Smoke coming from under engine (maybe catalyser?) 1.6 fsi

[seb11]

We just purchased a very nice Audi A2 1.6 fsi but noticed some grey smoke coming from underneath the car whilst driving it back (not from the exhaust pipe but from the front middle underneath of the car). We took it to the garage and they couldn't find a fault (exhaust compression was okay). Though one thing they noticed is that the car had quite a bit of pressure on the coolant container and they guessed the car was using a bit of coolant. However, in the engine bay, no visible leaks were detected and underneath the car is dry. It actually looked that quite a few parts around the coolant pipes were replaced recently. In general, this car has been looked after pretty well with an almost full Audi history.

Still, it doesn't look right that smoke is coming from underneath. I have a link to two videos, one from the outside (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Wa2mPiSeAtz51_Y6c8gmjVLD0dbweFco/view?usp=sharing) and one from underneath whilst stationary (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e3QKhBREbvShXfIhR0X182CSQxM0zB_o/view?usp=sharing).

Whilst stationary very clearly you could see the smoke coming from what I thought is the catalyser, see the picture below (with the red highlight where the smoke seems to come from). You can also smell it when you step out of the car.

Does anyone on here have any suggestions/ideas about what this could be? Thank you so much in advance.

 

[Evripidis]

It appears that the flexible joint has to be replaced unless I am missing something. Looks all right from the outside but it has collapsed on the inside (pretty much like myself).

You have to take it to an exhaust shop probably.

 

[Catnip64]

Yes, that’s the exhaust flexi rather than the catalyst. If there’s smoke coming from there then it must either be a leak or perhaps you have oil dripping onto this from the engine.
If there’s no smoke from the tailpipe when it’s running then suggest you check the sump and engine for any fresh oil and try to trace where it’s coming from. Hopefully it’s just a small oil leak and easily fixed.

Edit: Welcome to the club!

 

[seb11]

It appears that the flexible joint has to be replaced unless I am missing something. Looks all right from the outside but it has collapsed on the inside (pretty much like myself).

You have to take it to an exhaust shop probably.

Okay sounds plausible thanks for the suggestion.

 

[seb11]

Yes, that’s the exhaust flexi rather than the catalyst. If there’s smoke coming from there then it must either be a leak or perhaps you have oil dripping onto this from the engine.
If there’s no smoke from the tailpipe when it’s running then suggest you check the sump and engine for any fresh oil and try to trace where it’s coming from. Hopefully it’s just a small oil leak and easily fixed.

Edit: Welcome to the club!

Okay makes sense re exhaust leak. Yes we thought the oil was dripping but nothing really there, unless something is dripping from elsewhere on there. It happens mostly under acceleration by the way.

Thanks