Is there any test to see if the piston rings are shot?

Is there a good check to see if the piston rings have failed? My disco 300tdi is currently smoking continually and I'm trying to track down the cause without doing a full head removal to inspect things.

Symptoms

1) Smoke on start up (light grey/blue) and lots of it.
2) Smoke continues but less whilst driving but when slowing down or accelerating hard gets heavy again.
3) see picture of No4 Injector attached...

I've got about 1 month to the MOT and am fairly sure the amount of smoke will mean it will fail so any advice would be welcomed as the clock is ticking...

I've seen a couple of posts hinting that this level of smoke could also be the turbo on the way out but as I have no loss of power I'm kind of discounting that unless you think it worth investigating...

I ran a can of Wynns through the engine and carried out a oil change but it has made little difference.

Thanks

Matt

Thought I would add -- yes I saw the two oil washers on the injector and replaced them with a new one... Not sure why but all of the injectors had two collars on!

Compression test will let you know if it is valves or rings but you need a compression tester and a service manual to check the pressure in each cilender.

you could try a compression test, but that won't tell you if its valves or rings if it is low, but if it passes then you know its neither.

Oh and to add check the turbo as well

Thanks guys, I'll check the turbo pipes and wear and if that's clear get the compression test done.

M

when doing compression check do it dry with all glow plugs out and write down results then do again with oil squirted down bore this seals rings and if oil makes a difference (higher reading) rings /bore worn no difference valves what you need is even pressure no difference betwween readings of bore 10% max

With a warm engine, let it tick-over for a good 5minutes, then rev `er up; blue smoke points to shot turbo. With a cold engine pull off air pipe to turbo; if you can feel movement of shaft it`s bad news, ditto if it`s swimming in oil in there, but a moist oil film is normal.

Update:

Haven't got as far as booking it in for a compression test.... well I did book it in but on the day it turned out that the garage couldn't test diesels. I'm wondering which part of "Compression test for a 300TDI Landrover diesel" they misunderstood!

However, too the pipes off the turbo today and am now hoping that this is the cause of my woes... a.k.a smoke.

Taking the inlet pipe off from the air filter there was enough oil in it to form a small puddle in the angle of the pipe. Also, when i tried to check the compressor wheel for play it was certainly wobbling on it's shaft. I suspect now that this is the cause of the problem. Especially as the blue smoke is coming (airly constantly but excessively when the revs are higher... change down, acceleration etc....

M

Yip turbo is fooked a fine film on the turbo is ok but enough for a puddle and lots of play on the shaft is a no no only fix for that is.

Replace turbo with new or reconditioned unit. Will cost £450 new
Clean pipes, intercooler and inlet manifold. Very easy for home mechanic to do.

Got some prices so thought I'd share them here...

From Ebay -- looking from £350 up to £500
From TurboCentre website: £100 + VAT to collect and refurbish turbo (tempting) but they haven't got back to me yet...
From TurboActive: Reconditioned (and exchange) £325 inc VAT and Delivery or £480 + vat + delivery for a new one.

None of the local scrap merchants have one and tbh not sure I want to go for an untested secondhand job.
Matt

I would not get one from a breakers yard fook knows how long it has sat dry, or it would fail in a week or two atleast with a recon there would be a guarantee with it

yeah - i'm with you on that one!!!

M