Air in fuel intrusion = massive white smoke on start?

[waterboy]

Wife brings the 84 NA rabbit back from Uni with a start/smoke issue. Cold start gives an stunning white smoke show and lack of power till engine comes up to temp. Initially though GP issues but it seems to take a little too long to recover after it does start and not a difficult diesel to start. A few weeks ago it did appear as thou the GP relay had packed it in and it truly was a PITA to get started till relay replaced. Then thoughts of an injector issue till cracking the hood and seeing air bubbles in my filter to IP line, don't recall seeing that before. On the forum search seem to recall someone equating air intrusion to white smoke production on a start? On initial troubleshoot after a cold start also noted exhaust leaving black (soot) skid mark on wet grass below it and with idea of sticky cold injector in mind romped on it a couple of times which turned the white smoke to black on the bottom of the romp and could literally see the black skid mark grow with each romp? There doesn't appear to be excessive blow-by, nor symptoms of a head gasket fail. Once warmed up and starts thereafter white smoke greatly reduced, almost civilized. And power on the warm engine seems ok.

I'll obviously keep it simple and try and chase down the air intrusion (ideas?), then confirm timing (?pwr seems close to what it was prior thou) then on to the injectors?
Curious on this air intrusion, is it hard on the IP and injectors (damage?)
Thanks

[TylerDurden]

Air in the IP will produce plenty of white/grey smoke.

Easy test is to bottle-feed. Clear line on the OUT line will show if air is coming in through an IP seal (if IN line is bubble free).

Smoke even when no air can be retarded timing.

[8v-of-fury]

Generally though retarded injection timing is really smelly and bluish.

White smoke all the time with severe cold start smoke is either air or advanced timing. You know you have air before the pump so it is likely not advanced timing.

Bottle feed it like mentioned, it will be definitive.

[waterboy]

Thanks Guys

Anyone aware of common points of intrusion for air to enter, pre-IP?

[8v-of-fury]

Every connection from the tank to the ip, which if its all stock line.. it should only be like a few connections. Check them all. You will likely not see a fuel drip so just reseat all of them and maybe do new clamps.

Check everything. Bottle feeding will determine if it is the pump or the lines and filter. With bottle feeding you bypass the stock lines and filter and run your IN and OUT lines directly to a clean jug of D-Fuel.