Bubbles from exhaust manifold

Hi, I am wondering if anyone can shed some light on a few things. I have a Discovery 2 auto 15p 2002 and have owned it for a short while. I was giving her an oil and filter change today and when warming the engine with the bonnet up I noticed little bubbles coming from the exhaust manifold on both the first and fifth cylinders. Since owning vehicle I have also noticed some white smoke on a cold start, and the engine fairly unresponsive for a few seconds when first starting, before clearing the smoke and running normally. I can find no contaminants in the oil or coolant and am not noticing a drop in coolant level. There is not the pink staining that OAT coolant normally would leave. I have only so far noticed this from cold, though will keep and eye on it. Is it possible that this could be a combination of problems? A warped manifold and a fluid leak somewhere? Maybe a leaky injector washer? A head issue? Hoping someone out there may have some idea.

Thanks.

Burning petrol/diesel produces a considerable amount of water.
Until the engine gets hot enough to boil it off some will condense inside the engine & the exhaust.
Entirely possible you may have slight leaks on the manifold & this is what you are seeing esp as you have no coolant loss.
As soon as the manifold gets hot any water will vapourise & you won't see anything.

Does the white smoke smell of unburnt diesel (often makes the eyes sting!)? Possible glow plug issue?

Thanks for your response. The smoke does smell of diesel to me, thats kind of why I thought it may be an injector washer, though it may be water burning off as when I've touched it its a clear liquid. I might test glow plugs and do injector washers/seals, address the manifold and see what happens.

Fix the manifold leak ASAP cos that one affects the boost too and starting from there many other things

sierrafery said:

Fix the manifold leak ASAP cos that one affects the boost too and starting from there many other things

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Whats the best way to go about this? Buy a skimmed manifold and fit that? I live on a little island and I'm not sure I could find anyone to recondition my own manifold. I will order one online I should think, any recommendations?

I recommend this https://twinwoods4x4.co.uk/product/tw014-skimmed-td5-exhaust-manifold-with-full-fitting-kit/ but if you find somebody to fix your's you can get only the fitting kit https://twinwoods4x4.co.uk/product/...aust-manifold-stud-kit-with-full-fitting-kit/

sierrafery said:

I recommend this https://twinwoods4x4.co.uk/product/tw014-skimmed-td5-exhaust-manifold-with-full-fitting-kit/ but if you find somebody to fix your's you can get only the fitting kit https://twinwoods4x4.co.uk/product/...aust-manifold-stud-kit-with-full-fitting-kit/

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Thanks a lot for this, it says they are out of stock though unfortunately. I'd like to get this fixed ASAP as you say its important. I will email them and hope.

other options here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313832399485?hash=item4911de627d:g:eawAAOSwaYdhmY5j

sierrafery said:

other options here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/313832399485?hash=item4911de627d:g:eawAAOSwaYdhmY5j

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Thanks, have just ordered one. Will fit when it arrives and go from there. This forum is worth its weight in gold.

You can skim it yourself. You just need a perfect flat surface which is either a new piece of MDF, or a kitchen worktop offcut. Glue some abrasive paper down, oil it up and re surface the manifold checking with a metal ruler until flat.
Ive used this technique on chainsaw crankcase spacers and it gives good results.

Suspected glow plug issue causing the white smoke as I went to change them today to find all the connectors broken, and one disconnected completely with no insulation whatsoever, just the bare wire covered in mud. I fitted the glow plugs anyway and pieced the bits back together as best I could. Not really sure what to do with the exposed wire, I just pushed it on for now.

I ignored mine and it got so bad it ripped a stud out the head, it was one of the lower ones, helicoiling that wasnt fun.