Fuel or Gasket?.

Hi Guys.

I hope you can help. A few weeks back I started loosing power in my 12j 90. It starting chugging and there was a burnt oil smell. When I got where I was going it then wouldn’t fire back up.

I thought initially it might fuel related. Changed the filter, took the stop solenoid plunger out and checked lift pump was working manually on the cam. I managed to get it running for about 10 seconds with the throttle fully open. Then it died out. My battery was knackered so got a new one and after a while managed to get it running again on an idle.. It was chugging like a train and stalled under any load. It would still fire up first time but then do the same, stall when setting off. There is white smoke but not loads both from the exhaust and the oil breather / filler.. I’m not using any coolant but some oil.. The oil is still black and glossy not milky..

It now won’t start again. It will run with throttle wide open and starter going but then stalls..

I thought it could be the head gasket but someone said it would still start and run. Also I’m not loosing any coolant?.

they suspect it might be air in the lines or the lift pump is working but not well.

Can a battered gasket stop the engine from starting?. Or will it always start but run lumpy / Smokey?

The fact it was chugging and running rough points to the head gasket. Most likely gone between number 2 and 3 cylinder.
A small gap in the gasket and the cylinders may still have enough compression to fire at speed. Once the gap grows the fuel air mix just flows back and fore through the gap with some escaping down the exhaust as unburnt diesel, aka white smoke.

Awesome thanks. Yeah I feel like it’s more likely to be that. I have gone all along the fuel lines / injectors and it seems fine. It’s deffo getting the diesel and there is smoke down the block from the manifold, it stinks.

Update, changed the gasket and it was blown between 1&2 - it’s now running again but I have some mild blow by. Oil spitting from the dipstick.

86Davey said:

Update, changed the gasket and it was blown between 1&2 - it’s now running again but I have some mild blow by. Oil spitting from the dipstick.

Click to expand...

Did you use a quality (Payen or Elring) composite gasket?

Did you clean the head fully, and check it for flatness using a straight edge?

And did you check swirl chamber cap protrusion?

86Davey said:

Update, changed the gasket and it was blown between 1&2 - it’s now running again but I have some mild blow by. Oil spitting from the dipstick.

Click to expand...

If it is spititng, then that is a bit more than mild blowby.