Huge white clouds coming out of the exhaust, help is need ASAP

[gali]

Hi there all,

My 110 TDI300 started lately to take out extra white smoke from the exhaust, at the last few days it becomes unbearable.
It comes especially when I first start the engine in the morning and at drive time it is mentioned mostly when I take the foot off the throttle while the gear is still shifted & the engine slows down the vehicle.
The white smoke is so huge that you cannot see anything & no one can see me also.

It seems to me that it's something from the fuel system such a bad injector or maybe lift pump (or who knows maybe the injection pump or timing went off).

Does anyone here have a history of such big white clouds coming out of the exhaust?
How van I check if its an injector or lift pump or maybe even valve clearance?

Thanks, Gali

[PTSchram]

Pendy, paging Mr. Pendy to aisle one!

[red90rover]

Check your timing first. That happens when it is retarded.

[gali]

thanks red90, i will do it first thing on the morning.

[CherokeeTerrorist]

head gasket

[gali]

Originally Posted by CherokeeTerrorist

head gasket

DAHH???

[pendy]

Water in fuel-maybe
Check the impellor on the turbo-seals
Is the breather to the valve cover restricted?
Belt timing like Red said.
Sticking injection pump inards-from corrosion damage.

I'll think on it some more and I am sure others will have something to add.

JP

[gali]

I started the day by disconnecting the breather & checking the return hoses of the diesel fuel.
All seems O.K. the breather is leaking a bit of oil to the turbo inlet but it doesn't seem to be the problem.
Later on I checked the inlet of the turbo, there is a slight of movement of the compressor side up & down but not so significant.
No bubbles at the water tank, the oil is good (not milky) so I guess no big chances for head gasket.

I didn’t checked the timing today but I will do it within a day or two, at the mean time the vehicle is resting at the garage.
Is it by any good to check the valve clearance before the timing or should I jump to the water with the timing first?

[PTSchram]

While I admit to being pretty ignorant W/R/T oil burners, isn't white smoke most often due to coolant being burned? Are you losing any coolant?

[aripc]

Originally Posted by pendy

Water in fuel-maybe
Check the impellor on the turbo-seals
Is the breather to the valve cover restricted?
Belt timing like Red said.
Sticking injection pump inards-from corrosion damage.

I'll think on it some more and I am sure others will have something to add.

JP

2nd pendy's advice. we run veg oil and white smoke is common when water mixes with the fuel.

[gali]

99% it's not vapor going out, by smell, there is a lost of power also.
i wont start with the head gasket, my bet is the timing.

[western110]

I don't run a TDI but I've run a few 2.5na rover diesels and white smoke on start up and over run is usually the timing being retarded. Could be the pump bolts are loose or the belt is getting ready to let go. I assume the white smoke smells like unburnt diesel, if not then disreguard what I've said

[Discosaurus]

Originally Posted by PTSchram

While I admit to being pretty ignorant W/R/T oil burners, isn't white smoke most often due to coolant being burned? Are you losing any coolant?

While it could be water vapor, unburned fuel also creates white (not bluish) smoke. Just watch any older industrial engine firing up when it's cold outside - I've seen John Deeres fog out a whole field when started in sub-zero weather. That's why I seldom start the Mog when the ait temp is below 20-25 F - very embarrasing

[gali]

Hi all,

I just finished with the timing. Seems that the timing belt "jumped" one step, the reason is that the master pulley bolt (27mm) been damaged also the woodruff key at the master crankshaft was damaged so all this pulley wasn’t balanced.
Since there been a freedom at the woodruff key the inside pulley of the timing belt suffered few impacts and then jumped one tooth.

I finished already with the timing & valve clearance (the master bolt was a bitch, more then an hour to open), I started the engine (with no master belt) for 5 to 10 seconds & the engine works like a clock – round & steady.

Now I should get a used pulley & I hope that the spot of the woodruff key at the crank wasn’t damaged so I can fit a new one with no problems, along with a pulley & a bolt (also damaged thread).

Thank you all, I really appreciate all your help, gave me the feeling that I'm not alone.

I'll keep you all posted.

Gali.

[pendy]

Glad you caught it before the belt shredded on you.

JP

[PTSchram]

Originally Posted by pendy

Glad you caught it before the belt shredded on you.

JP

No doubt! Sounds like another tragedy narrowly averted!

[Mercedesrover]

Whoever thought of putting a rubber timing belt on a collision motor should be punched in the face.

[Discosaurus]

Originally Posted by Mercedesrover

Whoever thought of putting a rubber timing belt on a collision motor should be punched in the face.

Everybody seems to do it though...

All my modern vehicles (all with non-clearance engines) use stinking flexible belts. Funny - all my OLDER vehicles use chains...wonder ($$$$$$$$$$$) why.

[Mercedesrover]

True enough.

Here's a picture of what happens when you hit a deer with your Subaru:



/forum/general-chit-chat/612342-what-happens-when-you-hit-deer-your-subaru.html

jim

[PTSchram]

Originally Posted by Mercedesrover

True enough.

Here's a picture of what happens when you hit a deer with your Subaru:


jim

When the wife was an insurance adjuster, she had a claim with a Forester or some such that ran over a curb and a bush... Totalled the almost new car!

Subarus are such great vehicles-yeah right!

[gali]

Originally Posted by Discosaurus

Everybody seems to do it though...

All my modern vehicles (all with non-clearance engines) use stinking flexible belts. Funny - all my OLDER vehicles use chains...wonder ($$$$$$$$$$$) why.

You know, there is a sprocket kit for the TDI300 instead of the original belt.
Kind of to the Detroit Diesel engine I once work with.

[pendy]

Zues gear suck. They have been breaking all over the planet for years. Id rather have the belt then their product. Its to bad cause the engine could use a good gearset instead. but it is not Zues IMEO.

JP

[PTSchram]

Originally Posted by pendy

Zues gear suck. They have been breaking all over the planet for years. Id rather have the belt then their product. Its to bad cause the engine could use a good gearset instead. but it is not Zues IMEO.

JP

Nothin' wrong with the belts (on most engines) as long as they are changed before they go boom! Most folks don't keep a vehicle long enough to even worry about it. At least we don't have Mercedes engines with the tensioners that grenade at any point after they leave the showroom!

(says the man with 225K on a Rover V-8 and original timing chain-no, I don't like living on the edge!)