White Smoke & Lumpiness On Startup - Glowplugs Fine . . .

[mister munkey]

A bit of a headscratcher here, not a serious problem but a niggle that seems to be getting worse.

First thing in the morning it fires up crisp & quickly but chucks a fair bit of white smoke out the 'zorst. Any blips on the throttle in the first minute or so increases this & there's a distinct lumpiness like its not firing on all four.

I would've suggested to anyone else that sounded like one or more dodgy glowplugs but mine have been tested today & all are as good as new.

Could this be an injector problem or related to the fast idle on cold not working . . . .


Any ideas folks?

[You've Been Bongod]

not the dredded head gasket again is it chris ??

[mikexgough]

Chris...... as you have had a lot of work done engine wise....... I personally if my engine was giving those symptoms, would change the fuel filter and fill with injector cleaner and also revisit what I had used Diesel or Diesel/Veg wise recently..... before anything else.... start at the basics....

[mister munkey]

not the dredded head gasket again is it chris ??

Go wash your mouth out with soap young man.

[mister munkey]

Chris...... as you have had a lot of work done engine wise....... I personally if my engine was giving those symptoms, would change the fuel filter and fill with injector cleaner and also revisit what I had used Diesel or Diesel/Veg wise recently..... before anything else.... start at the basics....

Don't do veg Mike & tend to run on V Power diesel most of the time (Oh the joys of a company fuel card!! )


Fuel filter changed every 3000 or so.

My instincts are drawing me towards the fast idle problem. The ECU thinks its cold, chucks in more fuel than can be combusted, hence Smoke City.

Just wondered if any Techies could confirm this may be the case . . . .

[2sticks]

If it's white "Smoke" as you say:

diesel contains around 10% Hydrogen by weight and burns to steam (H20) which
condenses to water vapour in a cold exhaust system. A hot exhaust system will
maintain the steam property which is invisible but still there.

If it runs fine when it gets up to temperature I wouldn't worry unduly, it may be
the morning temperatures in your area are getting colder than average etc. etc.

[mister munkey]

Input appretiated but when it smokes, its a thick cloud & it stinks like fuel.

Steam wouldn't do that would it?

Plus - it aint got too cold just yet . . . . .

[scanner]

I had a car that did the same once and it was just as you say the cold start not working properly. The cold start increases the idle a bit and also alters the timing slightly, if it alters the timing too much or not enough (not sure which) you get incompletely burnt fuel going straight through and the heat turns it to diesel vapour which you see (and smell) as white smoke.

[2sticks]

If the glow plugs are not getting up to full temperature before you crank
the engine you will get a poor burn with a cold engine, hence unburnt
fuel in the exhaust, even though the engine may appear to be running
smoothly.

I am only suggesting you thouroughly investigate this reaction before you
commit yourself to considering something more sinister. As I said previously
If it runs OK once it gets up to temperature, there may be nothing wrong.

[gmaczbongo]

If you have water in the cyl, the diesel will not burn properly and it will come out as steam and stinking of diesel. I would get back to the garage and describe what is happening and get them to look at it.
It could just be an injector that is not working properly.
Heater plugs-how were they tested and sometimes a visual test is better than a meter test.
Hope it is something silly and cheap.

[gmaczbongo]

Before anything major is done and as a last resort to confirm a water leak, put in some cheap sealant (not the expensive usa stuff) and if the white smoke goes away, you have a welsh veggie.
This is only the LAST resort.

[mister munkey]

If the glow plugs are not getting up to full temperature before you crank
the engine you will get a poor burn with a cold engine, hence unburnt
fuel in the exhaust, even though the engine may appear to be running
smoothly.

I am only suggesting you thouroughly investigate this reaction before you
commit yourself to considering something more sinister. As I said previously
If it runs OK once it gets up to temperature, there may be nothing wrong.

Fair point 2sticks but as I said . . . .

I would've suggested to anyone else that sounded like one or more dodgy glowplugs but mine have been tested today & all are as good as new.

I'm not too bothered as it does run better than ever when warmed up after new head & rings & stat & radiator . . . . the list is quite extensive.

My main headache is the ribbing I get from the workmates when I fire it up after its sat for a 10 hour shift. They know how much has been sponged into it over the last few months, how obssesed I am with the thing & seem to enjoy the fact that I chug out of the yard belching like a steamroller at the end of the day.

I just want to bring a bit of Kudos back to the old beast.




I'm leaning towards Scanners explanation at the moment.

[mister munkey]

Before anything major is done and as a last resort to confirm a water leak, put in some cheap sealant (not the expensive usa stuff) and if the white smoke goes away, you have a welsh veggie.
This is only the LAST resort.

I promise gmacz. Its not a water leak/gasket problem - Honest!!

In the last 1500 miles since the rebuild it has used not a drop of coolant. (apart from after a bleed at Adys & last saturday morning when the rad popped, but thats to be expected)

All systems otherwise are fine & dandy.

Sticking that gloopy stuff into a 16 hosed double matrixed Bongo system is WELL beyond a last resort - unless you're a cloak & dagger trader hoping to shift a motor for a pretty profit.

[waycar8]

Yuo have checked that the engine pre heat switch is turned off again Chris




If it is, maybe give the valve a tap with an hammer, as you have just had the back box done havent you?, maybe sumat got lodged/dislogged in the process?

[M 80NGO]

Mine does this to some times now its getting colder, its unburnt fuel coming through the system so the fuel is obviously being injected just not burnt, try heating the glow plugs till you hear the relay click not just when the light goes out then give em a second heat up before starting as 1 may be getting worn, to find which 1 you'll have to take em all out and heat them on a bench in a darkened room to see which one's the offender

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAZDA-BONGO-2-5TD ... 4ce361aba3