Diesel emissions

iolanthe07

I've just bought an 8 year old motorhome with a 1.9 turbo diesel. I've never owned a diesel vehicle before. It passed its MOT 10 days ago and seems OK, but on start up after being left for a few days it emits clouds of smoke for the first few seconds. Is this normal? If not, how did it pass its emission test and !!!!!! can I do about it?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

It isn't always normal. What colour is the smoke and what marque is the vehicle?

White?
Grey?
Blue?
Black?

goldspanners

does it turn over a lot before the engine actually fires up? if so it could just be the excess fuel in the cylinders being partially burnt off.it is a fairly common thing on diesels especially when its really cold.
the engine would have been warmed up before the MOT so this wouldnt have been noticed.

LandyAndy

goldspanners wrote: »

does it turn over a lot before the engine actually fires up? if so it could just be the excess fuel in the cylinders being partially burnt off.it is a fairly common thing on diesels especially when its really cold.
the engine would have been warmed up before the MOT so this wouldnt have been noticed.

In which case it may need new glow plugs.

iolanthe07

Thanks for the replies. The smoke is grey. The engine is a Fiat 1.9 turbo diesel but I believe several marques share the same engine. The engine starts fairly promptly and the glow plugs were recently renewed. The vehicle has done a huge mileage (135 K in 8 years) by motorhome standards, but it was owned previously by an engineer and the service record is complete and immaculate - oil change every 5000 miles from new, cam belt changed last July, new cylinder head last June and lots of other history. Anyone know what a recon engine might cost?

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Grey smoke is unburnt fuel in the cylinders. You may have a poor spray pattern on one or more injectors although this usually exhibits itself with clouds of soot upon acceleration. If the engine misfires for a second or two on startup, it may need a new glowplug or two.

You won't need a new engine, but if you're interested get it compression tested and have the injectors cleaned. My Mercedes diesel has 203,000 miles on it and still runs like new.

goldspanners

LandyAndy wrote: »

In which case it may need new glow plugs.

it may,but we still dont know if the smoke clears after starting.

and why a new engine? surely recon injection pump and injectors would be better.maybe not cheaper though.

kaya

Most turbo diesels smoke when started from cold for a short while, its built up carbon from inside the turbo, turbos run at extremely high temperatures and diesel is an oil

gilbert_and_sullivan

Try a bottle of millers through the fuel system or forte, i prefer millers and have been using it donkeys.

Its worth a tenner to see if there's any imrovement, if not then if its running smoke free when warm, i would find a good old fashioned diesel shop to overhaul your injectors.

Just a thought, disconnect the glow plug connectors, then connect them one at a time through an ammeter to see if you happen to have a dud or bad connection.

In fact, are the glow plugs working anyway, i know some of these van diesels will happily start without preheating' but then obviously you get a bit of smoke until all cyls fire up fully.

iolanthe07

we still dont know if the smoke clears after starting.

"it emits clouds of smoke for the first few seconds (post #1)"

Yes, the smoke does clear soon after starting

Thanks G & S, I'll try the Millers first.

goldspanners

iolanthe07 wrote: »

we still dont know if the smoke clears after starting.

"it emits clouds of smoke for the first few seconds (post #1)"

Yes, the smoke does clear soon after starting

Thanks G & S, I'll try the Millers first.

why would it fail an MOT if the smoke only happens for a few seconds after start up then? they dont test emissions at start up.