Engine dropping revs & cutting out & white smoke?

[TonyW]

Hi all,

I've had a thrash about on here as this may have been covered already ... if it has my apologies.

Here are the symptoms;

Just recently, we get a lot of smoke on starting and this can be on starting after it has been driven already ..... so not the first start of the day.

Once started, before driving away, it may loose revs or even cut-out. Eventually, maybe after a couple of turns and gunning the engine, it will start. However, yesterday and this morning while driving when coming up to a junction and slowing down, the engine begins to die unless revved. Today the engine just cut completely while driving. No loss of electrical power, tried to restart and then left it and RAC called. RAC arrived and managed to start it but had to give it a lot of revs before it really ran properly.

So, thoughts please ...... glow plugs? ERC/EGR valve? .... anything else?

Oh, it's a 1995 2.5 diesel. New solenoid contacts last year.

**UPDATE** : we have had a small diesel leak from the injector pump and our friendly local mechanic says that this may be the cause of the problem. Apparently once it's started the glow plugs are no longer the issue and it does start most times. So, it may be this fuel injector pump issue?

Many thanks in advance.

Tony.

[wonkanoby]

there is a members faq on the 2 side seals

one easy the rear one a pig

how old are the glowplugs

as may need doing as well

[Simon Jones]

I'd try changing the fuel filter & cleaning the mesh 'banjo' filter on the injection pump. Dodgy pump seals can allow air to be drawn in which will mess up the fuel mixture & cause poor running.

Glow plugs are a possibility. They should stay on for much longer than the light on the dash does & the length of time will be determined by the temperature of the engine. Low revs at start-up indicates the cold start solenoid is not working which is a common failure.

Another possibility if it cuts out when warm is fuel starvation due to vacuum building up in the fuel tank. Try loosening the filler cap for a while & see if you get a bit rush of air when you do this.