2016 Forester 10K miles engine is smoking

[freekraz]

Hello all,

 

I just bought a 2016 Subaru Forester with 10,400 miles from an insurance salvage auction. Looks like the vehicle was in a rollover, and there is cosmetic body damage all over, but nothing terrible. (The price was right.)

 

Of greater concern is that when I start the car, the exhaust is smoky. Whitish smoke with an unpleasant smell. Continues even after the engine warms up. I checked the oil, which looks nice and clean.

 

I am getting this code: P062F Internal Control Module Eeprom Malfunction.

 

Any thoughts on what's going on? Could the code be related to the smoking? Any ideas on how to fully diagnose the engine fault?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

Jeff in Boston

Edited June 30, 2017 by freekraz

[1 Lucky Texan]

does the exhaust smell sweet-ish? maple syrup or toasted marshmallows? could be coolant - don't trust the overflow bottle's level, check the radiator.

 

that code is unfamiliar to me  but doesn't seem trivial - hope I'm wrong,  more experienced folks will respond I'm sure.

Edited June 30, 2017 by 1 Lucky Texan

[golucky66]

Just looked up diagnostic tree related to that code.

 

It referred me to P0606. Then said to basically inspect main harness to ecm, power wire to ecm. Ground wire.

[golucky66]

It says, symptoms of code are:

"TROUBLE SYMPTOM:

Improper idling

Poor driving performance"

So id get that fixed, then deal with the smoke.

One step at a time, and any code related to the ecm is critical to fix asap

[idosubaru]

If rolled then oil could enter any open pathways on the top of the engine - like PCV valves on older engines. I assume this has to have breather hoses off the valve covers - pull those hoses and look for oil in them.

 

This should just burn off over time.

 

Is it definitely coming out of exhaust or couldnjt be burning off the exhaust?

 

Did vehicle end up on its top or side and keep running? A Used oil analysis may tell something if that's a concern.

[1 Lucky Texan]

^^^ excellent post

 

if it didn't stall before landing at some weird position, could have run oil-starved, or become over-heated.

Edited June 30, 2017 by 1 Lucky Texan

[freekraz]

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Here are some further observations:

 

1) Coolant is full.

2) Exhaust does not smell sweet.

3) I have had the car idling in the driveway for about half an hour. Exhaust seems to be running much cleaner.

 

Questions:

 

Where does the ECM live?

Other thoughts?

 

Thanks in advance for any other responses.

 

Jeff

[golucky66]

I...honestly don't know of the newer cars...they used to be under the steering column. But then I saw one under the hood on a new wrx...