TD: white smoke/ stalling issue.

[sk8ordie]

the engine runs great (at idle - aside from the white smoke) I can drive it for a bit - until I get on it - then it acts like its not getting fuel - and shuts off. In fact - it will stall without my even getting on it. I replaced all the lines with "oem" bradided fuel lines (all lines, including metal (MK1) hardlines back to the tank). My clear feed line would originally be half full of fine bubbles post stall out. I assumed I Was taking air into the system and thus my issue. Went over every joint today and tightened them up - drove the truck with the hood off so I could monitor the clear lines while driving. The engines dies/ sputters/ stalls out with a completely full feed line (no bubbles)

I replaced the timing belt/tensioner/HG/ ARP's, and drove the car for months problem free. I would see black smoke under boost, never once saw white smoke out of the exhaust.


could the injectors magically have given up while the engine was sitting? turbo spins freely. After shutting her down - some fine bubbles will creep back into the clear feed line. I'll be honest though - I've had running/ driving diesels with some bubbles in the feed line - and they ran fine.

[ORCoaster]

An engine running at idle and blowing white smoke is not running well at all.  If indeed there is no air in the lines, that would be coming and going out of the IP then I would be looking at a timing issue.  Easy to check.  If timing is spot on then I might think about something else.  Just what I don't know right now, let me brew on it. 

[TylerDurden]

Is there a clear line on the outlet from the IP?  Air may be getting in the IP front seal or inlet banjo, bubbles will show in the outlet line.

I'd bottle-feed and see if the outlet line is free of bubbles. If not, the IP needs a front seal.

If the output line has no bubbles when bottle fed, but has bubbles when connected to the tank & filter, the supply from tank/filter may be restricted, causing air to pull into the front seal.

If the problem persists with no bubbles in the output line, I'd check the timing.

Does it idle with less smoke when the cold-start lever is pulled? That might indicate timing needs to be advanced.

[sk8ordie]

An engine running at idle and blowing white smoke is not running well at all.  If indeed there is no air in the lines, that would be coming and going out of the IP then I would be looking at a timing issue.  Easy to check.  If timing is spot on then I might think about something else.  Just what I don't know right now, let me brew on it. 

thanks sir.

Is there a clear line on the outlet from the IP?  Air may be getting in the IP front seal or inlet banjo, bubbles will show in the outlet line.

I'd bottle-feed and see if the outlet line is free of bubbles. If not, the IP needs a front seal.

If the output line has no bubbles when bottle fed, but has bubbles when connected to the tank & filter, the supply from tank/filter may be restricted, causing air to pull into the front seal.

If the problem persists with no bubbles in the output line, I'd check the timing.

Does it idle with less smoke when the cold-start lever is pulled? That might indicate timing needs to be advanced.

Thanks, I'll definitely try bottle feeding. I have not tried the advance - as the beast has always fired up easily in the cold. I Will investigate and report back.

[fatmobile]

 If you can see air in the lines,.. switch to rubber lines so you can't see if there is air in the lines anymore,.... whaaa???

 You have a fuel line restriction.
 Check the screen in the tank.
 get a dash mounted vacuum gauge.
 Get clear fuel lines so you can see if there is air in the lines.

[sk8ordie]

sorry - perhaps your sarcasm? is over my head on the clear line suggestion.

I drove the truck with the hood off so I could monitor the clear lines while driving. The engines dies/ sputters/ stalls out with a completely full feed line (no bubbles)

I appreciate the tank screen suggestion. I have been suspicious of the tank for a while. I plan to Follow TylerDurden' suggestion to bottle feed, and hope it will confirm or disprove any tank a$$grabbery that may, or may not be happening.

If you can see air in the lines,.. switch to rubber lines so you can't see if there is air in the lines anymore,.... whaaa???

 You have a fuel line restriction.
 Check the screen in the tank.
 get a dash mounted vacuum gauge.
 Get clear fuel lines so you can see if there is air in the lines.

[745 turbogreasel]

The feed  pump and injectors are both after the  feed line, check your return line as well.

[ORCoaster]

When I was running WVO all the time I was sucking air in from someplace and to know how bad a vacuum I was pulling I did put a boost gauge to use to monitor the vacuum on the filter.  Finally figured that out and then switched the gauge over to the brake booster to see if I had an intermittent leak there.  I kind of like the idea of a low pressure/vac gauge on the dash.  Makes for some interesting conversation with the passenger. 

What's this here gauge do?  Oh, that one?  As the fuel tank gets empty it will show a vacuum number that is related to the amount of money that will be sucked from your wallet to fill the tank back up.

[Gizmoman]

By any chance, have you done a compression test?

[fatmobile]

sorry - perhaps your sarcasm? is over my head on the clear line suggestion.

Oh, then just use rubber lines.

[Gizmoman]

By any chance, have you done a compression test?

Reason I asked is my engine started belching white smoke and wouldn't idle. Turned out it was a somewhat melted #4 piston and stuck rings in same. Don't mean to scare you, just passing on my limited experience. I believe the white smoke was un-burned diesel fuel.

HG was fine - just got it too hot for too long.

[ORCoaster]

just got it too hot for too long   This appears to be an understatement of the facts.  Must have really been pulling a load or racing the neighbors TDI. 

[theman53]

just got it too hot for too long   This appears to be an understatement of the facts.  Must have really been pulling a load or racing the neighbors TDI. 

Not really. Tons of things could have caused it. Leaking injector and normal operation for several thousand miles would do the same thing, then melts the piston at the end to give the symptoms.

[Gizmoman]

just got it too hot for too long   This appears to be an understatement of the facts.  Must have really been pulling a load or racing the neighbors TDI. 

Not really. Tons of things could have caused it. Leaking injector and normal operation for several thousand miles would do the same thing, then melts the piston at the end to give the symptoms.

I believe it was a combination of both. The van (so I've read) weighs around 4,000 lbs. The grade was 215 Northeast out of Riverside, CA (East LA). No EGT sensor. Ambient was probably 95 F, loaded with everything including the kitchen sink. The injectors were acting up from a previous run on WVO as well. 500 yards from the summit, white smoke . . . ahhh memories

[theman53]

Yeah, but that was just the last run, it was probably running hotter than it should most of its life. As you see now with all you have done to cool it and it is still hotter than what you were wanting.