Small cloud of black smoke on cold start. Wasn't there a month ago.

Dear forum members,

I know this is a hopeless thing to ask, but will try anyway The greatest living poet of landyzone, mr. JamesMartin, had this to say about it in 2013:

"unless its something thats just come on smoke on start up is normal,cold start in pump and unburnt fuel when cranking".

I had a friend hook up his Nanocom on my 2006 TD5 and the MAF sensor was dead. Replaced it. The injectors are working fine based on the readings. Oils and filters replaced every year in October (mileage under 6000 miles per year).

Now on every colder start the truck will puff out a small (1l plastic bag size) cloud of black smoke. I've always been proud about the effortless start of the engine and now it cranks for a second longer and then that black cloud. I wish I could restore it to its original glory. If anyone can help me, I'd really appreciate it)

If it is cranking for longer before starting then there will be more unburnt fuel to produce more smoke when it does start.

Thanks, Dag! Does that mean I should look into the issue of cranking rather than fuel system? (sorry if stating the obvious)

Stock_90_TD5_SW said:

Thanks, Dag! Does that mean I should look into the issue of cranking rather than fuel system? (sorry if stating the obvious)

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I am not an expert on such things. But the increased smoke will likely be caused by the increased cranking. Therefore that is likely to be the route cause. I am not too familiar with the td5 as it is a bit new for me but unless the timing has recently be changed then I would start by looking at the glow plugs and associated electrics.

It's perfectly normal for a TD5 to puff out black smoke on start when it's 'colder', the TD5 has 5 cylinders but only 4 glowplugs, so one cylinder will always under perform when cold - this is why the TD5 feels a bit lumpy after startup when it's cold.

Thanks, Dag, I have replaced the 4 glowplugs with new OEM ones. It kinda went worse after that, I'm ashamed to admit
Bennehboy, that's what I always read about almost every problem on a Defender - it's what it's supposed to do But generally most issues have a root cause and a solution. In my case the black smoke was not an issue some months ago. After replacing the glowplugs, the MAF sensor got totalled and I replaced that as well. Now it's still not back to it's former glory..

Does it start immediately?

If it cranks for a bit then you could have any number of other issues....
* fpr problem
* injector seals/o-rings failing
* poor fuel pressure (crappy pump)
* air in the system - porous fuel filter block, blocked air bleed valve in filter block, failed duck billed non return valve in filter block
* poor compression (rings, valves, HG, etc)
* crap fuel
* many other things

BTW, which glowplugs did you use? Please say Beru, the rest are crap. Oh and the leads can get a bit iffy with age so double check they are all pushed on snugly, they tend to click as they go on properly.

Might be as simple as fitting a new battery, are you still on your original one, TD5 engines require a good battery.

Thanks for the thorough answer, Bennehboy. The engine starts immediately.. just not with that flying ease as before.. it only took half a flick of fingers before, now it's a second longer. The glowplugs are Berus (5 x Glow Plug / Heater Plug Td5 (Beru) ERR6066G (ERR6066G) = £39.95).

Scooby, good point about the battery. I bought a new one 2,5 years ago and have been charging it full twice a year before and after winter. I will charge it again in the coming days. Really wish it would solve it, but feel that it won't

Do You, guys, think the problem could be with the starter motor? Or does it work in a way, that if it is a little faulty, it would take several seconds of cranking to start? Now it's maybe 1,5 seconds (instead of the dreamy 0,5 seconds)...

Bennehboy, will check the glowplugs position, but I think they are solid..

Guys, a weird question on this topic again.

In short, a few months ago I started to notice that the engine wouldn't start as easy as before. During that time I had replaced the glow plugs with Berus and today my trusty mechanic (who's by now almost a family member) rechecked the glow plugs and said everything was in order. He asked a rhetorical question, if that change for the worse could have been caused by the increased amount of biodiesel in our diesel here in Estonia. We've got a new regulation of no less than 7% of biodiesel.

Could this be the culprit?

Battery getting tired and not as much power to punch start it.

Gmacz said:

Battery getting tired and not as much power to punch start it.

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Thanks, will put charging tonight to make sure that's not it. If it is, that'd be a wonderful fix

As mentioned it’s prob the battery, mine did that then died a year later

Charged it. The charger showed that the battery was OK, but not Low when I connected it. It has been charged, but the black cloud and longer starting are still there..

Could You, Discodevon, or someone else comment on the possibility of the starter getting worse? Or the started more of a all-or-nothing type of thing

Stock_90_TD5_SW said:

Charged it. The charger showed that the battery was OK, but not Low when I connected it. It has been charged, but the black cloud and longer starting are still there..

Could You, Discodevon, or someone else comment on the possibility of the starter getting worse? Or the started more of a all-or-nothing type of thing

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id be looking at fuel system if it takes longer to start, tank pump screen not getting sludged up ,change air bleed valve and injector o rings

Thank You, JamesMartin!
The fuel pump is new and all the components have been cleaned (I understand the tank pump screen is the white plastic part of the fuel pump with holes). The fuel filter assy is also new (as I understand, the air bleed valve is a part of that?). So that leaves the injector o rings.
I have been checking the injector values on a Nanocom almost every month and the results are quite good (under 3, if I remember correctly). Does that show that the o rings are fine or is it possible that the Nanocom results are good, but the o rings are bad?