Disco 2 Smoke on startup in the cold - Not head gasket!

Given the amount of work I have had done over the past year this one has narked me a bit.
This morning was the first nippy one in a while (10 degrees c) and my Disco 2 has been suffering from what seems to be a flaky start for a while now.
The engine would turn over and seem to tick over with either low power or not quite fireing on all cylinders. This would pass after a few seconds but this morning it was followed by an excess of blue\grey smoke for a few mins until the engine warmed up slightly.
Now, I have already had a new head gasket and injector seals done this year. This leaves a few options such as:

1. MAF Sensor needs replacing
2. A faulty injector
3. Possible injector timing problem
4. Fuel pump issue

Is there anything else I could be missing before it once more takes the drive of shame to mt local LR specialist?

any oil in the ECM red plug or in the upper plug to injectors at the front of the head?

A neighbour of mine used to have trouble starting his Pajero, and when it did start there was some smoke from it until it warmed up a bit. Turned out to be a couple of faulty glow plugs.

Worth a look

All good suggestions. The glow had been swapped out earlier in the year. Is there a fuse or relay they use I could check though?

fusible link FL2 and relay R6

Sounds a bit like my injector washers

I hope not, I had them done in April

What condition are your glow plugs? Try starting with using your glow plugs. If I do my diesel with out cycling glow plugs it will belch a little white smoke. Us glow plugs and not a whiff of smoke and starts easier

I always use the glow plugs where possible this morning was no different

The little amber glowplug light on the dashboard does not mean that the plugs have done their job, just that the circuit in the ECU thinks they have, there's a bit of a difference between actually measuring the temperature and measuring time and assuming they've worked.

brian47 said:

The little amber glowplug light on the dashboard does not mean that the plugs have done their job, just that the circuit in the ECU thinks they have, there's a bit of a difference between actually measuring the temperature and measuring time and assuming they've worked.

Click to expand...

that is very true. That is why I go to ford dealer for a winter check of all systems. It is amazing what the computer tells about the engine and what they can check with it

if you bought the cheapo glow plugs there lucky to last 6 months

johnlad said:

if you bought the cheapo glow plugs there lucky to last 6 months

Click to expand...

good point

As it's a TD5 it won't have a glow plug in every cylinder. So you might still get a little smoke. On my Defender when I got it the main glow plug cable was missing completely, yet the glow plug light on the dashboard showed up and the Nanocom reckoned it was testing them. So I think all that stuff only relates to the low current circuit that triggers the relay.

Sometimes after I've changed the fuel filter, the following day I get a little rough running and smoke on first starting. Even though I have purged and run it at the time. I assumed it was a little air still left in the system. Could air be getting in or fuel draining back into the tank overnight?

Typical. It was still as cold last night and started without an issue and no smoke. I did leave the ignition on a bit longer though before turning over. Not sure if this made a real difference though.

Can you get a clamp meter over the glow plug wires and check they are drawing power.

I think I shall have to invest in one.

theflyingvegetable said:

Can you get a clamp meter over the glow plug wires and check they are drawing power.

Click to expand...

DosBox said:

I think I shall have to invest in one.

Click to expand...

If you do get yourself a clamp on ammeter to read current, make sure that it's suitable for DC and AC. Many of the cheaper ones are AC only.

why not just pull the plugs an check they glow

Well, I've had some Bosch glow plugs fitted last week and cleaned the EGR valve (because it's possibly the only thing I hadn't done yet!) and it still smokes until the engine has warmed up - it has to get to about 20 degrees c before it stops smoking.
I do note that it is worse on cold damp mornings rather than it simply being cold.
There is also no sluggishness or excess fuel\oil usage, coolent in sump or any other indicators.
It's also had done this year (relevant to the problem):

• New head gasket + piston rings
• New injector seals
• Recent new fuel/air filters + oil change

I'm now just beginning to think it's just because it's an old (130k+, 2001) diesel engine.
Perhaps there are just some things that happen once an engine reaches a certain age otherwise I'll just keep throwing money at it
I'll just have to ensure it warms up on my drive before setting off.