Crankcase Breather, Wa Wa Wee Wa!

Hello again.
Two things really, I just thought that I would pass on some info regarding what I have experienced and a question.

My symptoms were as follows
I would get into my Freelander and when I turn the key the idle was lumpy and rattly and when I put my foot on the pedal a cloud of smoke would spew out of the exhaust for about five seconds or so. After it had stopped I would set off and the engine felt like sometimes it would stall (choked feeling) so I would have to rev more. Even when driving, it wouldn't rev much past 3000 revs and would still feel sluggish in forth or fifth gear at higher speeds.

I decided to try the engine breather and replace it. I did it last night and went for a drive. What can I say? In the words of Borat, "Wa Wa Wee Wa!!"
What a difference. I knew my Freelander was sluggish but I just thought a lot of it was due to the car itself. It is like a new car, well compared to how it was, revving right up to and beyond 4000 revs and doing it relatively quickly and smooth while doing so. Much more pleasurable!!!

I got in this morning and the cloud of smoke wasn't as bad as it was but still appeared. Once gone drives like a dream and no choking feeling but still worried about the cloud of smoke.
After reading "Freelander TD4 Lack of Power" http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/freelander-td4-lack-power-71139-3.html I am deciding to get a boost pressure sensor to hopefully rectify this problem.
Does everyone think that the boost pressure sensor would rectify this white cloud problem and where can I get one???

Sounds like your car hasn't been very well serviced in the past, so I would replace all filters & get some injector cleaner running through before worrying about boost sensors. Also check out your MAF.

I don't think that's your problem Mick.
You could read it's output if you have access to EOBD that reads live data.
You could even try with it disconnected to force the ECU to use a default value.
I think it was Opti that had been running with his disconnected for some time and didn't know so presumably no white smoke or other issues.
Apart from the one in Alan C's thread I've not read of any other case of map sensor failure.

Thanks for the responses guys.
Unluckily Alan appeared to change everything in his thread so it could be something else.
I think that this all happened after I cleaned out the manifold as instructed in the EGR sticky thread. Could be coincidence. I used Mr Muscle to do it and got loads of gunk out. I cleaned the pipes, cleaned the EGR and then disconnected it. I remember the MAP sensor being covered in tar and just had a toothbrush handy and gave it a quick clean. I am not sure if any of the oven cleaner got to the sensor though. Would that make a difference?
I have been using injector cleaner for about two months now and this time filled up with BT ultimate. fuel economy has got a lot better 360 miles and still quarter of a tank left, was lucky to get 260 from a full tank before and I just hope to increase it further. Previously I had the MAF cleaned which made a difference and it has just had a service (well apart from fuel filter which still needs doing).


Would a dodgy MAF cause the clouds if it is over fuelling? Fuel Filter blocked? it only happens when the car has been stood for a while and on start up. the rest of the time it appears to be OK for clouds.

MickO'CTD4 said:

Would a dodgy MAF cause the clouds if it is over fuelling? Fuel Filter blocked? it only happens when the car has been stood for a while and on start up. the rest of the time it appears to be OK for clouds.

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Not if the smoke is white, it would be black for overfueling.

Remember some training many moons ago being told white smoke was incomplete combustion, lack of combustion heat.
Diesels rely on the heat from good compression of the intake air for proper ignition of the injected fuel.

Chaser said:

Not if the smoke is white, it would be black for overfueling.

Remember some training many moons ago being told white smoke was incomplete combustion, lack of combustion heat.
Diesels rely on the heat from good compression of the intake air for proper ignition of the injected fuel.

Click to expand...

Thanks for reply Chaser
What do you think? Do you think that there is a leak somewhere? I just hope that the added pressure from the crankcase hasn't left some impact somewhere else because it is a lot better now the breather has been replaced. No smoke from exhaust from leaving work and performance better on way home. i will check again tomorrow morning for smoke and see if is the same.