Rough Starting-Why?

[bigpat]

Hi Guys,
I have a 92 2,4 TD Surf.

Over the past 1.5 years its slowly become rougher running on start up.
Now it kicks like a kangaroo in the mornings, and blows puffs of smoke for 5-10 secs, and occasionally misses as if its not firing on all pots.

I don't know whether to believe if the glowplugs are gone, or an air lock in the injectors? A mechanic mentioned that if I ran out of diesel once it can do this. and to bleed the injectors. Admiitedly I ran dry about 2 months ago, but I primed up the system after filling up, and off she went.....

Someone else said leaking injectors could be the cause. Had these changed about 100,000 km ago. It occasionally gives a white puff on 1st-2nd gearchange, which I was told was only unburnt fuel. BTW turbo seals were done 30,00 km ago too.

What does everybody think? All thoughts welcome.....

Cheers,

Pat

[luxbloke]

Not an expert on the diesel, So i don't know if it burns like Petrol

But the white smoke isn't normally fuel - When fuel burns it creates black smoke. When White/Blue smoke is produced its burning oil...

[Chucky]

white smoke is can be water in the fuel, and sometinmes too much air. Do you get alot of water in the seperator at the bottom of the fuel filter? And I would also check the glow plugs too, it's a easy job and gets another potential problem off the list.

[HG]

G'day Pat long time no see,
sounds like glow plugs to me and how old is the fuel filter? might be clagged up.

[carts]

Definately sounds like glow plugs to me. White smoke in diesels is unburnt fuel. You will see this when the cylinders aren't at operating temperature, or a lack of compression.

Black smoke is a burnt rich fuel mixture.

In the morning when the motor is cold, if the glow plugs dont heat up and you turn the motor over, an indirect injected motor will cough and splutter because the cylinder isnt at a high enough combustion temperature to burn the fuel completely. Hence spluttering and chugging white smoke. After about 5-10 seconds it will warm up and function normally.

[plowy]

yep glow plugs now the fun part pull them out and get the numbers off them on a 3b eng the were about 8 different types of plug ,might be different on a surf perhaps

After quizing a bloke at the injector shop he told me u only need one to fail to have poor start up but it is best to change the lot

[dumbdunce]

if your injectors are 100,000km old they are due for a service. as for the rough starts, it is almost definitely glow plugs. the small turbo diesels tend to eat them especially if overfuelling a bit - they get too hot and the end cracks off them.

[bigpat]

Cheers boys, thanks for advice. Will change glowplugs now, and do injectors soon. Diesel filter looks OK (no crud).

See ya soon Andrew!

Cheers,

Pat

[NiftyNev]

Glow plugs.I use Bosch 215s but others use the hotter 223s.

Neville

[Chump]

Hi guys.

I ahd this same problem with my BJ40 so i just replaced the glow plugs and have never seen it glow so bright before. Problem is the Cruiser still blows out a ton of white smoke in the mornings or on any cold start....?????

I think this is weird, i just had a new head put on with everything else replaced in the head. The plugs were the last thing to replace. Does anyone have an idea what the problem may be????

[rumble]

good to know that my 2lt isnt the only engine that runs like a pig in the mornings-mine blows blue smoke first thing -fills the backyard with a thick blue/black cloud and seems to run on only a few cylinders. Once running though no problems. The diesel techs think its low compression -symptom of an old engine. Injectors, glow plugs, pump all checked and OK. Still drives well-plenty of power etc and not alot of smoke whilst driving.