Outer Limits 4x4 Board

My ute is a 1982 Hilux LN46R which contains the original L (2188 cc) motor. It has 270 000km on it and has had injectors changed 1 month ago and is regularly serviced every 5000kms (oil and filter).
The problem is the motor is chewing a lot of oil but no water or anything else. There are no engine leaks so not sure where it is going. It also has lost a lot of power and sometimes is hard to start. I am not sure but I think the glow plugs might need to be changed as they are original. Does anyone know how much it costs to change glow plugs? If you have any ideas about what may be wrong with it, please let me know. Any help will be appreciated.

New glow plugs should set you back $80 or so - and take an hour to swap over.

Cant speak if all your troubles likely to be due to glow plugs tho.

I was recently told how to test the existing glow plugs. When they die, they form an open circuit. So if you take off the glow plug rail and connect a test light to the positive terminal of your battery to the point of each glow plug - light means ok, no light means farked.

mate,
Sounds to me the compression is down due to wear.... Rings shot thus hard to start.If it isnt leakin oil then it is burnin it.. Not good news,,
I wouldnt spend doe on glo plugs before checkin compressioin out.
I recon you could need an expensive rebuild!!!!

jimkaybam wrote:mate,
Sounds to me the compression is down due to wear.... Rings shot thus hard to start.If it isnt leakin oil then it is burnin it.. Not good news,,
I wouldnt spend doe on glo plugs before checkin compressioin out.
I recon you could need an expensive rebuild!!!!

I'd say jimkaybam is on the money here. Is it getting pretty smokey?

No it is not that smokey. It smokes huge amounts of white smoke when cold at start up and then only whit-grey smoke when it is underload otherwise it is fine. So not sure what it is?

FrankB wrote:No it is not that smokey. It smokes huge amounts of white smoke when cold at start up and then only whit-grey smoke when it is underload otherwise it is fine. So not sure what it is?

That's oil!

Diesels under load blow black smoke - not white-grey.

Run your finger around the inside of your exhaust pipe. What comes off?

Scott

When I run my fingers inside the exhaust I get nothing but black stuff

Just do a compression test it will give you a good idea how good the engine is, do a wet test also.

when was the last valve adjustment done ?

What is a valve adjustment? A valve adjustment has never been done on this engine before.
One other question what is a wet test this might sound stupid but please explain??

a valve set is a tune up adjust rocker clearance

a wet test is the second stage of a compression check you first do it dry and if that cyl is low on pressure sqirt a little bit of oil in that cyl and if it stays the same then it is valces or head gasket if it rises it is rings

The more i hear the more i think the ol girl needs a new set of rings etc,Down on power, white smoke at startup,nice greasy exhaust.
Dont spend any money on it until an "Expert" has had a look.