LDV Pilot - service?

Does it give off black smoke when it's warmed up?
There may be oil leaking past the valve seals and burning off when you
start. Also it may be the pump overfuelling, I don't know what cold start
arrangement the pilot has. As to the filter, does it have a black push
button on the top of the filter body? If so, change the filter then *before*
attempting to start the engine, pump that until it goes hard. Do it again
after a couple of mins if you're not confident. This is easier if you have
clear fuel lines, you can see what's happening. It's also best done with the
engine warmed up, just in case it wants a bit of nursing.

Steve

No smoke once warm.
Interesting you mention cold start, the glow plug warning lamp on this
one stays on three time as long as on the other one.

That or it's down on compression. Or both.


Make sure the battery's fully charged before hand & you'll probably get  
away without bleeding it, otherwise slacken the pipe nuts on the  
injectors, crank till you see diesel, don't get your hand in the way if  
it's spraying, tighten nuts, wipe up excess diesel & start engine.

Just took the air manifold off to expose the rocker cover and discovered
a pipe from the rocker cover leading down to who knows where - can't see.
Its splitting an oozing oil out, so obv not air tight.
Would I be right that this performs the same function as on a petrol,
and if not airtight would cause performance drop?

no, most simple diesels have a permanently open inlet manifold and no
manifold vacuum as a consequence.

black smoke is usually overfuelling.

get the pump timing checked, if it is a bit retarded then it will smoke more
when cold and sound worse.