1990 2.5TD 90 Smoking

In article , Andy Seymour writes

It's definitely the engine causing it.

Seriously, mine does the same thing exactly. It sailed through its emissions test last month for the MOT, and doesn't smoke at all when warm, even under heavy load.

My theory is that it's the turbine shaft oil seals. I'm guessing the cold (and thus thinner) shaft allows oil to leak past, directly into the exhaust side when cold, which causes the smoking. I think it makes a better seal once the engine warms up and it expands. WIGART*, I intend to take the turbo off and have a look. HBOL says brown staining in the inlet indicates oil seal problems, but frustratingly that the unit isn't user repairable.

Paddocks list the turbo at £343, so perhaps I ought to check it sooner rather than later...

Regards,

Simonm.

Cold diesel engines that are maybe a bit low on compression will do this

- it's incompletely burnt diesel. So long as it starts ok I'd just ignore the problem.

It's *not* oil if the smoke is white, oil will give blue smoke. It's unburnt diesel from a cold, slightly tired diesel. It might be worth checking the injector pump timing - they wear inside and retard themselves which probably won't help these symptoms either.

I think it *is* white, and I will check the injector pump timing. Many thanks - relieved the turbo isn't about to go, at least not that I"ve noticed!

Regards,

Simonm.

On or around Tue, 24 Aug 2004 07:32:41 +1200, EMB enlightened us thusly:

I've seen some truck engines that make an impressively big fog on cold mornings...

speaking of pump timing, guesstimated advancing of the 300 TDi's pump by about 6 degrees has made it a much nicer thing to drive. Mother reputedly kept a note of the fuel on a run the other day, so will see if it's altered the economy at all.

I have had a few people comment that I should just leave it, "it starts and runs so why change it" but it seems to be getting slowly worse. I will check the pump timing, thanks, it was suggested that I may have a cracked injector pipe, but these have all been replaced, as one was cracked, so the fuel theory definitely seems correct.

Glad to see I am not the only one suffering from this problem :-)

Andy

In message , Andy Seymour writes

I have a swb 2.8 Patrol that does exactly the same. Thick fog, then OK for the rest of the day

I'd have to agree. I wouldn't worry about it too much. I have a 2.5TD in my 90 and it'd done it since i bought it 40K miles ago. U get a puff of white in the morning and a bit on the over-run. But after its warm its as clean as a whistle. The engines done 128,000 miles (as of yesterday) and it still goes great. I'd just keep an eye on the levels and keep changing the oil regularly

All the best

Turbo bearings will always feel worn, they are fully floating bearings. Oil control at the turbine end is by a piston-ring type oil seal.

Could also be worn injectors, but unlikely if emissions test ok.

It's a common characteristic of these engines and I wouldn't worry about it.

-- Badger. B.H.Engineering, Rover V8 engine specialists.

coming soon,

Ok, I am not going to worry about this any more (there are enough other jobs need doing :-)), and as suggested I will keep an eye on the levels etc.

thanks for all the comments,

Andy