GLK-Class (X204) Produced 2008-2014

Strange smoking 15 glk250

Old Feb 8, 2025 | 07:47 PM
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Strange smoking 15 glk250

I have a 2015 glk250. Smoking constantly and found intake side of turbo some play and oily but not saturated. All exhaust head ports dry not wet with oil. Installed used lower mile turbo due to being a car lot customer and turbo supplied was from one of our long time suppliers.
Vehicle starts and runs fine. Idles normal and after 15 minutes in my stall could smell it getting a more pronounced “diesel exhaust” smell and slightly smokes. Drove and after 4-5 blocks smoking like crazy idle or accel. Tool back to my shop and idles and smokes. Very light grey and smells of oil and diesel fuel. Crazy thing turn car off and let set 20 seconds or so and upon restart will not smoke till I drive 4-5 blocks then cycle starts over. No codes and plenty of power.
I was advised possibly turbo drain… Any other things someone might have ran into to test come Monday?

Thanks so much for any ideas!
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Old Feb 8, 2025 | 07:57 PM
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On a gas vehicle a clogged pvc will make it smoke . I do not know diesels but I would think you have a pvc system to remove and burn the bypass of the piston rings .
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Old Feb 8, 2025 | 08:10 PM
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2015 GLK 250 Bluetec
This really sounds like a leaking turbo seal. Oil bypasses the seal and gets burned downstream of the turbo.
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Old Feb 8, 2025 | 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by DenisMcG
This really sounds like a leaking turbo seal. Oil bypasses the seal and gets burned downstream of the turbo.
I thought bad turbo also BUT key off and restart after a few (20 or so) seconds no smoke till I drive again on street. I can sit there after restart and rev and hear turbo and still no smoke till I drive again. It ran in my stall for 10-15 minutes and never smoked. Now may smoke while idling if I let run longer but did not check that yet.
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 06:55 AM
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2015 GLK 250 Bluetec
I just reread your original post. You mentioned a pronounced diesel exhaust smell which could point to a fueling problem. It could be anything from a sticky fuel injector or a fuel regulator problem. Since the problem is intermittent, it does point to a possible electrical component in the fuel system.
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 10:31 AM
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If the smoke is not blue it isn't oil. White or gray smoke is probably unburnt fuel.
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 11:07 AM
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2015 GLK 250 Bluetec
Wouldn't diesel still be dark smoke?
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 12:18 PM
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2013 glk 350
Check vacuum
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Old Feb 9, 2025 | 10:42 PM
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Originally Posted by DenisMcG
Wouldn't diesel still be dark smoke?
Incomplete combustion will be black, but will also produce power. No combustion will be white, like steam, only fuel vapor instead of water. Lube oil burning wil be blue, and not smell like Diesel.
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Old Feb 10, 2025 | 07:24 AM
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2015 GLK 250 Bluetec
Thanks. The OP mentioned a more pronounced diesel exhaust smell which seems to point to a fueling problem.
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Old Feb 10, 2025 | 10:14 AM
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I think there must be a color perception issue. The only thing I can see that fits the symptoms is oil smoke, but that shouldn't smell like Diesel fuel, and is more bluish than just gray.

"White" smoke smells like Diesel fuel, but comes from a cylinder that is not firing, so power and idle smoothness will be affected.

Last edited by John CC; Feb 10, 2025 at 10:17 AM.
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Old Feb 10, 2025 | 10:42 AM
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GLK 250
Could be many things since we don't know the condition of the vehicle. I'm going to assume it's diesel fuel that's being burned causing the smoke, and since it goes away with a restart but comes back soon after, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's possibly fuel being injected into the DPF (or where the DPF should be) in an attempt to run an active regen.

I would place the car on a lift, inspect the underneath and identify that all exhaust hardware that should be there is present.

In the meantime, don't start it on fire...
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