TD5 Start-up Problems - Struggling + White Smoke

Hi Guys!

The 90 is struggling to start, I have to give it a little bit of gas as it's turning. It also kicks out a load of white smoke... I've put a video on YouTube - any ideas anyone?

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PTtBboOr40"]YouTube - Defender White Smoke[/ame]

Have you changed your fuel filter? If not do it as they're cheap. Once running does the engine hold back or does it pull right up the rev range. If it does hold back it could be the fuel filter or the fuel pump struggling.
Black smoke is normal when starting especially if you are giving it some throttle. Diesels shouldn't need any throttle on start up. Even the best turbo diesels kick out some black smoke when giving them throttle. Next time you follow a high end diesel have a look.
Blue smoke means you are burning engine oil past the rings or the turbo bearing oil seal is failing dumping oil into the exhaust.
White smoke is caused by water which could be a head gasket on its way out.
Its hard to tell from your video. Are you having to top up the coolant? Do the radiator hoses feel pressurised? If you take the radiator cap off (carefully - preferably when the engine is cold) can you see bubbles in the water?

I knew you wouldn't let me down with the TD5 Shifty...

OK, here's what we've got...

Shifty1962 said:

Have you changed your fuel filter? If not do it as they're cheap. Once running does the engine hold back or does it pull right up the rev range. If it does hold back it could be the fuel filter or the fuel pump struggling.

Click to expand...

Fuel filter was changed about 10,000 miles ago and it pulls like a steam-train once it's running (smooth power right through the revs)

Shifty1962 said:

Black smoke is normal when starting especially if you are giving it some throttle. Diesels shouldn't need any throttle on start up. Even the best turbo diesels kick out some black smoke when giving them throttle. Next time you follow a high end diesel have a look.

Click to expand...

I've always had the black smoke, that's all fine, it's just the white **** stuff which has joined the party.

Shifty1962 said:

Blue smoke means you are burning engine oil past the rings or the turbo bearing oil seal is failing dumping oil into the exhaust.

Click to expand...

Fortunately no blue smoke, just white in with the black when it's cold. After 10 - 20 seconds driving it's fine.

Shifty1962 said:

White smoke is caused by water which could be a head gasket on its way out.
Its hard to tell from your video. Are you having to top up the coolant? Do the radiator hoses feel pressurised? If you take the radiator cap off (carefully - preferably when the engine is cold) can you see bubbles in the water?

Click to expand...

I managed to make a nice little hole in the radiator about two months ago while getting the alternator out to change the brushes... Rad came straight out and went of to a local radiator repair place who patched it up and pressure-tested it etc (didn't drive it broken, and it's been fine since). There aren't any bubbles in there - coolant hasn't needed topping up since I filled it up with with rad repair.

What could be interesting (or not!) is that it was taking a little more effort to start about a month ago, but after a day of abuse at the local play site (water mud etc) it went back to it's old self, starting perfectly. But now it's got worse than it was before...

Just checked the oil and it's higher than the maximum mark. Looks and feels OK though, was last done about 3 - 4k ago. Worth a change at the weekend?

Ta Shifty.

I'm wondering if you may have a dodgy earth connection.
Maybe it does not crank as quickly or the glows dont get full power but when you get it all wet the connection gets better? This would explain the slow start but not the white smoke.

Keep an eye on them oil levels as its an early sign of diesel leaking in to the engine oil assuming you did not overfill it.