1991 Citroen Hymer White smoke (1 Viewer)

[badgerskins]

I'm not sure what to do next to sort this! On starting I turn on ignition wait for the heater symbol to go off, turn the key to start her up. As she turns over the is a bit of a clanking sound then as she fires on what sounds like three cylinders she produces a lager cloud of white smoke which smells like unburnt diesel. Other times she starts quite normally. The water system has been checked so no problem there and no steam in the smoke. The heater plugs have been replaced so they should be fine. although sometimes it seems to take a very long time before the heater symbol goes out! I read on a forum elsewhere that there was a thought that there might be a problem with the turbo oil seal. The problem often occurs first time I start in the morning or if I've done a long days drive. In terms of running she's fine plenty of power, I've just been to Spain and back with every thing fine but for the smoke. It's defiantly a bit embarrassing when pulling away from a serviced filling station and first thing in the morning when leaving a campsite, I always try to explain to the next pitch!! So if any of you guys who are good with old diesel engines have any ideas on what do next I would be very grateful to hear from you

 

[Snowbird]

Sounds like a leaking injector nozzle. Dripping diesel onto the top of the piston when switched off. That is what is being burnt off when you start from cold.

 

[Tootles]

The white smoke seems normal on start up, our 1992 Fiat 2.5 turbo does the same on cold mornings, however, its the 'clank' thing which would worry me. It is possible that fuel or water is leaking into a cylinder overnight through a damaged or worn head gasket, and as you turn over the engine, a hydraulic effect is taking place, until the engine fires, and the surplus fuel (or water) is burnt off. Severe hydraulicing would lock up the engine, and could possibly bend a con rod, so get it checked out ASP.

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[Snowbird]

The clanking noise will be as Tootles states, fuel hydraulicing. Get the injectors tested by a diesel specialist ASAP, otherwise major engine problems are not far away. If it smells of unburnt diesel, it is definitely a leaking injector.

 

[badgerskins]

Thanks Guys, I'll get onto it Tomoz

 

[Emmit]

1991 Citroen Hymer White smoke

Doesn't that mean we've got a new Pope?

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[badgerskins]

I'll look into that tomorrow as well!!!!

 

[Tootles]

I'll look into that tomorrow as well!!!!

I would. You might have the next pope on your drive. Pope Hymer........Now that has a certain (smoke) ring to it.

 

[chrisgreen]

sounds to me you have a heater plug failure on 1 or 2 cylinders?

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[WSandME]

My old Mercedes 250TD expired with the same symptoms. Mercedes could not properly diagnose, and engine was destroyed.
What happened in my case was one heater plug broke, and bits were rattling around inside the cylinder, damaging the piston, head and bore.
Hope that's not the case here!

 

[unimog]

As already stated sounds like injectors need setting up . If you think how many millions of times they operate it always suprises me how reliable they are . Also relatively cheap to have them set up and even if you need a new nozzle not the end of the world , also worth fitting a new set of heater plugs.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

1991 Citroen Hymer White smoke

Doesn't that mean we've got a new Pope?

Only if it was a Fiat.....

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[unimog]

A usefull way of checking injectors on pre common rail engines is with the engine running at tick over very gently place the tip of a finger on a injector pipe as far as possible from any pipe clamps and on each operation of the injector you should be able to feel a pulse in the pipe . compair the pulse on each pipe and its quite easy to detect a faulty injector with a little bit of practice

 

[Wildbill]

Its a injector or it could be timing pump might nead retarding a bit or a worn can belt
Been through all of those problem's
Bill

 

[mjltigger]

I'm with Tootles .. Hydrolock... I've seen it kill more than one engine because the maintainer has tried to tackle all sorts of periphery whilst in denial so don't be trapped into that.. Get a pressure test done hot and cold and have the injectors tested. Prepare for open head surgery and save your engine

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[Tootles]

Any feedback? Or will this thread join the ranks of the 'nobody bothered to come back' list?