Smoke From Engine Whilst Towing 02 Dvd

[Looklively]

Hello - newbie here...

Bought 5-door, 02 plate just under 4 wks ago from local private dealership with 6 mths MOT, and a clean service history (the last one having been done as a condition of purchase). Chose the RAV because I wanted something relatively inexpensive and reliable to tow a horse box with. It has approx 78,0000 on the clock, goes like a rocket with no noticeable judders, vibrations, noises or problems.... until now.

Got the towbar fitted, hooked up the (empty) horse box (Ifor Williams)and had a play in the menage (schooling area for horses with rubber chips surface = like driving on sand). After about 20 - 30 mins of reversing and driving in first gear the engine started to billow white smoke that smelt like chemicals (initially thought we were literally burning rubber). Popped the bonnet to have a look, but it wasn't very clear to see. No drips, no obvious stress, nothing. In addition none of the warning lights came up on the dash and the engine temperature gauge was just on warm. There was a suggestion it might be a blocked oil breather, but not being very into car DIY I haven't got a clue if that could be right. We unhooked the trailer and let the smoke dissipate, before I drove home. Apart from the awful fumes, the only thing that I then noticed was that as I engaged first and went to pull away, the engine juddered ever so slightly. Second time, it was more pronounced but I convinced myself that I was giving it too much gas to compensate so that was possibly why it was happening... hasn't happened since (and that was after driving for 45 mins on 2 m'ways, and A roads). Other thing I'm slightly concerned about, having read the other posts on here is that I lost power the other day, whilst going from 2nd to 3rd on a flat road - didn't notice the revs, but wasn't high; switched off engine and restarted and everything was tickety boo.

I've contacted the dealer and he's booked it back into the garage it was serviced at to take a look. I'm worried that I've a) burnt the clutch out, B) got an emerging DMF problem on my hands c) all of the above, OR d) none of the above and its just a blocked oil breather... Either way, I'd be grateful for any suggestions/ advice/ deep breathing techniques for when I get the bill!

[IanXT4]

The smoke sounds like the clutch. I tow occasionally and the first time I reversed with a trailer up an incline It produced a terrible smell and some light smoke. A Towing RAV does not like any extra load when reversing, including inclines, damp/soft fields etc. I now avoid these reversing situations at all cost. Good news is after the smell went the clutch seemed to recover.

[anchorman]

First things first - welcome to the club.

As Ian says, it is the clutch. They don't take much slipping at all to produce the most fowl smelling cat pee/amonia smell which is down to the type of resin and fibres in the clutch plate.

You need to try to practice a different method of clutch control. It depends how good you are but if you practice without Ifor first you will get used to it. Let the clutch up in reverse and use minimal power to start the vehicle moving. When the clutch is FULLY engaged you can use the throttle to keep the revs just above 1000. As long as nobody is in your way you can use the the throttle to keep it going. If you really need to slip the clutch keeps the revs as low as possible.

If you are going to push that trailer about you stand a chance of getting the smell but there isn't much you can do about it. Forget the breather and don't worry too much about the dmf although you have to remember that you are subjecting the whole drivetrain to quite considerable force when you are shunting and it may have some effect on the life of the dmf.

The limping is something else. If it puts a light on it will store a code and we need to know what it is. Let us know if it does it again.

[Looklively]

Thanks both - appreciate the reassurance!