Diesel blowing smoke..

[Stevo11]

Hi,

Our Heep is running v.rough (3 cylinders it sounds like), excessive blowby, black exhaust.
Wife left the lights on, flat battery, AA man called, he jumped it and idled it which didn't recharge the battery (it never has while idling), so he suggested my wife drive it (I was away) to recharge, she got about 50 yards before she heard screeching, lost brakes and the smoke started. She had AA man push it back to driveway so I could get a look.

Have pulled rocker cover and all looks ok too, no popped pushrods (I was hoping it was just something like this), didn't check for bent ones tho now I think of it, although that wouldn't account for the blowby.

Where to start? Compression test?

Am thinking its probably rings..? Are they big deal to change on these?

Cheers,
Steve

P.S. Heads were off almost a year ago to the day! Ugh.

[Deezelweazel]

Start with easy to check things first!It sounds to me (per remote diagnosis) that you have injector trouble.

- Which model year do you have?
- Whats the oil pressure? Does it raise? Enough oil in the engine?
- Was it working without any trouble or failure before that happened?

Please recharge your battery, before you do anything else!

When recharged the battery start it and let it run.
Open the injector lines at the injector with a 17mm open ring wrench.
Be careful! Fuel spills out with high pressure! Do you notice a difference in engine run? If the engine gets slower proceed to the next injector. When the engine remains in the same speed while you opened the injector line you have found a faulty injector.

Check the engine oil. Does it smell different(diesel), do you have a significant oil level raise?
Also check the glow plugs! all of them!

The black exhaust does disturb me, if unburned fuel would get out the exhaust would be white. Black is no good at all---> burned oil
While engine off!:
Please remove also the turbo air intake and check the play of your turbo, does it move freely? does it bend?
I can't explain myself the noise other than turbo caused.

If the oil level is ok and the oil pump works you shouldn't have any problems with wear. The engine block is known to be bomb solid if not neglecting oil+ filter changes.

Good luck to you

[Stevo11]

Been busy so only getting back to this now.
Its a '96
oil pressure looks normal
yes, it was working just fine (if a little down on power)

Battery charged and its starting normally (but still on 3 cylinders)

You Tube

Will try opening injector lines to see which cylinder is the problem.

No significant oil level raise (although it hasn't run for long like this).

Will check glow plugs too.

Sorry, I was wrong.. the exhaust is more white than black.

You Tube

Lots of blow-by though.. I'll check the rocker cover vent is clear too.

Thanks,
Steve

[Deezelweazel]

Hmmm, Does the egine start instantly? or do you have to crank over and over again?
Check also the pushrods. A pushrod that has jumped out, has to be replaced check also for wear of the pushrod heads.
Pushrod still straight? roll it over a glass plate- if it wobbles- replace it, there is no straightening.
Use assembly lube or moly grease, when replacing the pushrods to avoid wear.
Feedback would be great.
Cheers, Michael

forget the vent- that is not the cause. It is a uncompleted combustion process. That means injector or intake valve fail.

[Stevo11]

Originally Posted by Deezelweazel

Hmmm, Does the egine start instantly? or do you have to crank over and over again?
Check also the pushrods. A pushrod that has jumped out, has to be replaced check also for wear of the pushrod heads.
Pushrod still straight? roll it over a glass plate- if it wobbles- replace it, there is no straightening.
Use assembly lube or moly grease, when replacing the pushrods to avoid wear.
Feedback would be great.
Cheers, Michael

forget the vent- that is not the cause. It is a uncompleted combustion process. That means injector or intake valve fail.

Yeah, it starts normally enough (maybe up to 4 or 5 revolutions when cold).
Will check push rods, none had jumped out and none rattled when wiggled but haven't checked for bending yet.

k, was going to check the rocker vent/tube/oil separator as there is more blowby than normal.

Will come back with results.
ta
Steve

[Deezelweazel]

More blowby than normal? Read the lines- that means the engine does not get rid of the air pressure...
Check the valves and the related actuators...

[Stevo11]

checked the rockers & pushrods, seemed fine, took out rods from #3 cylinder, all good. Vent clear. Intake tube clean (checked for oil from turbo).

Checked oil level.. waaay down..