Won't Start, Smoke from the rear of the Engine
 

1982 300TDT with 165,000 on the odometer (might be true, might not). The relay is clicking on for the glow plugs, the engine is turning over nicely, but combustion is not quite happening. No love from the engine. It's always been a bit fussy about starting in cooler weather, but usually it just needs a little throttle to get past the rough spot, and then it rolls just fine.

Now, not only is it not starting, but there is smoke that appears white coming from the rear of the engine compartment while I'm trying to start the car. I'm going to wait a while as the day warms up, hopefully it'll start again soon.

Any thoughts? Injectors? Anything else? The smoke has me a bit worried.

SMOKE(!) Which side of the engine? Starter motor side or IP?

Starter side of the engine. It's turning over just fine, just not catching.

I switched the fuel lines, the return with the feed to see if it was a plugged filter, again with no love.

It is cold here, low 40's last night. To warm for fuel to gel though?

I'm still worried about that smoke.

Depending on the additives in the diesel I would expect "warm weather" diesel to be good to about -10 C and perhaps a bit lower so I wouldn't worry about that.

As you say the engine turns easily I'd be checking for fuel leaks and make sure the diesel system is primed.

Oh sorry smoke - could it be exhaust? Or doesn't the engine even "catch"

Smoke could be exhaust, but I should have that coming from the engine area. The engine turns and 'almost' catches. But not quite.

I'm guessing the glow plugs are due for replacement. Finicky starting to not starting at all is a very sure sign.

Regarding the smoke, could it be oil from the separator dripping on the starter?

Could be separator.

Glow plugs are a year old, 10k miles on them.

{quote}>> It's always been a bit fussy about starting in cooler weather, but usually it just needs a little throttle to get past the rough spot, and then it rolls just fine.

You say you hear the GP relay clicking on/off. have you checked to see it your GP`s are actually working? you might have a few dead one`s or not getting quite hot enoughto warm the cylinders.

Fussy starting in cooler weather, and getting over the rough spot is an indication.

Are you turning the key when the GP light goes out, or waiting until you hear the relay click off? when the light goes out that doesn`t mean the relay has timed out, the plugs are still on another 30 seconds or so.

Smoke.....HMMMMM??????? what does it smell like?? fuel, electrical????


Charlie

Something's wrong with your glowplugs.

First, it's running.

It didn't want to run, but eventually it coughed and sputtered enough, belching out clouds of smoke from the exhaust.

I've been turning it over when the GP light goes out, not when the relay clicks off, but because of the colder weather I've been cycling the plugs twice.

I'm thinking that I might have a bad injector, which would explain the billowing smoke when it starts and why it runs rough for a little bit in the beginning.

Any thoughts on good methods for testing the different glow plugs to make sure that the wiring is still good?

X 2 on the glowplugs. Mine did the exact same thing and it was glowplugs. The smoke you see while trying to start could be coming from a leak in the exhaust. The smoke after you start is all the unburnt fuel from excessive cranking without ignition.

Take the glowplugs out and hook them to a battery via jumper cables and see if they glow. Then unplug the connector at the glowplug relay and test each individual wire with an ohm meter from the connecter to where it attaches to the glowplug.

Thank you!