Big Puff (Of smoke)

Hi all this is my first thread.... (Ever)......

I purchased a Disco TD5 last week
7 seat on a Y plate
I have an issue where when i start it sometime i get a huge plume of white smoke then all is well for the rest of the journey.. any ideas....

Also on occasion i get all the right noises but wont start 'give it a few minutes and starts fine'

Please help as i know bu&&£r all...

White smoke usually means water in the cylinders, so it's more than likely you have a blown head gasket! A compression test will confirm. - Have you checked for water in the engine oil? You can sometimes get a sticky residue like margarine inside the rocker cover and on the inside surface of the oil filler cap that will confirm the presence of water in the cylinders.

dan642 said:

Hi all this is my first thread.... (Ever)......

I purchased a Disco TD5 last week
7 seat on a Y plate
I have an issue where when i start it sometime i get a huge plume of white smoke then all is well for the rest of the journey.. any ideas....

Also on occasion i get all the right noises but wont start 'give it a few minutes and starts fine'

Please help as i know bu&&£r all...

Click to expand...

Sounds like either you're not using the glowplugs or they're not working. Ancent diesels at work (Bedford trucks and a Peugeot engined Sherpa) do this when cold. If it's not smoking when warm you're probly OK, but get the glowplugs checked.

Faggy55 said:

White smoke usually means water in the cylinders, so it's more than likely you have a blown head gasket! A compression test will confirm. - Have you checked for water in the engine oil? You can sometimes get a sticky residue like margarine inside the rocker cover and on the inside surface of the oil filler cap that will confirm the presence of water in the cylinders.

Click to expand...

Could be that as well. Hate to say this but on a TD5 it's as or more likely to be a cracked head. Did you get any warranty with it? In my experience, that white smoke tends to happen engine hot, so check the glowplugs as well. They be cheaper...

Keep an eye on http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f8/300tdi-bad-starter-60248.html Could be same problem!

No residue in the oil cap clean as a whistle.
wont get to see the car till fri now cause i work away and ar lass has it so will check the oil then 'Hope your wrong' cheers for the reply buddy.........

How much ££££ is a compression test ?

dan642 said:

How much ££££ is a compression test ?

Click to expand...

Dunno but it's simple. Any garage can do it. They just have to take out the glow plugs.

Er come to think of it, TD5 only has 4 glowplugs. Anyone know how you do the fifth cylinder????

PASTMASTER said:

Dunno but it's simple. Any garage can do it. They just have to take out the glow plugs.

Er come to think of it, TD5 only has 4 glowplugs. Anyone know how you do the fifth cylinder????

Click to expand...

No reply to that last one, and I don't know the answer. Even so, any garage that deals with LRs will be able to do it. Some further thoughts:

1) If it's head/head gasket, there will be a gradual loss of coolant. It may not be much, but will happen over time.

2) If it does turn out to be the head/head gasket, make sure they use steel locating dowels when refitting the head. Also best to get the injector loom changed while it's easy to get at.

3) If it's neither of the earlier diagnoses, then it's most likely valve stem seals. Not serious - it just means some oil is draining into the cylinders when the engine stops. Comparatively easy to fix.

Just to keep you guys in the loop, not long after I posted this the old girl grinded to a halt.
I have the head replaced under waranty and its now all good but thanks for the advice anyway.
Keep up the good work guys :boom::boom: