Xantia Hdi loss of power white smoke fixed

[c.morewood]

I thought I'd share this as the loss of power going up even the slightest slope, bad starting, white smoke, and missfire at 3200rpm was baffling me and I thought this might just help some others.
It was the MAF.. got a cheap new one guaranteed for a year from here
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Air-flow- ... 3ccd5982c4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I offered him £25 and it was accepted.

What was confusing was that LEXIA was telling me that there was something wrong with the EGR electrovalve control top position and kept faulting at 1600 ish RPM.

I'd tried new (2nd hand working) electrovalves Tried cleaning injectors, unplugged my tuning box, fuel filter and even unplugged the MAF. but nothing made any difference. I must've read hundreds of pages, and learned a lot, about the Hdi and faults.
I was convinced it must be a couple of problems.. I believed LEXIA but couldn't find a problem in the vacccum system. Equally I was convinced that there was a blocked jet in one of the injectors which was causing the white smoke.
But I came across one the other day which got me thinking.
I've had a K&N filter since the car was new and never had any problems with it, it must have saved me double its cost in not having to buy a new airfilter.
I was reading that if the oil isn't completely dry after you've cleaned the filter and refitted it, it can get onto the MAF and cause it to fail. I'm guessing this is what happened.

Hope this helps,

Chris