Had Bingo for a few years now, she's never used any water and always started ok. About a year and a half ago she began starting on 3 cylinders only then went to 4 after a while. I changed the glow plugs and she was back to normal. About 6 months ago she started using a little water, nothing excessive but one morning Hayden's super alarm stayed on and I had to top up. This has been getting a little worse until I was up to half a litre every month. I decided that it was about time I gave her some tlc this summer and have booked a week off starting 14th august to change water pipes, cam belt and re-underseal her. Two weeks ago while starting she began to start on 2 then 3 then 4, this time I had clouds of whiteish smoke which eventually clears. Uh- oh glow plugs I think and change them. No difference, however she is now using lots of water probably a litre a week, and it is not under the van. Sometimes she starts superb others it's on 3 cylinders then 4, sometimes I have smoke others there's nothing. This morning I fitted a new fuseable link and examined, cleaned and greased all the glow plug relay earth points. I also checked the voltage on the glow plugs and this starts at 10.5 and goes to 11.5 before the relay shuts down. Unfortunately so does my battery.
So to the questions, have I got a problem with my battery, all other times apart from starting the battery is about 12.7.
Do I have a sticky injector hence the white smoke( it smells like diesel to me)
If I happen to have both above where's the water going?
Thankfully I have been collecting parts since the day I bought her and the only thing I need to whip the head off is a new set of bolts.
So in 2 weeks do I change cam belt, water pump and hoses or go the whole nine yards and do head gasket as well.
Oh and I've just found no1 stud snapped on the exhaust which would obviously be easier to replace on the bench.
Ideas, opinions or quotes I will listen to all.
Ps forgot to say oil looks like oil, no mayonnaise, performance is ok and fuel usage is the same.
