM

Yes I have Giac tune and it sure runs on the rich side. I have it now for about a month and all I use is BP/Sunoco 93. I have not seen the white stuff though just small smoke when starting cold. Mine is not a daily driver though. good luck

**infinkc** · 10-24-2016 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Sceanzo

Cats burnt up and that's the residue. Although a 16' I think that would be unlikely.

That's what it looks like also, very odd it would happen so soon.

**treejs4** · 10-26-2016 12:36 PM

Yeah I second that this is most likely the cats. I wonder what would cause them to go so quick though :-/

**soptic425** · 10-26-2016 03:08 PM

Shop just called. They're going to run compression tests and also check the cats. My p3 said code 0420 today, so let's see. GIAC is trying to blame my old APR which ran flawlessly for 7 months prior to this.....

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**soptic425** · 10-27-2016 11:24 AM

What my shop sent. No idea where to go from here.

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**whiped** · 10-27-2016 11:28 AM

Replacing the cats is expensive and they should not have failed on a car that new yet.

Have GIAC flash it back to stock, drive it around until you get the P0420 code again then take it into the dealership.

**soptic425** · 10-27-2016 11:49 AM

I think that's the route I'm going. Hopefully I don't get a td1.

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**SwankP3RF3ct10n** · 10-27-2016 02:52 PM

Flash it back like the other say. But, I bet since it's a B8.5, you'll take it to Audi and they'll probably do the CAT Efficiency TSB flash on it and call it a day. Doubt they'll replace the CATs, but I could be wrong... now, if they flash that update, go ahead and drive around with that some more and hopefully you'll get the code again if the CATs are truly failing and if that happens, then they have to replace them. Also, BTW, the CATs have a higher warranty (or should) than the warranty on the car since they are an emissions component, so don't let Audi give you shit about replacing them outside of warranty (if you're out). I forget what milage they should be covered under but it may be like 80k or so. I know I saw it documented somewhere, so be aware of that.

**LYKUNO** · 10-27-2016 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by SwankP3RF3ct10n

Flash it back like the other say. But, I bet since it's a B8.5, you'll take it to Audi and they'll probably do the CAT Efficiency TSB flash on it and call it a day. Doubt they'll replace the CATs, but I could be wrong... now, if they flash that update, go ahead and drive around with that some more and hopefully you'll get the code again if the CATs are truly failing and if that happens, then they have to replace them. Also, BTW, the CATs have a higher warranty (or should) than the warranty on the car since they are an emissions component, so don't let Audi give you shit about replacing them outside of warranty (if you're out). I forget what milage they should be covered under but it may be like 80k or so. I know I saw it documented somewhere, so be aware of that.

Here's that TSB ...

**soptic425** · 10-28-2016 02:42 PM

Thank you both for this information. Greatly appreciated

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**RWD2quattro** · 10-28-2016 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by soptic425

What my shop sent. No idea where to go from here. Sent from my iPhone using Audizine mobile app

Looks like some of the honeycomb on catalyst are plugged? What about the front section of catalyst, I'm guessing that's the rear in photo?
Also, if you have 551G software version like most late 2015/16 S4's, the flash won't apply to your car. Flash back to stock and go from there.

**soptic425** · 11-12-2016 08:21 AM

Just a heads up. Cars been at the dealership for over a week. They did an update. Had to get the CEL to come again then ordered the part from Germany because apparently there are no Cats in the U.S. Part came Thursday and was the wrong part. Hooray. Another 7-10 days since it's back ordered. Yet when I called back for a loaner I was told it'll be done this week. Utter nightmare.

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**LYKUNO** · 11-12-2016 06:24 PM

Hopefully they're going to cover it under warranty. Keep us posted!

**soptic425** · 11-17-2016 02:54 PM

Covered under warranty! Best news to get on my birthday. Car is at my shop getting retuned and I can pick it up tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your responses.

