Grey smoke new injectors fitted.

[Tmcd]

New member, I was given a 1997 mk3 2.5 Di non turbo camper, I always knew it was smokey but I spent five weeks welding it up, so body work is now sorted. I rebuilt the interior and spared no expense.
Now it's time for the engine, I fitted new fuel filter and injectors, but it's still smokey, grey smoke not black. Does not seem to be losing much oil for a 23 year old van.
Injectors I changed seemed sooty, I'm going to do the timing belt next, but do I need to rebuild the head regrind valves and change valve oil stem seals trying to chase the cause of the grey smoke.
Or is this a fuel pump timing issue, van starts and runs fine bar the smoke screen, tried egr mod but still grey smoke.
anyhelp greatly aprieciated.

[JustJames]

grey smoke is unburnt fuel
egr, injector seals, piston rings, blocked inlet manifold

[Tmcd]

Thanks for the reply, just looked at my post and noticed I said mk3 instead of mk5. I have ordered complete head gasket kit and timing belt water pump ect, weather depending I'll tackle it at the weekend.
I was thinking unburnt fuel, Brand new injectors so seals are good on them. I tried egr mod and no difference, I hope its not piston rings but will be able to tell when I do the head gasket. Im going to rebuild the head with valve seals and regrind the valves. I can check inlet manifold when I have the engine apart, Ive got attactched to this van, not only for the time and money spent on it, but my sons have named it GREG.
If its the worse case,being piston rings can I remove them from the sump without removing the engine.

[ned]

How long has the van ran with the new injectors?

[Tmcd]

It's only been up and down the road for a few minutes, no test on it so can not take it far.

[Chug]

Unburnt fuel = black smoke, and grey smoke can be two things.....

Is it greyish/white smoke = coolant burning?
or greyish/blue smoke = oil burning?

If the injectors were sooty it leans toward oil burning.

[V184]

pump/injector fault wouldn't take the head off unless engine noise

[ned]

It's only been up and down the road for a few minutes, no test on it so can not take it far.

What I would do before anything else is start the van and let it get up to working temp, leave it running for about hold hour or so, when I fitted new injectors they smoked for about 50 miles or so, I assume it was some machine oil in the injectors, as the van hasn't been on the road for a good, good run it's not had change to burn any crap out of the cylinders nor any machine oil in the new injectors.

When are you planning on getting the van MOT'd?

[joinerman]

There will also be a load of crud in the exhaust system, as Ned says get it hot and if you can drive it, mine smoked for a week after changing mine.

[vanfox]

If you have insurance and you're sure it will run OK get half a tank of new diesel and book an MOT as far away as possible. That should give you a decent drive there and back. as well as the retest run if it fails.......

[Tmcd]

Thanks all for the replys.
I will start her up tomorrow and let it run for an hour and then take it for a blast down the road.
I have all the parts for head gasket coming tomorrow and timing belt, I dont know when it was last changed so ill change the belt at the minium. I have a friend who might have access to garage plates and if he does I'll give it a blast down the motorway.
If it was not smoking so much id chance it without, but with a load of smoke pouring out the back I be pulled in a breath.

[vanfox]

Chance it and the ANPR cameras will almost certainly have you!

[Tmcd]

vanfox Im in Ireland so not all the cars have Anpr yet!
Im usualy up around 4.30 in the morning in work for 6am, so might chance giving it a go tomorrow or friday before work, not much around that time of the morning.
Full gasket set turned up today with new torque wrench so worst case ill tackle that at weekend, not sure what the 4 copper washers are for?

[Tmcd]

HI all Just ran the van for over an hour till hot and took it round the block for a quick run and still the heavy smoke. pulled the oil cap while still running and a good bit of smoke from oil filler neck.
Now I think with back presure from an old engine it is either worn rings and or vavle stem seal's.

There is a engine on a internet site near me that i could get for cheap, but I would not know what this engine is like, giving that all the ad said was running well when taken out two years ago.

I have the full gasket set including valve stem seals and timming belt ect, do I redo the head and timing belt including all seal's on this engine. I know I can get oversize rings but eitherway I probably will have to pull the engine out and dont have access to a hoist.
Which way to go?

[ned]

Better the devil you know then the devil you don't If you have what you need for a rebuild, pull your engine and rebuild it, the other might be a seized boat anchor.