Hello all.

Since it has been cold around the start of winter, my car has been excessively smoky, the worst being when its cold and gets better as it warms up.

As it warms up it also "misses" and lacks power - which is restored once fully warmed up. Once warmed up it runs like a champ and zero misses.

I have already done many searches, and have followed suggestions others have done as follows:

Replaced air filter
Replaced fuel filters
Checked operation of glow plugs via jumper cable method - all glow orange
Checked cables going to glow plugs for voltage with tester light, all plugs show voltage.
Ran 2 bottles of diesel purge through it

The only thing that has helped a little but not fixed the problem is adding power service diesel kleen to the tank.

Anyone have a suggestion on a next step I should take?

Thanks!

Valve adjustment?

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

That is one thing I have not done. So that could be my issue? I have never done a valve job and so it looks a little intimidating, but hey if its needed, then ill figure it out lol.

Did you put lighter oil in for winter?

The valve adjustment will definitely help those symptoms, but if your oil is extra thick from the cold, it can act that way too due to low compression.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

A valve adjustment is probably needed if you haven't done one yet.

I had a 240D that would do somewhat the same thing. A smokey, rough startup and then it would clear up within a mile of driving. Sometimes it wouldn't do it though. I thought it was probably an injector that leaked diesel down into the cylinder when the engine stopped. A little bit embarassing on startup but the car ran great and gave good mileage once warmed up.

Well. Until it threw a rod.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

No I have not put in lighter oil for the winter, because I live in Arizona, and almost never goes below freezing.

I had one as well, until it puked the crank shaft out, just a bit tho.

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83 SD

84 CD

yep, and if it hasn't been done in some time it SHOULD be done, irregardless of your symptoms.

It's really not that hard of job either. I'd personally suggest bending your own wrenches to make things easier and buying a new gasket for the job.

It might have taken me a couple of hours the first time....just cause I'm slow and quadruple checked the clearances.....but take your time and have fun.

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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene

Thanks for the replies. So it sounds like I will be doing a valve adjustment in the next couple of weeks - even if that is not the issue - sounds like it needs the adjustment either way.

One question about my issue that I thought of today -

In the summer, with no ac, the 240 seems to idle great, almost sounds like it idles too high (but then again im used to gassers).

When the ac is on, and im stopped at a light on idle, if I do not press a little on the accelerator it almost sounds like its going to stall out.

I was going to adjust the idle except for the fact that when no ac is on the car idles great.

Now this issue in the winter.... on cold start up it "misses" except if I press on the accelerator to give fuel as its warming up, bringing the rpm's slightly above idle.

Could these issues be related? Is it possible that my lack of doing the valve job is causing both issues, or could it be that both issues are caused by idle being set too low?

Thanks again as always.

The behavior is like a bad glow plug or two. I am not sure testing the voltage is a reliable way to be sure they are working. I would remove them and test them with jumper cable to see if they actually are glowing enough.

I bet you will find one or two that are not up to snuff.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

If you do not have one: when they are on sale as they were 3 days ago harbor freight sells the electrical multimeters (volt/ohm meter) for as little as $3.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel