Hi all

When I start my 1.9 stilo from cold I get about 10 secs of white smoke along with a rich diesel smell this goes after starting and when it's smoking the engine feels like it's making a purring noise but no change in rpm

Any thoughts?

i used to get this on my 2.4 when the heater plugs where naff, im sure it unburnt diesel, dont know if this might be the case? i get the smell on my 1.9 now, when it was a bit cold before i changed the glow plugs, i used to warm them a few times before starting? someone might be able to explain why better.

new set of glow plugs wouldnt do any harm

Paul

Thanks mate I'll try that - do glow plugs even activate on temps over 3c?

good question! im sure they would still activate/warm up. i remember reading somewhere it may use the extrenal temp sensor on the drivers wind mirror. ill go an check mine im sure i still get the glow plugs light on the dash on start up.

Are the glow plugs a big job on the stilo?

On my Ulysses they were a pig of a job

i bought mine and a garage didnt charge alot to change them.

there one which is a right pain in the ar*e to change it either 2 or 3, id do a check and test them if there faulty but if they were you wuld of got the good old pre-heat fault?

Glow lamp on dash of mine lights up ,though does appear not to be on as long as in the colder days of winter..

Not had the fun of changing glow plugs yet, if you have a look in the guides section you find some very handy information and tips, for glow plugs some info in link from guides below
https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-guides/151734-dealing-preheat-fault-message-stilo-jtd.html

Interesting ... Yeah i don't get any fault messages popping up I was hoping maybe dirty injectors?

Yup my glow plug light comes on isn't the stilo common rail?

yep its common rail

do you have a pre heat warning light up when started that stays on for a while after the car is running?
If the light goes straight out then its not the glow plugs, the stilo will tell you if there is a problem with the plugs, i know as ive changed them and it is a right pig of a job that can easily end up in tears as the plugs are very thin and fragile.

Put some premium diesel in the car, and an additive to give the injectors a good clean, this may solve the problem and is by far the easiest solution

roy lovelock said:

do you have a pre heat warning light up when started that stays on for a while after the car is running?
If the light goes straight out then its not the glow plugs, the stilo will tell you if there is a problem with the plugs, i know as ive changed them and it is a right pig of a job that can easily end up in tears as the plugs are very thin and fragile.

Put some premium diesel in the car, and an additive to give the injectors a good clean, this may solve the problem and is by far the easiest solution

Click to expand...

Well the light comes on and goes off after a while so think that's all good - Hmm I think I will try that might just fix it you never know

Is the best injector cleaner the red fuel additive, reddex is it?

Millers Oils - Diesel Power Eco Max 500ml: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike

ive been using that one for years, i get once a year in bulk of ebay.
Premium fuel like optimax work the same way and will put a smile on your face!!

just took the boy to sea cadets, still get my glow plug light on as normal, as said get some Redex, i bought some today £3 in Tesco. Asda once a month has it half price for £2, i have just put £20 of Shell Diesel (wouldnt use nowt else) and a bottle of that redex diesel injector cleaner. i do it once a month. keeps everything clean.

good shout Roy

glow plug light being on for longer than a few seconds is no good. essentially it should be on for a few seconds as the plugs heat up - this should happen quickly. Then the light will go out, that's when you start the engine.


If your light is on for a minute or so then you have a plug down maybe more, which means you have unburnt diesel coming out the exhaust which is the white smoke.


As far as I know, its a little pig of a job, but not a nightmare or anything, access is fine, the pig part is being careful not to snap them.


I recently did the plugs on my Terrano 4x4, same symptoms as you (white smoke etc), new plugs, a quick belch of white smoke then all good as the system clears.


I use the EcoMax stuff Roy uses, brilliant stuff. I tend to put in 25ml per half a tank, and a bit more on a long journey where I can give the engine some hard revs to clear the crap.

ill give that eco stuf a whirl, cheapest place to get it from Clivvy?

paullawton2007 said:

ill give that eco stuf a whirl, cheapest place to get it from Clivvy?

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not sure to be honest, I get mine from Halfrauds for about £11.99, but considering how long a bottle lasts I think its good value. I haven't really shopped around for it though!

Halfrauds! Oh no there's gotta be somewhere else!;-)

O have read a load of forum's about using a drop of two stroke. I'm not convinced. Ill have a go of that eco stuff though. What mix do you use

paullawton2007 said:

Halfrauds! Oh no there's gotta be somewhere else!;-)

O have read a load of forum's about using a drop of two stroke. I'm not convinced. Ill have a go of that eco stuff though. What mix do you use

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don't be afraid of the two stroke. literally a drop wont do any harm. I am a member of the 4x4 club for the Terrano, and its fairly common practice for older diesels.


as for a mix, well its not very mathematical for me, I use 25ml into about 20 litres (of ecomax, not two stroke!)