Disco 1 Smokey - help

my 300 tdi has suddenly gone massively smokey on tick over / low speed. Loads of it. Runs normally and sounds normal the rest of the time. Any ideas? Hoping it’s not rings or turbo and it’s fuel pump related, but a bit strange

What colour is the smoke?

Grey? Blue? Black?

Could be injectors going?

Could be valve seats gave up?

Could be pump related but need a bit more info, what have you tried so far to remedy it?

Smoke is blue/black. Done nothing so far other than check for obvious things. Like the back box is non existent. But that wouldn’t cause this. Started it this morning from cold and no smoke at all. So suggests it happens when it’s warm. Valve guide seals? Any pointers gratefully received

IF it were valve seals it would smoke at start up

Air cleaner is past its best - really filthy. A very small amount of play in the turbo vanes - but this is allegedly fairly new according to the previous owner. Oil in the upper inter cooler pipe. No EGR incidentally. Good to know it probably isn’t valve seals. Anything else I can check easily while I’m at it?!

I'd start with checking the air filter and hoses, dark smoke is often a lack of air or, conversely, over fuelling ... Also check the turbo /intercooler hoses for collapsing internally.

I'd also give it an Italian tune-up ... start it, run normaly to get it warm, then find a hill or rise and try to give it the beans in third under full load, and get the engine properly motoring, to burn off sh/te ..

Well, ordering new filter kit but in the short term I’m going to blow out the air filter with the compressor - might help a bit. Top intercooler pipe has a spring in it so I don’t think it is that which is compressing but you never know. Gave it a blast down the dual carriageway yesterday after which the smoking started so I suspect the “Italian job” may not be required. Or maybe this smoke is as a result of the run? Who knows?!

OK, well took off the intercooler and related pipes. Some oil but not huge amounts. Jetwashed and cleaned everything and dried it all out in the sun. Refitted and started engine. No smoke. Let it warm for a few minutes and then booted the revs up a fair bit. Blueish smoke from the exhaust - no sign from anywhere else. I’m thinking it might be the rings burning oil Unless anyone else has some ideas?!

Have a look at the spill pipes, the cloth covered pipes that run between injectors and back to the fuel pump ... they crack and (buy from a motorfactors) cost notalot to replace. Also check the spill tubes haven't got bent and/or crimped so they won't allow fuel back and thus cause minor over-fuelling and poor starting sometimes.

Theres only a few places oil can come from -

Turbo seal
Valve stems
Piston rings / bore
Head gasket

...but are you sure its oil? Does it smell like burning tyres?


edit: and that breather that links back into the air intake

OK. Yes, smells like burning oil but with a slightly dry element if that makes sense. Going to look at the cyclonic breather and breather pipes next. While I’m there I will look at those mini fuel return pipes as well. It does feel a bit like I’m clutching at straws here!!

If it were me, my first job would be to rinse the intercooler with petrol. Make certain there's no oil in it. Then rinse it well with water! (I know petrol and water don't really work, but it does flush out all but trace)

Run the vechical and then pull the intercooler again. Actually remove it again, as hot oil will run down to the base of it, without leaving so much behind.

Then you know for sure the zone. If it's oily, it's turbo, cyclone, or engine pressurisation.

If it's clean, then it's rings or stem seals, or possibly gasket

It just narrows it right down.

I had a 300tdi that just keept going smokey. I even replaced the turbo, and still it was dumping oil into the air stream. I took off the breather too, so it was certainly comming from the turbo.

Turned out to be a blocked oil drain hose from the cyclone (which I still don't understand, but that was it) causing the engine to pressurise and oil be forced through the turbo seals.

Yep. Did the intercooler and pipes yesterday with petrol and then jet washed through with water. Waiting for new exhaust to arrive - once it is fitted then I will take it for a blast down the dual carriageway and see if it is still doing it...

Still smoking - much whiter now. More on acceleration and less on overrun. Some clouds when stationary. Can hear a whirring on acceleration so I suspect the turbo is knacked

Before you right the turbo off give it a run with the oil filler cap off lay a rag over the hole to stop oil spraying everywhere just make sure it can't get into the belt if the smoke stops or reduced you have s crankcase pressure problem also separate the down pipe from manifold and get your finger in there to see if oil is getting pass the turbo seals into the hot gas stream this will vap the oil making lots of white smoke

OK. I have oil in the intercooler side. I already cleaned the cyclone, so I assume it is pressure or turbo. How do I eliminate one of these? Is there an easy way without replacing the turbo and seeing if that fixes it?!

Frankielight said:

OK. I have oil in the intercooler side. I already cleaned the cyclone, so I assume it is pressure or turbo. How do I eliminate one of these? Is there an easy way without replacing the turbo and seeing if that fixes it?!

Click to expand...

Look up a post to post #15 .. @mr glee has already posted ..

Yeah, got that. It’s the turbo. Nearly off now...

Could even be turbo drain hose, so don't throw out the removed turbo straight away.

Please do come back and tell us the end result either way.

Yes, thanks. I was intending to check that as well. I’ll definitely come back with an update