Smokey ZX TD
Moderator: RichardW
Smokey ZX TD
Ive recntly serviced my wifes ZX 1.9 TD (1997). I changed the fuel filter the oil and filter and also the air filter. Before servicing when she started the car on a morning a cloud of black smoke would appear for about the first few yards of driving and then slowley disapear. Following the service on start up there is now a large puff of clear white smoke which seems a lot more than the black smoke and it also takes longer to disapear. When the car is warm there is no smoke. Any one know what this is and can it be fixed ie is there a cold start adjustment screw?. The car has done 120k but as she lovs the car SHE WANTS TO KEEP IT. Also when i put the exact type of replacment air filter backj in it required a good push on the clips to get it home, is theis normal or could i have knocked a flap etc causing a blocked air intake.. Thanks in advance Dave
Well in regard to the air filter housing...it really depends if your a dwarf which would come to reason why you would find it difficult to clip it back on.....Im not a dwarf but am weak....It takes a bit of force to get the clips on....if its exact type then you dont need to worry....unless you have been given the wrong one....they do tend to need a bit of force to get the clips over
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The white smoke is probably unburnt fuel, most likely due to a failed glow plug, if this is the case the engine will probably start up on three cylinders, the smoke coming from the one that isn't firing. If it still starts OK you probably have an engine with good compression but its worth getting the plugs checked out.
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Further to Peter's post. If it's a glow plug then it will cough and run rough until the cylinder with the duff glowplug warms up. 2 other things could produce white smoke:
1. Failed turbo oil seal on exhaust side - this leaks oil into the exhaust which vaporises rather than burns, so it comes out white. I think this is unlikely in your case, since this would normally be expected when the oil was hot and running the engine hard.
2. Coolant leaking into a cylnder overnight, which then gets chucked out the exhaust in the morning, due to head gasket failure.
Your neighbours will probably think you mad, but what does the smoke smell like?
If you have no roughness on starting, then you are possibly looking at 2 above, which means the head might have to come off. Not the end of the world - HG replacement almost routine on these engines any time after 100k. Look also for unexplained coolant loss, pressure in the cooling system even when it has cooled down, pressurising the coolant very quickly after starting the engine (< 1 min).
Hopefully it just wants a new glowplug!
The ZX TD is a superb car, and definitely worth keeping going if the body work is in good condition.
1. Failed turbo oil seal on exhaust side - this leaks oil into the exhaust which vaporises rather than burns, so it comes out white. I think this is unlikely in your case, since this would normally be expected when the oil was hot and running the engine hard.
2. Coolant leaking into a cylnder overnight, which then gets chucked out the exhaust in the morning, due to head gasket failure.
Your neighbours will probably think you mad, but what does the smoke smell like?
If you have no roughness on starting, then you are possibly looking at 2 above, which means the head might have to come off. Not the end of the world - HG replacement almost routine on these engines any time after 100k. Look also for unexplained coolant loss, pressure in the cooling system even when it has cooled down, pressurising the coolant very quickly after starting the engine (< 1 min).
Hopefully it just wants a new glowplug!
The ZX TD is a superb car, and definitely worth keeping going if the body work is in good condition.
Does it start well? - by well I mean heat until the light goes out, turn key and it should run on all 4 cylinders and idle smoothly straight away?
If it doesn't start easily as described above - suspect glow plugs - they will run with2 failed without much problem. the white smoke is unburnt fuel deposited in the cylinders with failed plugs and is blown out as vapour.
When its running - is there a discernable fast idle? Watch the rev counter as it warms up - idle speed should rise to say 1000 rpm and then drop back. If it does not the waxstat fast idle device has probably failed (not expensive). This pulls a wire on the pump, trace the bowden cable leading to the thermostat and mark its position when cold. look at it again when hot - it should have moved about 1/2 inch or a bit less. If it doesn't move the unit has failed.
Its purpose is to advance the injection point slightly to reduce emmissions and smoke on startup. Another give away is a very slow idle on startup - and the engine may 'hunt' - ie rev up and down in a distinctive manner.
Finally of you suspect the cleaner, disconnect it - make sure there is no muck around in the pipes or wherever, and do a cold start. There should be no diffference.
Wives love ZX's - mine won't be parted from hers (1.9D - called 'Precious') and all her friends who have flash things like Tigras think its wonderful as well - then they hear it does 45 mpg+ and are even more impressed. Seriously its a very good car.
jeremy
If it doesn't start easily as described above - suspect glow plugs - they will run with2 failed without much problem. the white smoke is unburnt fuel deposited in the cylinders with failed plugs and is blown out as vapour.
When its running - is there a discernable fast idle? Watch the rev counter as it warms up - idle speed should rise to say 1000 rpm and then drop back. If it does not the waxstat fast idle device has probably failed (not expensive). This pulls a wire on the pump, trace the bowden cable leading to the thermostat and mark its position when cold. look at it again when hot - it should have moved about 1/2 inch or a bit less. If it doesn't move the unit has failed.
Its purpose is to advance the injection point slightly to reduce emmissions and smoke on startup. Another give away is a very slow idle on startup - and the engine may 'hunt' - ie rev up and down in a distinctive manner.
Finally of you suspect the cleaner, disconnect it - make sure there is no muck around in the pipes or wherever, and do a cold start. There should be no diffference.
Wives love ZX's - mine won't be parted from hers (1.9D - called 'Precious') and all her friends who have flash things like Tigras think its wonderful as well - then they hear it does 45 mpg+ and are even more impressed. Seriously its a very good car.
jeremy