Struggles to start then smoke

My 90 struggles to start then loads of white smoke or greyish smoke. It's not steam. Just had the head skimmed new gasket fitted still loads of smoke calms down when warm to nearly none. Looked on the forum plenty of threads about smoke but not in conjunction with hard to start about 20 to 30 cranks of the engine. Thanks in advance

Could be your heater plugs are not working. As you turn the engine, fuel will be injecting into the barrel and when it fires the excess fuel is burnt off. Or is it a petrol? If its petrol, the valve stem seals could be letting oil into the barrels, oil/petrol will be hard to ignite then lots of smoke until it burns off.

It's diesel I have thought about glow plugs as it is smoking for some time. Then when sat idling for a while push the accelerator down and more smoke lots of. I gather testing the glow plugs is take it out leave it connected and turn the ignition to see if it gets hot?. I have Hurd about the valve stem seals I did not replace them when the head was done.

Clean your injectors, I think your problem is crud hindering your fuel delivery.

"struggles to start then smoke" is typical of a normal trattter. I bet it also rattles like a tin of marbles too?

Injectors comming out today get them cleaned see if helps. The wagon does rattle like hell when it starts and sounds like its struggling

If it smells of paraffin, then try to advance your pump timing a bit, as the white could be unburnt fuel!

what engine?? a 200/300 should start with no heaters in this weather, mine managed all winter with no plugs at all on bio (found blown fuse when having starter issues)

sounds more like the timing is out to me, I managed it on mine when I did the cam belt, check the timing marks.

On the list of things to do going to check timming glow plugs injectors. Sorry it's a 200 tdi. Would it be worth while removing the head and changing the valve seals as well ?

Many thanks for the replies it's getting my grey matter working. With this all to do I will not be playing in the mud this weekend. Will let you know if it sorted after doing all of the above.

you can do the valve seals with the head in place IIRC...

Id still check the timing first, unless the seals are really bad it should just burn the oil off easily, if they were that bad, youd be noticing a chance in sump level too.
valve seals cause difficulty starting in a petrol rather than a deisel, in a deisel its just extra fuel

just spent the last hour searching threads and the smokeing is very similar to a thread from 200tdi AYRE. will check the timming see if that cures it that will not take long fingers crossed know i have jinxed it by saying that. I will keep an eye on the oil level over the next few days if its dropping i will have a look at the seals.

If timing was out it would continue to smoke but as it clears up I reckon valve stem seals.

I'm standing firm with my dirty injectors or crap blocking the filter scenario.

Okay valve seals replaced never doing that again, timing all good. Injectors wiped of I have not tested them as I do not want a diesel injection in my hand if things go wrong. Still smoking like mad. Have noticed pressure under oil filler cap is this a problem? . It's running very lumpy when cold. Just ahhhhhhhhhhh you have got to love landrovers?

Oh yes the engine has done over 200000 I think so it very old would it be easier to chuck in a second hand engine ? With less miles if I can find one cheap enough

Just pulled out all the glow plugs seem to be getting nothing from any of them. Hope I'm testing correctly using jump leads to battery negative to main body positive on to threaded tip
. No glow out of any and the batt is fully charged

Use a bit of wire from the + on the battery and connect that to the screw terminal on the glow plug.

Then touch the body of the plug to the engine block, and the end should get very hot very quickly!

If it doesn't then the plug will probably have burned out.

If you keep it connected for too long you also stand a good chance of burning out the plug.

OK?

Tried that nothing is it possible all 4 can fail. Saying that the car only just about starts after 30turns then struggles like hell. Will be ordering new ones any suggestions what brand I know not to buy Brit part

Okay, with mileage like that the piston rings will be worn and cylinders also, causing oil to get into the cylinders.

Oh yes the engine has done over 200000 I think so it very old would it be easier to chuck in a second hand engine ? With less miles if I can find one cheap enough[/QUOTE]

dont think any k series gaylanders would get to that without blowing up or the doors falling off hippo

It will not be glows. 200 TDI should start immediately without hesitation in these temps without any glows. As others have said, the problem lies elsewhere. Mine starts on the first half turn without glows.

Have you considered air getting into the fuel system? Does it restart ok once you get it going? If it restarts ok, it might be as simple as the fuel leak off lines being perished.