Help

Just bought a disco on evil bay looks good but the engines poorly. Loads of black smoke and zero power when you first set off. Its alright when you get up speed. Someone told me the gaskets blown. Any advice on sorting this out would be appreciated!

Cheers

Does the smoke last more than a few seconds? and does it have this problem once it's warmed up. Black smoke tends to be unburnt fuel. Head gasket is usually White/grey smoke. Check the radiator expansion bottle for signs of oil and the oil filler cap for browny white emulsion.

Sounds to me like that was good advice.

If the car gets "up to speed" in any normal way, then sure as God made little green Landies, the head gasket is probably OK.

Chief suspect is somewhere in the FUEL SYSTEM.

Suspects include

one or more "leaky" injectors - they can dribble fuel into the cylinder(s) long after you switch off. Eaasy to check this after taking out injectors. One minute each on a Hartridge tester ....

injection pump needing attention, or maybe some previous "expert" has "adjusted" it?

Things like that, but for my money I would go for checking the injectors first, fitting 4 new glowplugs at the same time (get good ones ...) and as that only cost about £30 so far we might be in business.

If you were near here I would do your injectors for you ...

CharlesY

Now moved on some stages - piston 2 was badly cacked up and cylinder has is scored - basicly knackered. Wondering what to do now? Do I get another engine or have it rebored and head skimmed?