Plumes of smoke... Whats wrong?

Oh no!

Set off to work this morning thinking about why my 90 TD5 was blowing a small amount of white smoke from the exhaust, suddenly plumes (think of several smoke cannisters at once) of white smoke and a rattling sound from the engine caused an early exit from the exiting daily trundle to work.

Before I start taking the engine to bits could anyone give me an indicator of what the problem is or could be?

Many thanks

Sounds like it's got a misfire or overfuelling. Reasons could be mechanical or electronic, such as a loose or broken injector, or an injector not opening closing at the right time.

Just some thoughts.

White smoke usually occurs when there is not enough temperature to burn the fuel. In cold weather it is not uncommon to get white smoke until engine temperature builds up. Low engine cranking speed can also create an excessive amount of white smoke.

However as your problem persists after the engine is up to operating temperature several other things should be checked. A faulty injector can cause white smoke. Timing, low engine compression can cause the problem although I doubt this unless you have put a high milage on it. Air in the fuel system can also result in white smoke.

It could also be steam, but you would know this as it dissappears quicker than smoke, this would indicate a water leak, which would result in dropping water levels, so check them.

the rattling around the engine is a diesel knock, all to do with not burning the diesel, hence the smoke, this is a fueling problem possibly the pump playing up or possibly electronics that control the pump

Thanks for that,

After recovering my 90, I turned the engine over to see/hear where the rattle was coming from and sourced it to the turbo charger.

I'm wondering if it might have something to do with the oil return, as well as the fuel/injection problems?

i used to have an astra that the turbo used to fill with oil now and again and it used to rev its tits off and clouds of smoke from the exhaust would appear. i scrapped it in the end

That seems logical?

I found a very small break in the manifold gasket which might be the source of the small amount of smoke from the exhaust.

After removing the manifold and turbo there seems to be small amounts of debris which might be part of the turbo fins? will have to make a closer inspection later, wife objecting to parts on kitchen worktops!