Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

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Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by white exec »

Cold idle of 800-900 I think is a tad slow, as several posts have said.
1000, maybe 1100, sounds better. Wouldn't go higher.

Wonder whether the injectors are in good shape?
How many miles on them, since last serviced (recommended something like every 60k miles)?
Have you hurled in 1:200 of diesel-clean (Wynn's, Miller's or 3CV) for a remedial pump/injector clean-up? Well worth doing.
Chris
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Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by CPtje »

Guess the injectors have not been cleaned. It has about 80.000km so will try the dieselclean first. Maybe that will help.

Otherwise, is it possible to clean these injectors myself? Never took out an injector but guess there's a first time for everything.
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and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by white exec »

Yes, try the dieselclean first. It can be surprisingly good - but try to get hold of one of those mentioned: Wynn's diesel fuel treatment, Miller's Diesel Power Plus, or the 3CV Diesel Treatment. These actually work.

Don't attempt work on injectors yourself. Removing them is not difficult, but you'll need an injector long-socket for this. IIRC it's a 27mm one for the XUD - but check. (If one of your injectors has a small electrical lead sprouting from it - not likely in your case, I think - then the long socket you get will need a clearance slot in its side. Otherwise, not.)

Most diesel specialists (go for a good Bosch Service Centre, if you can) have a fixed price for checking, refurbing and calibrating these injectors.

Get a set of new dished sealing washers at the same time. Refit and bleed off following the instructions in Haynes.
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Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by Simple76 »

Injectors would be worthwhile having tested. If timing was out would smoke all the time .
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Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by moizeau »

When it's warm if the idle returns to 800, then the stat is set fine. Also there should be a very small amount of free play in the cable when warm.
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Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by moizeau »

Jim, I know you're back, please confirm the above, and welcome back
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Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by Wookey »

This is a fascinating thread. I have the exact same symptoms as Carlo (on a 1994 Xantia engine, mounted in an Expert camper conversion), it's been going on for years, getting slowly worse so, like Carlo, I am now an embarassment when I start and it would be good to improve matters. My van starts very well and always has done (as someone has pointed out, this is true even with one glowplug dead, but you notice as soon as two are gone) but smoky (and increasingly a bit rough and underpowered) for 1st minute or so, longer if just idling. Mine has done about 160,000 miles. In my case that electrovalve is not being energised due to the engine-swap and mismatched harnesses - this is no doubt not helping! Which circuit should it be controlled by?

I'll avoid hijacking the thread (at least for now) but will be going and checking the same set of things. My pump model looks just like the one MikeT posted. Perhaps we can compare notes some more and it may be helpful.
Last edited by Wookey on 24 Dec 2018, 13:07, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by Bick »

You could test them on a battery takes two minutes to do all 4. The oily coating on them suggests they may not be working?
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Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by Wookey »

In my experience it's normal for the glowplugs to be covered in black carbon but not actually 'oily'. But if he's been doing a lot of cold-start experiments then they might have a bit of extra diesel or oil on them making them temporarily 'oily' rather than just dirty - doesn't indicate a problem IMHO. Anyway, he said he's bought a new set, so this is moot.
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Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by CPtje »

Sorry for this very very very late update....
Until now no solution. Tried dieselcleaner and new glowplugs. Nothing changed.

What I did discover is the following: When I start and drive away the white/grey smoke normally disappears within a couple of minutes. However, when I keep running it stationary (idle) it will keep smoking, even when warming up. When I drive away in this latter case ,it will keep smoking for a long(er) time before finally disappearing, so not within a couple of minutes but maybe for 5 to 10 minutes.
It is as if the injection pump is in another mode, and when driving for a while it changes this mode and then the smoke disappears. Normally, when the smoke is gone it will not return, even not when driving in a cue (idle) for a longer time.

Can somebody make sense out of this?
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My Cars: 1996 XM 2.5TD Exclusive hatch RHD
1992 BX19D Millesime hatch LHD
previously 1989 BX19RD, 1998 ZX 1.9D auto, 2001 Xantia 1.8i auto
and lots of Rovers before that: 1935 Ten, 1947 Sixteen, 1960 P5 3-litre, 1966 P6 2000, 1972 P6 2000TC, and 1975 P6B 3500S
x 1752

Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by white exec »

So the fault is still there; sorry to hear that.

Clouds of white/grey smoke - the more throttle, the more smoke - could also be a coolant leak into one of the cylinders, because of a leaky head gasket. Ethylene glycol will produce lots of white 'smoke' when burned - it's the basis of stage mist/smoke. The vapour usually smells slightly sweet, and will not leave any dark deposits on a piece of white cloth put across the tailpipe.

A small amount of leakage may not significantly affect starting, running or engine power, but can produce copious quantities of white-grey 'smoke', the quantity being dependent on engine temperature and throttle position.

Have had all this on an XUD 1.9 BX.
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Re: Cannot see clearly because of smoke during cold start

Post by CPtje »

Hi Chris,

Head and gasket were replaced. The same issue before and after. No coolant loss, so guess thats not the problem.

Just because I do not know were to find them. Does somebody know were the coolant bleeding point would be in my case? The coolant tank is way above the engine in my case (see picture). I just can't figure them out.
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