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**whiped** · 11-17-2016 03:03 PM

Originally Posted by soptic425

Covered under warranty! Best news to get on my birthday. Car is at my shop getting retuned and I can pick it up tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your responses.

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Great news for you!

Happy birthday man!

**LYKUNO** · 11-17-2016 03:09 PM

Great Birthday Gift! Congrats!

**soptic425** · 11-22-2016 10:18 PM

Code 0089 - fuel pressure. Back at it again with the CELLLLL. Time to return my GIAC

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**Loe** · 11-23-2016 08:44 AM

it may be a 2016-related file. There are two others who received similar codes and theres are 2016 model years.

**soptic425** · 11-23-2016 01:01 PM

Interesting. I'll have to ask my shop. I believe they put in the refund already

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**bhvrdr** · 11-24-2016 09:09 AM

The only issue with getting the latest model year. Most of the tuners out there do not test each model year ECU but rather attempt to use calibrations from prior years...and sometimes that doesnt work well. Same thing happened to the 2014 and 2015 MY people. Performance was crap until updates came out for both GIAC and APR. I'm sure theyll get it sorted but doesnt hurt to get the refund now while you can and then repurchase it again once the bugs are confirmed to be worked out. Interesting we pay $1200 for off the shelf tunes because of the "extensive R&D" that goes into them.

Mike

**soptic425** · 11-24-2016 12:19 PM

I hear ya. Yea I definitely don't want to be dealing with any issues. Ever since the tune I had this nightmare of my car in the shop for 3 weeks and then another CEL due to software. No thanks.

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**soptic425** · 12-09-2016 01:48 PM

2.5 weeks and no word on the refund. Hmmm. And radio silence when I email seth

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**soptic425** · 12-27-2016 03:19 PM

Closing in on over a month with no confirmation on the refund. I've had two people mention that they went APR due to this issue and my wait time. I'd be hesitant to recommend this tune as good as it pulled when it worked. Stay tuned

**bhvrdr** · 12-27-2016 04:29 PM

Your shop flashed you back to stock but didnt process a refund? Interesting. The shop collects the money I wonder whey they dont issue the refund?

Mike

**soptic425** · 12-27-2016 04:54 PM

This is true. They do collect the money, but they processed the refund through GIAC/AWE. I will be forced to do a charge back eventually but have a good relationship with my shop so have been holding my breath.

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**soptic425** · 01-07-2017 09:48 AM

Bump. Got my refund!

Just kidding

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**protogeoff** · 01-07-2017 10:11 AM

Serious question... Do all GIAC tunes eventually burn out the cats?

V1Rotate

**soptic425** · 01-07-2017 10:23 AM

Other GIAC users could chime in. With any product there's people that are fine, some who aren't. I will say I ran APR flawlessly for 7 months and 2 days after going GIAC. Fried

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**eightamrock** · 01-07-2017 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by soptic425

Other GIAC users could chime in. With any product there's people that are fine, some who aren't. I will say I ran APR flawlessly for 7 months and 2 days after going GIAC. Fried

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I have a 16 with the APR tune and this makes me nervous. 2 questions: 1. Why did you switch to GIAC? 2. How much was the cat replacement? I know it was warranty work, but curious how much it would have cost OOP.

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**soptic425** · 01-07-2017 07:38 PM

I honestly was just curious as a buddy had GIAC and it seemed to pull stronger up top. There was nothing wrong with the APR at all. I will say the GIAC felt torquier, for the one day it worked. And the replacement was about $1500 for ONE cat. I have to double check the paperwork.

Also I ran APR on my vdubs back in the day. No issues

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**miztahsparklez** · 01-08-2017 12:48 AM

That's definitely cats lol. I've blown 4.

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**Loe** · 01-08-2017 04:47 AM

I've blown a set myself, but that was due to misfires and me running the car and not shutting it off when I should have.

In reality, cats don't just blow like that within a few days, its a gradual thing, so anything that happened during a tune switch was par for the course. Glad you got it figured out and covered under warranty!