Macan Diesel Woes: Glow Plug Issues & Black Smoke Mystery

Hey there! I've had some experience with diesel engines and faced a similar issue with my 2014 Cayenne Diesel. Actually, I've also owned a Panamera before that. Those symptoms sound exactly like what I dealt with! My car had the same starting issues and black smoke problem. Turned out one of the glow plugs was completely worn out. Had it fixed at my local Porsche workshop about 8 months ago, cost me around 560€ for parts and labor. Car's been running perfectly since then. Could definitely be the same issue with your Macan, but to help you better, could you share: How many miles/km on the clock? Are you getting any specific error codes? When was your last service? Let me know and I'll try to share more relevant details from my experience!

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's at 63574 KM and had its last service about 3 months ago. I'm not getting any specific error codes from my OBD scanner, just the CEL. It's interesting that your Cayenne had similar symptoms, makes me feel a bit better knowing it might just be the glow plugs. Did you notice any performance issues before getting it fixed? My Macan feels a bit sluggish, especially in the morning.

Hey again! Yeah, absolutely, I remember my Cayenne had that exact same sluggish feel, especially during those cold morning starts. It was super frustrating! Your mileage is pretty similar to what mine was when I had the issue (mine was around 68,000 KM). The symptoms match up perfectly too, that morning sluggishness was what really got me worried initially. My car would feel like it was running on three cylinders until it warmed up properly. Just to add to my previous response, before I got it fixed, I also noticed the fuel consumption went up by about 15-20%. Didn't mention it earlier, but thought it might be relevant since you're experiencing similar issues. The black smoke in my case was particularly bad when accelerating from a standstill. Have you noticed any change in your fuel consumption? Also, does the black smoke get worse when it's cold outside? These were pretty clear indicators in my case that it was definitely the glow plugs. After fixing it, the difference was like night and day, no more smoke, quick starts, and the performance came right back. If you're going to get it checked, just make sure they inspect all the glow plugs, not just the faulty one. I ended up replacing all of them since they were all pretty worn.

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! Yes, I've definitely noticed increased fuel consumption, probably around 20% more than usual, just like you mentioned. And you're spot on about the black smoke being worse in cold weather, it's been particularly bad these past few mornings. I think you've convinced me it's the glow plugs. I'll book it in at the workshop tomorrow and ask them to check all of them, not just the problematic one. Better to replace the whole set while they're at it, like you did. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's been super helpful! I'll let you know how it goes after the workshop looks at it. Thanks again for all the advice!