Outer Limits 4x4 Board

The old man has a 2000 GU 3.0L turbo diesel.

Today driving up a hill on road the vehicle suddenly lost power and blew white/blue smoke, there was a bit of a clunk but it stopped pretty quickly, before he'd pulled over.

When iddleing the engine moves from side to side quite a bit like the revs are to low to run properly.

The water in the radiater is normal colouring and the oil in the sump isn't milky.
Has any one got any ideas what it's likely to be? I'm leaning towards stuffed turbo but i haven't had a chance to strip it yet (tomorrows job).

P.S. Before anyone says it i know a td42 upgrade is his best bet and i'll be pushing for it if it comes to it , but right now he wants to fix this engine as he likes it.

Any help or tips as to what i should keep an eye out for would be great thanks.

White smoke ( unburn't fuel)
Blue smoke ( burning oil)

Id probably be thinking blown oil seal in turbo,
But causing it to "jump" from side to side could have something to do with fuel.

I am not too familiar on these engines but id check the turbo out first.

Hope all goes well

Drain the oil, then strain it through an old T shirt or the like, being a 3.0 one almost has to consider a terminal illness.

Sounds a bit nasty. Especially with the 3.0L's reputation for melting pistons and the like.

While its idling remove the oil cap. If it blows like a steam train that would indicate combustion blowby to sump.

A compression test would be a good indicator of the engine condition.
I would check the valve gear runs ok and no damage.

If all this comes up ok, could be timing belt ( or are they chain in the 3.0?) slipped a tooth, Or a broken tensioner.

If it was a rooted turbo it would not affect the idling of the engine - unless the compressor side has disintegrated and been sucked down the intake. In which case the engine is probably damaged anyway.

Oh, and if you find out the engine has self destructed, you will need to find out why ( electronic injection sensors, turbo, etc) or you might damage the rebuild. I think the cost of these extra parts are one of the reasons they are expensive to build.

If the engine is up shit creak i'll source a td42 engine and gearbox to suit and give the truck a better life. I'll definately be looking into why it's stuffed to.
The other i thought of is a stuck exhaust valve or stuffed ring as the smoke puffs out when it's idling like it's only one cylinder thats rooted, let the fun begin tomorrow either way, i know one thing for sure but, he won't be driving it to work on monday

Missing & blowing smoke. Check blow bye out the breather it could have done a piston