Strange Problem!?

Hello,

Following on from the problem I have been having with my 200tdi engine burning a bit of oil on startup, the problem has just become much more strange. Basically, on the first start of the day (cold start) the engine will start with a puff of grey smoke (not the usual black) and if I give it some gas, it will kick out plumes of grey / blue smoke and run very rough although when it falls back down to idle it is fine. Revving up again following a smooth idle will result in the same rough running and lots of grey / blue smoke. However, if I put the vehicle into gear and accelerate away hard, the engine runs smooth as a nut with no grey or blue smoke. What in the hell is going on here? I did over fill the engine with a little oil last week, and there is oil in my boost pipes. The breather pipe is not passing any oil though, (my catch tank is empty) and the turbo isn't goosed or showing any signs of wear

Thanks
-Pos

Hmmm.... sounds like one for the Engine section...

I miss my old 200TDi 110...

Good luck

injectors?

It's not the injectors. I've just refurbished them and had them set up and tested by a diesel engineer. The injection pump is brand new too the problem happened the first start after I overfilled my engine with oil. I've burned quite a bit off but it is still a little over on the dipstick level. Interestingly enough, the problem only occurs on the first cold start of the day. It drives absolutely spot on. There is no oil in the breather pipe between the rocker cover and the air intake, but there is quite a lot of oil in the air intake and top boost pipe if I turn the engine off and examine them after it's first start. The turbo isn't worn or showing any signs of wear either, so I don't think that the oil is coming in from there.

I'll drain a bit off, clean out the intercooler and see how it goes. If that doesn't solve it then, it must be something intermittent with the turbo, unless it is somehow finding it's way into the inlet and then being forced back up the boost pipes.

-Pos

I can't help but think it may be related to the ambient temperature. Now that it is cold, mine also does this, I fire up and roll down the hill without revs but loads of grey smoke like a cartoon car. If I rev it's lumpy. By the time I get to the bottom of the hill - 300 yds? - it's warmed up and it's ok. I noticed this last year too.

crumplezone said:

I can't help but think it may be related to the ambient temperature. Now that it is cold, mine also does this, I fire up and roll down the hill without revs but loads of grey smoke like a cartoon car. If I rev it's lumpy. By the time I get to the bottom of the hill - 300 yds? - it's warmed up and it's ok. I noticed this last year too.

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The temperature shouldn't really make that big a difference though, certainly not with a direct injection engine. I think I may have a valve guide / stem oil seal problem.

-Pos

it's the overfill.

Oddie said:

it's the overfill.

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Thats what me hopes dunno how its getting in though! I'll just leave it be. It's due an oil service in January anyway, so I'll drain it out and fill it up right this time

-Pos

Sounds like your valve stem oil seals are leaking, the guides might be worn too. If it was the overfill you would need to have put in a LOT, and it would always smoke. The first start is a sign that the oil is leaking into the cylinders, or manifold over night. So it really has to come down from the head, or the turbo, but you say the turbo is fine.

discomania said:

Sounds like your valve stem oil seals are leaking, the guides might be worn too. If it was the overfill you would need to have put in a LOT, and it would always smoke. The first start is a sign that the oil is leaking into the cylinders, or manifold over night. So it really has to come down from the head, or the turbo, but you say the turbo is fine.

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'twas the turbo starting to pass oil, I'm putting a replacement one on at the moment With the boost pipes removed, it would quite literally pour oil out at the initial startup and the spindle would not rotate. Give it some revs and the compressor spins slightly but only slightly, creating a droning sound and the oil flow increases. Give the engine some load and the oil stops and the turbo spins right up and spools correctly until the engine has completely cooled down again. Very bizarre. There is also very little up and down / side to side movement in the spindle so signs of wear were all but non existent besides the oil flow ofcourse. I will let you know the outcome when I fit the replacement turbo tomorrow.

Cheers
-Pos