405 turbo diesel starts, idles, then smokes like a trooper..

Hi,

I’ve read through the Haynes, searched forums, seeked advice and now
doing the obvious next step and asking more knowledgeable folk than
myself

I aquired a ’94 GRTD for work which ran ok (previous owner ran it on
filtered veg oil - stinks like a chip pan ),but started great
after a new set of heater plugs

I’ve been using B100 (it’s cheaper, and it helps a small local garage
to keep open), but last week after filling up about 10 minutes down
the road the engine ran like a bag of nails

Now it starts and idles great with no smoke, but after a couple of
minutes the idle drops slightly and blue smoke starts to blow out of
the exhaust - lots of it!

If I stop the engine and go through the normal start routine it does
it again, idles great, no smoke, slight idle drop and smoke galore

Is this a relay somewhere, or a solenoid or thermostat or timer,
something really simple, or should I drive it to a breakers and leave
it (as my mechanic friend advised)

Kev

 

Try a fuel filter change, It sounds like a possible blocked filter.
Also might be worth an oil and filter change to if you are blowing blue
smoke.

Changing between veg and B100 can sometimes cause the filter to block

 

OR DONT USE IT.

 

The two minutes is interesting. The glow plugs on the turbo engine will stay
on for about 2 minutes after starting to reduce smoke. If the bad running is
coinciding with this then you do have a combustion problem.
Blue smoke is normally oil burning, and if so, then you have a mechanical
problem, either worn pistons/rings, or valve guides.
Have you tried to check the compression? Easy way for a rough check is to
get one front wheel off the ground, then put it into 5th gear, and turn the
front wheel. You will feel each compression stroke, and it should be quite
stiff to turn past this when the engine is hot. Also all cylenders should
feel about the same. You get one stroke per half turn of the wheel. If you
really can't feel much compression, then your mechanic friend was probably
right.
Do you know when the oil was last changed? It might be very thin now if it
is old, and a change to a more substantial grade might help.

 

But why is it fine for 3 minutes then suddenly start smoking?

...the heater relay warms the plugs for 3 minutes then switches off -
hmmm

Kev

 

God knows when the oil was changed or anything else for that matter
(except the plugs which I changed)

I’m bracing myself for the worse, scrap her :cry:

...thanks a lot guys for trying to help

Ke

 

Do you have any idea of how many miles/km the engine has done?
I would expect one of those engines to be good for 200k miles in normal use.
My old 306 TD has over 150k now and still goes well.
I did have an old 305 with a 1.7D engine which it turned out must have done
over 200k, and it was a poor starter. I reground the valves and it carried
on for quite a time, then a ring went.
If your car is any good in terms of body etc, those engines are now two a
penny in scrapyards. Just need to find one with lower miles.

 

Well I felt I had to update my thread, it turned out to be rancid
fuel, after checking the diesel timing (OK), injectors (OK), the
contents of the tank were checked - and it absolutely stank :x

The tank was drained and real diesel put in, once it was pumped
through the engine ran great again

...I have sent an email to the garage concerned complaining about my
financial loss (fuel + mechanic time)

Ke