406oc.co.uk

Hi Guys
I need some help,
I know it's not 406 related but maybe some can help,
I've brought a 1996 106 1.5D (same as a saxo) for my doughter's 18th with 66K on the clock,
It's got a smokey engine (blue smoke) and only runns on 3 on startup (with black smoke for a few seconds) which is probably glow plugs,
It's had a new rad so I thought it was head gasket after overheating,
so I pulled the head off today and all looks good !!!!
can still see machineing marks in the bores,
It's had a new cambelt and oil change before I got it but the air filter is quite durty,
The EGR looks to be closing properly (although the inlets/outlets are quite oiled up and the EGR will be blocked off when it goes back together) and the valves look to be ok,

My thoughts are either valve stem seals or pump timing.

Has anyone got any other ideas ?

Oh and I have no manual so how do I check the pump timing when it goes back together as there doesn't seem to be any lockoff point on the pump,

Thanks in advance
mark

I did a few of these in the old days.
The head gasket failure is a well known fault on these, as is cracked heads.
Pump timing issues usually give heavy black smoke, but I hope you marked the position of the injection pump pulley before you stripped it.
If it were mine I would be replacing the valve stem seals, having the head pressure tested and skimmed and replacing piston rings, wouldn't hurt to lap in the valves as well.

yip my 106 blew the gasket, it was sorted after the heads were skimmed, but in your case changing the seals will probably help. As for the starting problem the glowplugs gave bother on my 106 but also there was something to do with compression and valve clearances that cost £30 to fix but after it started on a cold morning with no trouble

The head it's self shouldn't need skiming as the gasket was fine (I just jumped in a bit quick the the gasket diegnosess),
Where do the heads crack, is it on the mateing surface or inturnaly where you can't see it ?
The bores are showing absurlutly no sign of wear and very little piston movement so the rings should be fine, and at 66K I would be very suprised if they have gone.
Yes I marked the pump position but will lock it up with pins when it goes back together as I don't trust that they were right in the first place (I now have a manual so know how to lock everything up properly).

I think I will do the valve seals as with 14 years and only 66K they may well have gone britel,
and while there out I'll give them a quick lapping,
but not to much or it will throw the valve clearances out,
which I'll check afterwards anyway.

Thanks guys.

My memory is faded where these are concerned, but I remember that they were famous for breaking heads, if the head gasket hadn't gone it was only a matter of time before it did, a bit like the Fiat Punto.
I seem to remember them cracking across the middle of 2 and 3 cylinders, but it's a long time since I did one.
I have never refitted an aluminium head without skimming it, but I have customers to keep happy so it's a no brainer for me.
Follow the tightening procedure carefully.
I hope it goes well and all is well afterwards.

the head needs skimmed, it wasnt initially on my engine and even though i didnt see any cracks it was there, the car went fine for about a week and then needed stripped down to get the heads skimmed, after that it went fine. Once you get it done, put a switch to the coolant fan to keep it on all the time when the cars running, i never trusted the one in my car it kicked in too late, and this way the car never got the chance to overheat, its quite important on 106 diesels considering that they dont have a water temperature gague