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diesel van smoke and trouble start - please help
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ianevans001
New User
Oct 18, 2012, 8:53 AM
Post #1 of 6
(3723 views)
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diesel van smoke and trouble start - please help
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Hi Folks
Please can someone give me a little advise to the following problem:
My van seems to struggle on cold morning starts - its trying to turn over but takes several attempts, then then it finally does start it runs very spluttery for about 5 minutes and smokes lots. after a bit of revving and when the engine warms up the smoke seems to die down and runs fine. It seems to be getting worse as the morning are a little colder. any advise is appreciated please and is there anything that will help as immediate fix maybe like an oil thickener or rad weld type of product?
also there is a little water that seems to under the van when i have drove it but there doesn't seem to be any visible leaks. my oil seems fine and my water seems ok
thanks
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 18, 2012, 9:24 AM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: diesel van smoke and trouble start - please help
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Find out what the water is you see. Test with paper as it could just be dew or something. Engine coolant or a fluid wont dry, plain dew water would.
Cold starts for diesels are the issue frequently if not always using "glow" plugs and an indicator for driver that they are on and operating, might even say "ready" or something. Without that when cold if it will start at all would run lousy and put out black oily smoke. I'm not a diesel tech but the tricks like using starting fluids to assist are specifically NOT recommended by anything I know of so the problem is proper fuel delivery and glow plugs working for cold starts,
T
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 18, 2012, 4:30 PM
Post #3 of 6
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Re: diesel van smoke and trouble start - please help
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It would help a lot to know what the year, make, model and engine size is on this. Diesel van isn't very descriptive other than we can rule out needing spark plugs.
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ianevans001
New User
Oct 19, 2012, 3:03 AM
Post #4 of 6
(3625 views)
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Re: diesel van smoke and trouble start - please help
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It's a fiat ducato 2002 1.9tdi
The liquid under the van doesnt seem to be oil and it doesnt seem to be losing any coolant. It kicks out alot of grey/black smoke once it eventually starts, but then when i have revved it a bit it seems to run fine and the smoke stops once started driving. it will then start again no problem while its warm. The problem seems to be getting worse maybe as its getting colder, im not sure. but takes about 5 attempts to start in the morning then runs rough and lumpy for a few minutes
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Oct 19, 2012, 5:54 AM
Post #5 of 6
(3615 views)
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Re: diesel van smoke and trouble start - please help
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Nick is expert at diesels and now we have a vehicle to put this to. I'm NOT specifically trained in diesels but the crudest of principles of operation are that of an "internal combustion engine" so share a bit. This vehicle is not sold where most of us are which makes it hard to be very specific for this exact engine.
Basics in a drawing............
Not shown is an exhaust valve but there would be one. Note it needs help when cold as diesel is less volatile than gasoline and doesn't operate on spark but rather 'heat of compression' which must remain excellent. In that it runs fine warm that may not be first on the list.
That glow plug shown is heating such that it will be easier or even possible to start when cold and once running for a while is no longer needed. That must work or it would not fire fuel well or at all and you'd see it as smoke. Those glow plugs get VERY hot to the point of actually "glowing."
By 2002 you may have codes to help.
This unknown leak? You need to find out what that is. There are lots more things to leak than just coolant and all matter for what they are for. Plain dew if on this van could just be collecting and dripping off of body metal, windshield/windscreen or whatever.
If just one glow plug has failed it would run like crap IMO. If all for whatever reason it would be VERY difficult when cool never mind freezing temps.
Hope Nick can chime in with what to check for poor cold start diesels,
T
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 19, 2012, 4:28 PM
Post #6 of 6
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Re: diesel van smoke and trouble start - please help
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In recent years they've gotten away from the indirect injection diesels with glow plugs in favor of a direct injected one with a manifold preheater system, which is like a screen that heats up when voltage is given to it. It improved power, fuel economy and emissions by making that switch. You need to find out if you have that system and test it to be sure its working. They are power hogs so a low amp reading would indicate a bad heater unit. Do not spray any sort of starting fluid into your intake if you have this system as you can cause a fire and explosion that really wrecks your day along with your van. What kind of temperatures are you considering cold? I don't know what area of the world you're in, and I know people in the south who think 60 degrees F is cold weather. Do you have a block heater? If not, get one installed. If it gets cold enough this thing is simply not going to start without it. A cold diesel will smoke pretty good until it warms up, this mystery fluid leak isn't making sense though. Is your fuel filter tight?
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