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1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:35 pm
by 406Marc
Hi
I'm hoping somebody out there has/had a similar problem to mine (1998 406 Glx)

at idle no smoke is produced but when driving white smoke emits from the exhaust, it is alot enough to fail an mot but not enough to be oil seals?

It idles smoothly and seems to pull well

My neighbour seems to think the pump timing may be retarded??

Any help greatly appreciated

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:05 pm
by KrisB
I'm presuming you're not getting white smoke confused with blue smoke.

However, white smoke is usually to do with timing, i suspect that on idle you may occasionally get a missfire, or possibly not. I'm also presuming it's a 1.9 or 2.1? What i would suggest is to run some diesel injector cleaner through and advance the pump timing slightly if the additive doesn't help.

White smoke is either because of dirty injectors or bad timing.

Also... change your fuel filter for safe measures! A blocked filter won't flow very well higher up the rpm's.

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:09 pm
by lozz
White smoke is not good iwouid have a sniff test done :(
couid be water is entering one of the cylinders

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:33 pm
by 406Marc
The smoke is more greyish/white rather than water vapour
lozz wrote:White smoke is not good iwouid have a sniff test done :(
couid be water is entering one of the cylinders

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:37 pm
by 406Marc
Its definately white smoke but it doesn't misfire although - will say it is a slow starter
KrisB wrote:I'm presuming you're not getting white smoke confused with blue smoke.

However, white smoke is usually to do with timing, i suspect that on idle you may occasionally get a missfire, or possibly not. I'm also presuming it's a 1.9 or 2.1? What i would suggest is to run some diesel injector cleaner through and advance the pump timing slightly if the additive doesn't help.

White smoke is either because of dirty injectors or bad timing.

Also... change your fuel filter for safe measures! A blocked filter won't flow very well higher up the rpm's.

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:41 pm
by 406Marc
It revs freely

Is definately white/grey smoke not steam

I will say it is a slow starter sometimes needs 2 glow plug times

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:06 am
by Gary406
hi . and welcome to the forum.

my 1.9 td also has the same problem as yours.no smoke on idle but a fer amount when driving and under boost around 3500 rpm.

my car is running perfect and timing is 100% spot on , at 1st i thought headgasket - white relating to steam but, coolant is not leaking.

so it must be normal for this engine after so many miles .. as kris says try changing the fuel filter there only £3.60ish from euro car parts online with free delivery.

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:56 am
by 406Marc
It smokes a bit to much to drive without being pulled over by pc plod

Maybe should have said that I havnt owned her long and apprently its recently had a secondhand turbo fitted after a failure so unsure if this is related. Maybe burning oil from the turbo failure stuck in the intake system?

Also the egr system seems to have been completely removed would this cause it to smoke more?
Gary406 wrote:hi . and welcome to the forum.

my 1.9 td also has the same problem as yours.no smoke on idle but a fer amount when driving and under boost around 3500 rpm.

my car is running perfect and timing is 100% spot on , at 1st i thought headgasket - white relating to steam but, coolant is not leaking.

so it must be normal for this engine after so many miles .. as kris says try changing the fuel filter there only £3.60ish from euro car parts online with free delivery.

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:11 am
by Gary406
i think removing the egr valve does cause them to smoke a bit more. maybe there is oil in the exhaust from the bust turbo.

take it for a good blast down a motorway . see if that clears it.

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:31 am
by 406Marc
I'm going to a local scrapyard tommorow to get an egr valve, I'll pull the timing cover off and check the belt hasn't jumped a tooth. But it was replaced 20k miles ago so unsure why it would have jumped
Gary406 wrote:i think removing the egr valve does cause them to smoke a bit more. maybe there is oil in the exhaust from the bust turbo.

take it for a good blast down a motorway . see if that clears it.

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:41 am
by Gary406
i doubt the belt jumping to be honest. replace the EGR . have the fuel pump checked if you can make sure the previous owner didnt turn it up to make the car faster.

turning the pump up would also cause it to smoke more than it should

(just remember all diesels smoke a bit some more than others so expect some) 8)

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:45 am
by 406Marc
I left it idleing yesterday for 30mins with not a hint of smoke, when I revved it you could hardly see the back of the through the white/grey smoke

It was an old boy who owned it before so can't imagine the fueling has been altered but you never know
Gary406 wrote:i doubt the belt jumping to be honest. replace the EGR . have the fuel pump checked if you can make sure the previous owner didnt turn it up to make the car faster.

turning the pump up would also cause it to smoke more than it should

(just remember all diesels smoke a bit some more than others so expect some) 8)

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:58 am
by Gary406
does it smoke when your driving round for more than 30 minutes ?

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 11:16 am
by 406Marc
It smokes a lot less in volume and frequency

Re: 1.9 Td white smoke

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 12:18 pm
by rwb