Smokey Engine (TD)

[bigfatsi]

I've just bought a 90 2.5td and the previous owner fitted a supposedly brand new head recently. (The head is painted a kind of light green - is this an ex-military?) Anyway, it runs like the proverbial bag of spanners and smokes heavily as though overfuelling. Now I know the TD isn't the most silky smooth bit of kit ever devised, nor is it the most smoke free but it seems a little rougher than it should be. I'm hoping it's just a case of being badly set up, i.e timing etc as the smoke is black soot rather than blue oil. It's running slightly better now I've changed the black blob that was the previous air filter but it certainly feels as though something is out. Anyone know enough about TD's to give me some diagnostic pointers?

Cheers in advance,

Simon.

[dreadnought110]

:) if it's black smoke it's usually overfueling i prsume the turbo's working?? if it's down on power it might be worth checking boost pressure? :?

[bigfatsi]

I took off the turbo inlet pipe and it was spinning away but yes it is down on power. How do I check boost pressure? The little vacuum gadget on the side moves very slightly under full throttle. Is that an indication?

Simon.

[Porny]

I've just bought a 90 2.5td and the previous owner fitted a supposedly brand new head recently. (The head is painted a kind of light green - is this an ex-military?) Anyway, it runs like the proverbial bag of spanners and smokes heavily as though overfuelling. Now I know the TD isn't the most silky smooth bit of kit ever devised, nor is it the most smoke free but it seems a little rougher than it should be. I'm hoping it's just a case of being badly set up, i.e timing etc as the smoke is black soot rather than blue oil. It's running slightly better now I've changed the black blob that was the previous air filter but it certainly feels as though something is out. Anyone know enough about TD's to give me some diagnostic pointers?

Cheers in advance,

Simon.

Won't be ex-military as the military never used Td's (unless he's fitted a NA head - don't worry if he has) - light green will probably be a Land Rover recon.

As I've posted on another thread the diaphragm's in the fuel injection pump have a habit of splitting, which causes a very bad and smokey idle.

From the other thread:

Harder to change than a later 200 or 300Tdi - is just a bit awkward, nothing complicated. They cost about £20/£25 from a diesel specialist.

The diaphragm controls the fuelling on and off boost - when boost pressure is created, obviously more air is being put into the engine - thus more fuel is needed.  When boost pressure is sense, the diaphragm gets pushed in supplying more fuel.  On Td's these have a habit of splitting - and back fill the pipe from the injector pump to the actuator. Meaning that the turbo gets filled with diesel – and allows the engine to run uncontrollably!

You can check this by removing the pipe that goes from the injector pump to the turbo - if it's full of diesel the diaphragm has split.  (do this with the engine off!!)

Is yours bad at idle or all the time??

I doubt the actuator moves very much as you will not produce turbo boost at idle (is impossible) and I doubt you checking at full load when moving!!

To check boost pressure you need to plumb a boost gauge in.


It is possible that the timing is out, most people don't use all the proper pins - esp. the one in the injector pump.  


Ian

[bigfatsi]

Is yours bad at idle or all the time??

It seems to idle OK. It's when you've got your foot down that it smokes like a chimney, especially when pulling away. It really does clatter too. Can't pull up small inclines in 5th.

How do I go about checking/resetting the timing?

Simon.

[muddy_90]

it could be that the head or the pistons r cracked which can course power loss

[bigfatsi]

Apparently the head was knackered when he got it and he fitted (or had fitted) new head, pistons and valves etc. Knowing my luck it'll be scrap!

Simon.

[bezzabsa]

cant be that bad if you drove it 130 miles home... and as for not pulling up hills in 5th - thats about right for a td.. mines the same!!
OK so mine doesnt smoke like a chimney...
have you changed the fuel filter as well as the air filter???

[bigfatsi]

Nope, just the air filter. Will get that changed tomorrow. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but it doesn't half smoke!

Simon.

[tonycougar]

I don't think it should smoke that much. I was told that a little on start up is OK but anything else is not

[Range Rover Blues]

What about if the pump has been tweeked? SWMBOs 300 TDi smokes when you stamp on it.

If it's using oil then use good quality stuff, cheap oil is a false economy.  Try that Lucas stuff on E-Blag.

[bigfatsi]

What about if the pump has been tweeked?

That's what I'm wondering.

1 - Has someone been playing about?
2 - Has it just been badly set up?
3 - Is it just knackered!?

I'm going to get someone to look at the timing settings on the fuel pump in case they are out, (Had a similiar problem with SWMBO's Skoda TDi) Sling some Diesel cleaner through it and check for a leaky diaphragm. Any more suggestions?

Cheers guys!

Simon

[Ja1983]

2.5TD is an engine from a lawnmower... possibly injectors are knackd?

[Miniman]

Am I right in saying the TD pump works on some sort of pressure for the fueling may be there is a problem there.

[dew1911]

Mine puffs out a little white on start up, but once it's had a minute clears down to nothing (Except a tonne of soot if you boot it!).

Basically as said above, We found that a good run cleared ours up a lot (It had done 450 miles between Nov 05 and July 06) and the 100 odd mile drag back from Yorkshire to ours really gave it a chance to come alive.

[bigfatsi]

I've ran a half-tank of diesel through with a bottle of diesel injector cleaner and replaced the air filter. This has made a difference but it still smokes a bit, Mainly on pulling away or, as Dew says, when booting it. I'm gonna check the valve clearances and diaphragm tonight when I get home. Gonna be a busy night as I'm also stripping the axle down! Wish me luck!

Simon.

[ian_s]

i'd say take it to a diesel specialist and get it looked at after you've checked all the easy bits.

also, check the hoses between the turbo and the manifold
if they are split it'll cause a drop in power and black smoke

(sorry if someone has mentioned that already)

[bigfatsi]

...also, check the hoses between the turbo and the manifold
if they are split it'll cause a drop in power and black smoke

(sorry if someone has mentioned that already)

Nope. Good one. Another easy check!

Cheers.

Simon.