Hi,

My friends doggy car (2004 forester) is awful with steaming up, but we trhink this is due to wet dogs being in the back and generally making the car wet. (even when dogs are not present)

Recently the car blowers when used on hot or even just one notch from cold, blow out some sort of smoke with a funny old type of smell. Does not do it all the time and some times it a matter of seconds, but its great to have the car suddenly look like an old smoky saloon bar!

Any ideas what it could be? Pollen filter above the fan has been replaced

 

So it literally smokes in the car?

 

it looks like smoke coming from the vents. You can see it! Or some sort of dust as if the fan hasnt been used for years.

Only happens when the temperature is put to heat

 

First off, ensure that the heater controls are NOT set to recirculate the air, they should be set to allow fresh air to enter.

Secondly, what you are describing sounds like an oil leak dripping onto the headers.

But it could also be the heater matrix holed: check for damp front carpets. If you find any damp, taste it...seriously, coolant tastes sweet-ish.