Smoky Di

[madvanman]

My di started blowing large plumes of white smoke from the exhaust (as some of you may have noticed at southampton ),
Ive managed to cure it by advancing the diesel pump timing.
but i am wondering if there is any other possible cause for this as i know the pump timing should not ever need advancing from its normal setting, or is it a sign that my pump needs replacing.

[madmark]

mate could be injector going or air getting in the system!

[madvanman]

I have checked all pipes and unions from the tank through to the injectors and am fairly certain there are no leaks.
is there any way to check the injectors without specialist equipment?

[madmark]

mate i dont think so , is it just every now and then puffing??????? or driveing along and it holds back and chucks out wite smoke?????

[ovlov]

My old mk3 pick up started throwing white smoke out put some new injectors in it no probs after that

[FredTransit]

I always thought white smoke was steam, ie caused by water due to a head gasket gone, is the engine using a lot of water?

[bortaf]

Om my old 87 Di it lost power when an injector went down, and put out loads of white smoke, the AA man cracked the unions on the injectors and one made no difference, i changed just that one injector (or he did) for a spare i had in the back and it was perfect again after

[madvanman]

mate i dont think so , is it just every now and then puffing??????? or driveing along and it holds back and chucks out wite smoke????? Confused

It a small amount while idleing large amount when accelerator is pressed, since i altered the pump timing its just a tiny amount all the time.
There dosent seem to be any noticable loss of power just a slight increase in fuel consumpton.

I think ill try fitting new injectors, i found the full service history paperwork for the truck that this engine came from, the injectors are still the original 20 year old units fitted when it mas made.

[MrMPuk]

Got to say madvanman if you watch the video of you coming of the bridge there was quite alot of smoke then!

[madvanman]

I always thought white smoke was steam, ie caused by water due to a head gasket gone, is the engine using a lot of water?

On a diesel engine white smoke is either steam like you said or unburnt diesel fuel, mine definitely smells like unburnt diesel. i did have a small loss of water and thought it was headgasket at first, but found my water pump was leaking.

[madvanman]

Got to say madvanman if you watch the video of you coming of the bridge there was quite alot of smoke then!

and it got worse on the way back from southampton

[MrMPuk]

Well at least you made it there and back that's the main thing!

[madvanman]

thats the thing about this old di, apart from the cam belt going, nothing seems to stop it running unlike the one i took out.

[MrMPuk]

At least the cambelt going is no biggy all that does is bend the pushrods.

[madvanman]

boy does it bend them. ive kept the bent ones as a reminder to change the belt when its due next, 4 steel S's
lukily i had a spare '96 hicube di to pinch em from, although they were 1mm shorter they fitted,
mmm! wonder if this could contribute to the smoke, the valve clearences are adjusted correctly, ive check them myself.