Jim:

Usually blue smoke, but HEAVY oil consumption at the very least, as in 50 miles to a quart or so to make white smoke -- my 220D uses about a quart in 200 miles, mostly blowby, and doesn't smoke at all except at idle, when I get a small amount of gray or blue smoke. Probably ought to do the head, anyway, but I bought this 87 300D with a sick motor and probably need to do the head on the Volvo too....!

Usually also get a funny droning noise and oil in the pressure side of the vacuum pump (intake manifold side), along with burnt pre-chambers if you wait long enough to fix it.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!