1999 300D Large cloud of white smoke
 

I was driving my 1999 300d today cruising along at about 50MPH when I heard what sounded like a bang or loud pop and there was a cloud of white smoke behind me. Now the car has almost no power and jerks and blows white smoke when it is jerking during acceleration but no smoke when running down the road. It no longer feels like there is any turbo boost. The turbo spins freely and the engine runs smooth at idle.
Top speed is about 60 MPH. There is no check engine light like there was when the cat converter plugged. I got a code that said the waste gate was bad but it was a plugged converter instead.

It almost seems like the exhaust is plugged because the engine seems to be laboring just to rev up. There is no longer a cat converter on this car so that can't be it.

Some semi-random ideas:

Timing chain jumped a tooth?

Fuel system issue?

Blown head gasket? What does the smoke smell like, and how are your coolant and oil levels and conditions?

Other internal engine problem? Have you had any more unusual noises after that initial bang or pop?

Also, what's the patient history? Miles? Any maintenance done recently or know to have been deferred by more than a little? Incidents/mishaps? Ever vegged?

White smoke in a marine diesel is water in the fuel. i would start by examining the fuel filter. Then search for signs of a head gasket issue

My experience with white smoke on a 617 is oil in turbo. It was like a smoke machine. Changed out the turbo and everything is fine.

The problem was the pipe that goes up to the intake manifold from the intercooler came loose. I don't understand how that was causing white smoke but it did.

oh, cool, not only are the 99 606's turbo but they are INTERCOOLED? wow.

My Jetta TDI did this -- scared the hell out of me! :grin: Glad it was such a minor issue; that sinking feeling is the worst...

Leak in compressed air delivery = no boost. Reconnect IC tube, and you're back in business. If the silicone coupler is stretched, it may need to be replaced after cleaning the IC inlet/outlet of excess oil. This used to be a big problem on Ford 6.0 SuperStrokers.

Interesting. We had an intercooler hose blow off an LMTV once. No smoke was noted, but the electronic engine controls on that are considerably more advanced than even a '99 Benz. I would have expected any smoke to be black.

wierd. i had the rubber i/c hose had a huge hole ripped in it and it ran fine and no smoke ...noticed it one day when changing the oil.

perhaps the puff of white smoke was oil buildup from the intercooler via the turbo.