Technical White Smoke 1999 2.8 idTD

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Technical White Smoke 1999 2.8 idTD

LeoTheLad

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Hi,
Engine covered 65k miles and starts first time every time but it produces white smoke for the first few miles. I can't find any glow plugs but have 2 devices on the inlet manifold (as per photo).

Immediately the ignition is switched on at an ambient temperature of approx 8 deg. C, no voltage appears on the left hand device (resistance 7.5 ohms) but a short pulse appears on the right hand device (resistance 377 ohms). It is probably a 12V pulse but it is too quick (much less than a second) for my digital multimeter.
What are these devices and what are their functions?
Are the readings correct and if they are, what could be causing the white smoke?
Any help would be much appreciated. Many thanks.
 

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useualy white smoke indicates water. I had this problem it turned out to be cylinder head gasket needed to be replaced.(y)
 
If the white smoke smells of diesel. Try unplugging the lefthand connector where you measure the 7.5ohms. That controls the fuel solenoid that dumps diesel into the intake maniifold onto the flamestart pluv if it thinks its cold. If flame plug is gone or has no power unburnt diesel produces the smoke.
 
Hi romer21,
Thanks for your reply. Have used about half a litre of coolant in 3,300 miles. Could that be an indication of a faulty head gasket?

Hi corcai,
Thanks for your reply. Yes, white smoke smells of diesel. Have unplugged the left hand connector but no change - still emitting white smoke. This being the case, with 0V on the solenoid or with it disconnected, it should not be dumping diesel into the manifold. Is that correct?
 
I have the 2.5tdi and have similar situation (don't consider problem) if the van stands a week or so without start-up I get a certain amount of blue and white smoke. the blue comes from slightly worn valve seals and the white if there has been damp wet weather is I believe condensation from the silencer box exhaust system both blue and white clear up after a minute or so running and I get no tracers of either after a mile of running even at high revs. also my experience is that the flame start system only kicks in at 1-2"c. so I would plum for condensation and wait for warmer weather and see if problem persists.
 
Hi jontee61,
Thanks for your reply. Had the white smoke problem for about a year now and warm weather has made no difference (should have mentioned that in original thread, sorry). It hasn't really bothered me but I will be putting it on the market soon and personally I wouldn't buy one with the same problem so I need to sort it out.
 
White smoke is unburned diesel caused by the injector spray hitting a very cold surface. So it's worse in winter and much worse when below zero. If one or more heater plugs are not working the affected cylinders will produce white smoke until they warm up but that should only take a minute or so. Unlikely to be the head gasket, you would be aware of other problems by now.
 
Hi rolandbrindley,
Thanks for your reply. I don't appear to have separate heater plugs for each cylinder but two devices on the inlet manifold (see photo on my original thread).
Unlikely to be the head gasket - that's good news.

Hi corcai,
So the left hand device is the fuel dump solenoid and the right hand device is the flame plug, correct?
Is there a method of testing them without removal / replacement?
 
You don't need flamestart plug at UK temperatures, check if your diesel pump has a cold start advance on it, the linkage to the actuator and actuator itself can fail.
 
Hi corcai,
Thanks again for you reply.
As you are no doubt aware, there is very little information available on this Ducato so, due to my limited experience with diesel engines, I have to ask if my pump has a cold start advance on it? Can you tell from the attached photos?
 

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Hi corcai,
Thanks again for you reply.
As you are no doubt aware, there is very little information available on this Ducato so, due to my limited experience with diesel engines, I have to ask if my pump has a cold start advance on it? Can you tell from the attached photos?

Picture 2 black wire on the left drives the cold start advance:

see here: https://www.ebah.com.br/content/ABAAAfAEkAL/bosch-ve-pumps-manual?part=9

under the title:
Mechanical cold-start accelerator (KSB) on the roller ring

Should be 12 volts on that wire if when cold. Bowden cables can be broken/ detached in which case lever flops.
 
HI the cold start wire as indicated will very likely be disconnected,it was on the early ducs. connected via a pull knob in dash but most for England use were disconnected and especially with motorhomes where the interior was custom to the builder. The white smoke is unburned fuel caused by cold manifold ,The flame start will not work unless temp is well below 0. it was fitted for continental use. If you want to get rid of most of the smoke on start up get s mall tie wrap and fit it in between the wire as shown and the lever on the pump, If you lever the arm(The one with the pivot )towards the body of the pump and place the wrap in-between the stop on the wire and the lever you will effectively advance the pump timing which reduces the smoke and aids warm up from cold. If you look at the design it will be obvious how it works.
They are always worse after a timing belt change because its very easy to get the timing very slightly out.
It took me months to find this cure for my 1999 kontiki
But came across an ancient fiat mechanic who put me onto this. He worked mainly on the older ducs. where there was the knob under the dash,he said he used to fit a timing belt then take it out and progressively pull the knob until he was happy with the running ,then move the pump body and retighten at that point,and return the knob to fully off.
When I did mine the first wrap was a bit too wide and the engine cleared of white smoke but just pinked a bit on hard acceleration (Too advanced) so fitted a smaller one and its been fine since.
You could also undo the little stop on the wire and move that but mine looked as though to would snap if I touched it,,Very rusted. Good luck with it
 
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