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  #1  
Old 12-15-2007, 01:13 PM
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87 TD 6cyl smokes on start up

Every time it is started it sends out a sizable cloud of white smoke. I checked for coolant loss and oil in coolant there wasn't any. Also there is allot of oil/biodiesel splattered mostly around the #3 injector and sometimes there is a loud intermittent clicking noise that sounds like it is coming from the injectors. Any ideas what is causing it?

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  #2  
Old 12-15-2007, 03:06 PM
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Check your glow plugs with a Multimeter (search for the thread here or go the dieselgaint site if you do not know how to check them).

If you cannot tell where your injector is leaking (or if it is the fuel return hose) spray it off with brake cleaner and clean all of the crap that is on or around the injector.
Get a flashlight with a strong lignt and start the car and find out where the leak is.

I do not know how cold weather effects biodiesel however; when your close to empty put in several gallons of regular diesel fuel and see if you have the same symptoms.
If your symptoms go away it is the fuel that you are using.
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  #3  
Old 12-16-2007, 02:25 AM
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I don't think it would be because of cold weather considering that it smokes just as bad on a 90 degree day as it does on a 50 degree day. Hopefully it is just the glow plugs.
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  #4  
Old 12-16-2007, 03:02 AM
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The smoking: check your glowplugs. If not, it could be your injectors leaking diesel down into the cylinders after the engine is shut down?

The "noise" around the injectors: my '87 300D has this problem too, the intermittent click. It's like a "tock" and it isn't there all the time, it has no real pattern to it, goes away and comes back every so often- I've been told and it's confirmed they are my lifters. Turns out it's a real common problem on the '87s. The lifter "tock" isn't going to really harm anything, if that is truly the source of your noise.

However that with the white smoke combined with the noise, one of your injectors or a few COULD have gone bad. I'd get your glowplugs tested, and if they check out OK, get your injectors tested. I love my '87
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  #5  
Old 12-16-2007, 03:20 AM
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The, lifter "tock" is because of worn hydraulic lifters. adding synthetic oil to your crankcase should help within a thousand miles of adding.-gary
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  #6  
Old 12-16-2007, 03:21 AM
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Ah, I'd love to but I hear it can cause leaks to appear. Can this be confirmed? Thats the only thing holding me back- the old rule of thumb that you never switch an engine running on conventional to synth.
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  #7  
Old 12-16-2007, 05:44 AM
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I switched both my diesels to synthetic. No leaks so far. I think if you look around here you will find that many people support the change. As Cervan said it is supposed to help quiet noisy injectors. I have an 87 with 328K and the injectors are original and quiet. Been on syn since 180Kmi.
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  #8  
Old 01-04-2008, 01:41 PM
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I finally got around to testing the glow plugs and all of the plugs were around 0.7 ohm. I also checked the battery and it was at 12.23 volts so I think that the GP's are OK. What should I check next? Also what's the best way to clean the engine? My mechanic says to find a car wash that will do it.
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  #9  
Old 01-04-2008, 01:48 PM
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I jused a can of Gunk engine degreaser to clean off my engine when i did my injectors. Follow the instructions on the bottle and there will be no problems. I can see the aluminum head again, yippee. My car has oil around the #3 cyl as well, but that is where the valve cover vent dumps most of its contents into so it is likely the cause of mine. My car is a nonturbo, i am willing to be the turbos are different.
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  #10  
Old 01-04-2008, 03:03 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Biodiesel87TD View Post
I finally got around to testing the glow plugs and all of the plugs were around 0.7 ohm. I also checked the battery and it was at 12.23 volts so I think that the GP's are OK. What should I check next? Also what's the best way to clean the engine? My mechanic says to find a car wash that will do it.
You need to avoid hitting areas on the engine with high pressure water, there are stories of power steering reservoirs getting water in them and the thermo switch that carries power to the fans and things going bad after a car wash wand was used under the hood. At least cover them with plastic bags if you want to use a car wash. The worst thing you can do is hit cold water on a hot Injection Pump, it can warp the case and cause you to need a $900 to $1200 rebuild on the IP

As for washing, I use a lot of WD-40. It won't leave a strong odor like Gunk and it works really well. I use a toothbrush on thick build up and repeat the WD-40 applications then apply stream of water from a garden hose with a 1/16 hole drilled in a pipe cap, its pretty messy because the stream gets back in your face so use a face mask but it cleans an engine very effectively.
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  #11  
Old 01-04-2008, 03:17 PM
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I had a similar problem with smoke during startup that was most noticeable when the engine stone cold. Multiple glow cycles did not help.

I eventually traced it to a bad glow plug relay. The glow plug indicator would light for the correct length of time, but the relay opened up after a few seconds. I checked the shop manual, and it gives a curve for the glow plug on-time depending on the under-hood temperature. The glow plug relay has a built in temperature sensor that varies the glow time depending on the temperature. I would verify that the glow plug relay is indeed staying closed for the proper length of time using a clamp on ammeter. If the ignition switch is left in the glow/run position the glow plug relay should stay closed for 30 seconds before opening. The shop manual has a good explanation on how the system works.

-Steve
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  #12  
Old 01-04-2008, 06:29 PM
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The noise and splattered fuel around the injector indicate a bad heat-shield seal. It will leak fuel and compression causing the mess and noise, it could also be leaking enough compression to cause incomplete combustion at idle or at least less heat to warm and begin normal combustion on startup. I'd start there.

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