Help me figure out this smoke....

[westcoaster]

mf block 1.6 TD
Reconditioned injectors by Giles
rebuilt turbo (I had a turbo that was leaking oil on the intake side causing white smoke at launch)
engine re ringed and fresh bearings by shop


If I have excessive idle time ~5 minutes when I go to launch I leave a cloud of blue smoke. Smoke smells like diesel. Short time later it all clears up. Light to light things are reasonably clear on launch.

I had a '93 dodge diesel that would smoke blue whenever I would spend a couple hours sneaking around in the bush. It would take far far longer for that to smoke blue than this 1.6TD is taking. I have emissions testing that this thing has to go through. Longer I wait in line at the test centre less likely I am to pass....

[macka]

Sounds like you are getting normal fueling. If you can idle in line, bring your RPM's up around 1000 while waiting. Most diesels will puff a little smoke if punched hard from idle. try experimenting with different RPMs while waiting. My jetta does this too, I have never worried about it.

[westcoaster]

Sounds like you are getting normal fueling. If you can idle in line, bring your RPM's up around 1000 while waiting. Most diesels will puff a little smoke if punched hard from idle. try experimenting with different RPMs while waiting. My jetta does this too, I have never worried about it.

I'll try and get a video of it on the weekend. It's just the quantity of smoke I am concerned about for the time sat idling.

[burn_your_money]

To me it sounds like the combustion chamber is getting too cold. You could try rigging up a manual switch for the glowplugs and firing them for 5-10 seconds before launching to see if it helps. I know it's a band aid solution but if it gets you through emissions...

[truckinwagen]

I have never idled my car long enough and payed close enough attention to the smoke after to tell if my diesel does this, but I can tell you that all of the big diesels I work on do this(semis, crusher equip, welders etc...)

it is due to the combustion chamber getting too cold, and a buildup of unburned diesel on the surfaces of the combustion chamber. as soon as you give it load, the temps come up, and the extra diesel is burned.

it is considered bad to let your motor do this, and you are supposed to either shut down for the time you would be idling, or give it a little throttle to keep it just over idle to counteract this.

what you decide to do is based on how much you can rely on your starting system, and how often you will be idling for prolonged time periods.

-Owen
P.S. I would not worry about it too much, just keep the engine at 1000 or so for a while before you get your turn in the bay.

[rabbitman]

I don't think it shouldn't be blue smoke and smell like diesel.

[macka]

All diesels do this, we currently have a re-gen issue with our new trucks because some of the drivers don't bump the idle up and it cokes up the re-gen system.

[burn_your_money]

I don't think it shouldn't be blue smoke and smell like diesel.

Blue smoke can be a sign of retarded timing.

What is your timing set at?

[rabbitman]

I don't think it shouldn't be blue smoke and smell like diesel.

Man, I need to learn how to write !!

I meant, I don't think it should be blue smoke and smell like diesel.

All diesels do this, we currently have a re-gen issue with our new trucks because some of the drivers don't bump the idle up and it cokes up the re-gen system.

I've never had this happen with mine, never a puff of blue smoke......I get plenty of black though .

[westcoaster]

I don't think it shouldn't be blue smoke and smell like diesel.

Blue smoke can be a sign of retarded timing.

What is your timing set at?

I wish I knew....

No timing tools and no book. Had the shop set everything up after the rebuild. I did ask them to check it and got a bunch of bluster on how well it was done. Not sure how they did it though, I can't say if they installed a flywheel and tranny to set it up or just eyeballed it....

With my mild Vancouver winter (+6 to +10*C) it has a tough time starting without the cold start lever after it has sat for 24 hours. I wasn't sure if it was air getting into the injection system. I don't have fuel leaking out that I can detect...

More than this is bringing into question the wisdom in giving my money to that shop....

[rabbitman]

It does sound a bit retarded, at those temps you shouldn't NEED the cold start knob just to get it to start.

With mine if I pull the cold start out it'll crank slower due to having to squish the fuel longer/sooner, usually I start it and then pull the knob to smoothen the idle.

[macka]

Take the timing cover off and valve cover off and turn it by hand to TDC. There is a timing mark on the pump pulley that should line up with a mark on the back cover (a line that is in the metal). All your other marks should be lined up and the cam lobes should be both in the closed position. Pull the plug on the tranny and look for the TDC mark on the flywheel, confirm it is in the right spot. Now look at the top point of the pump body just behind metal cover and the top point should be aligned with a dimple.  If it is slightly towards the rad, you need to advance the timing somewhat. There is a real good DIY for you to read http://www.cs.rochester.edu/u/jag/vw/engine/fi/timing.html

[burn_your_money]

There are no cheater marks for checking pump timing. It would be a good idea to verify that the cam/crank timing is correct though.