Hi there
Hope someone can shed some light, I was away this past weekend and having to charge a few things off my car battery, hence the vehicle was idling for long periods of time. When it came time to leave, I noticed the exhaust was blowing a lot of white smoke, however on the road home after a short distance of driving, it seemed to have stopped and has not returned since. Having just read something about turbo seals going, it got me thinking that this might be the start of something and if I catch it in time.
Any thoughts on what I can/should have checked?
White smoke should mean unburned diesel. If it was blueish it might be oil from valve lifters? Mileage?
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Sent from my GT-P7100 using Tapatalk
2009 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS (Gen4) - Casper (Starting to grow on me)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
2001 Pajero 3.2 DiD Lwb GLS Manual (Gen3) - Snoopy (SOLD but not forgotten)
2008 Pajero 3.2 DiDc Lwb GLS Auto (Gen4) - Silvester (SOLD)
Hi, she has 170k on the clock, as mentioned this was and is the first and last time it had happened. Could it have been the fact the car was idling for a long period?
I was taught never to have a diesel engine idle for long periods.
Rather have it run close to 'operating' rpm, such as 1500-2000rpm.
Rather have it run close to 'operating' rpm, such as 1500-2000rpm.
Gerhard Fourie
If you want to shoot somebody, make sure you aim at his head, not your own foot.
Me
If you want to shoot somebody, make sure you aim at his head, not your own foot.
Me
"Could it have been the fact the car was idling for a long period?"
Most probably.
More than a decade ago CAR magazine had a huge feature article on TDi motors - something about a "time bomb under the bonnet"
A long list of things not to do included allowing a TDi to idle for very long. Something about oil accumulating in the turbo, because it isn't spooling. I agree with Cats that your smoke was most probably diesel, but I think the basic idea could hold true.
Even that doom and gloom article didn't appear to consider long idle periods as fatal, just something that should rather be avoided.
Most probably.
More than a decade ago CAR magazine had a huge feature article on TDi motors - something about a "time bomb under the bonnet"
A long list of things not to do included allowing a TDi to idle for very long. Something about oil accumulating in the turbo, because it isn't spooling. I agree with Cats that your smoke was most probably diesel, but I think the basic idea could hold true.
Even that doom and gloom article didn't appear to consider long idle periods as fatal, just something that should rather be avoided.
For what it is worth:
I had similar problem with my car years ago.
It was after a hours of tremendous difficult offroading. During this hours the engine never went beyond 1500rpm, I think.
There was pretty much smoke when coming on the tarmac. It was present for less than 2 minutes. I never saw it again.
Good luck with it !
A.
I had similar problem with my car years ago.
It was after a hours of tremendous difficult offroading. During this hours the engine never went beyond 1500rpm, I think.
There was pretty much smoke when coming on the tarmac. It was present for less than 2 minutes. I never saw it again.
Good luck with it !
A.
Affiliate Member
prime example of turbo seals.
when the engine is cold the oil is cold and thick and doesn't leak past the seals.
When the engine gets warmer a small amount will leak past the seals but as the turbo and exhaust is normally hot it burns away.
When idling for long periods of time the EGT drops and so the turbo and exhaust cools. The oil that seeps past the turbo seals don't burn away but smokes and accumulates.
When you eventually drive off all that oil gets smoked out by the heat.
The other reason could be lack of compression so the diesel doesn't ignite fully - especially when idling as the compression stroke is slow so heat escapes through the piston and cylinder walls.
Or the injectors could be peeing. Having the diesel accumulate in the piston and it starts smoking away. Higher rpm sees higher heat so it burns away with every stroke but if it is a peeing injector, a cracked piston could follow shortly.
Diesel engines don't like long idling periods but some trucks in the cold places of the world have to idle through the night else they won't start back up until summer.
There are 4 ways to fix turbo seals.
2SO and some hard driving to see if you can burn away the carbon deposits
Hard driving on it's own
Regular oil changes with a good oil with good detergent properties
Taking turbo off and replacing seals.
I would.....
- have injector spray pattern and POP pressure tested
- compression test
- if above checks out I would have the turbo removed and resealed. (Take the CAT out while you are at it to reduce back pressure and keep turbo cooler)
when the engine is cold the oil is cold and thick and doesn't leak past the seals.
When the engine gets warmer a small amount will leak past the seals but as the turbo and exhaust is normally hot it burns away.
When idling for long periods of time the EGT drops and so the turbo and exhaust cools. The oil that seeps past the turbo seals don't burn away but smokes and accumulates.
When you eventually drive off all that oil gets smoked out by the heat.
The other reason could be lack of compression so the diesel doesn't ignite fully - especially when idling as the compression stroke is slow so heat escapes through the piston and cylinder walls.
Or the injectors could be peeing. Having the diesel accumulate in the piston and it starts smoking away. Higher rpm sees higher heat so it burns away with every stroke but if it is a peeing injector, a cracked piston could follow shortly.
Diesel engines don't like long idling periods but some trucks in the cold places of the world have to idle through the night else they won't start back up until summer.
There are 4 ways to fix turbo seals.
2SO and some hard driving to see if you can burn away the carbon deposits
Hard driving on it's own
Regular oil changes with a good oil with good detergent properties
Taking turbo off and replacing seals.
I would.....
- have injector spray pattern and POP pressure tested
- compression test
- if above checks out I would have the turbo removed and resealed. (Take the CAT out while you are at it to reduce back pressure and keep turbo cooler)